2CC & Trafford details:
They are proposing to accelerate the development of 2CC at a cost of £3m (costs relate to accelerated testing and commisioning resources and construction of Exchange Square stop), though potential savings exist from reduced exposure to inflation and potentially extra revenue. The acceleration involves delivering it earlier by phasing it, first phase is track from Victoria to Market Street (I presume they mean the junction of Market Street on Corporation Street) and the Exchange Square stop. This would then operate as a spur from Victoria and from end of 2015 the Shaw and Crompton frequency would be increased to 6 minutes with the trams terminating at Exchange Square, this would accelerate the delivery of the 6 minute frequency on the Rochdale line by 18 months. It is anticipated the spur construction would be completed by June 2015 with the service arriving by the end of the year. All 2CC works have a total budget to £165m with a £45m contingency available through the GM Transport Fund.
The improvements at Deansgate Castlefield are subject to them winning a bid to the European Regional Development Fund for the 2CC works, if they fail in the bid they will take time to reconsider how to proceed with the DC works.
St Peters Square stop works and connection from St Peters Square to Market Street would commence in 2015 and be completed by winter 2016/17, the construction would be phased so as to keep the roads open to traffic in the city centre.
Trafford Centre line includes a turnback at Crumpsall station on the Bury Line, its also stated the Trafford Centre line would link to North Manchester to Trafford Park and generate additional frequency on the Bury line so I think we can take it that the service will operate Trafford Centre-Crumpsall (and so begins wild speculation on here where a service to Crumpsall could potentially be extended to in the future). Budget is £350m including ten more trams to operate it and a P&R at Parkway Circle, this includes £20m of developer contributions. It was considered to phase open the Trafford line from Pomona to Parkway Circle and the turnback at Crumpsall however as a standalone scheme this would only have a BCR of less than 0.5 so doesnt look likely to have a phased opening.
In addition proposals will still be considered for Port Salford and Eccles extension subject to business case and developer contributions. (Dont know whether Eccles is a misprint for Salford or if they would consider linking Trafford Centre to Eccles which if the case would be the first time this has been proposed by TfGM.)
Next step for Trafford Line getting TWAO approval as experience shows funding has a habit of being easier to obtain when a project is shovel ready. To secure TWAO traffic modelling in Trafford alongside pedestrian counts at the Trafford Centre entrances and pedestrian/driver interview surveys will take place in October alongside ensuring Trafford council properly allocates land to Metrolink use in its development planning. Statutory public consultation would occur in Spring 2014, TWAO application summer 2014. Subject to recieving TWAO permission construction would start Winter 2015/16 and be completed in 2019. The ten trams would be procured right away as defering delivery by a year costs £3.5m and £1.5m in each additional year defered, they would therefore be available to operate the Media City-Piccadilly service extension (from Cornbrook) and as operational spares until the Trafford line was completed. Slow development of Trafford Line due to the trickle of funds from the Earnback model rather than upfront financing, first 'earned back' funds would go to the extra trams and the planning/legal costs at an estimated cost of £36.9m, this includes £5m already okayed for tram long lead items.
http://www.agma.gov.uk/cms_media/files/gmca_agenda_25_10_13_web_v2.pdf
