METROLINK services are twice as good as the previous British Rail operation on the Bury-Manchester line.

Latest figures show the number of passengers using the light rapid transit system is double those who travelled on BR trains prior to Metrolink's introduction in 1992.

Over the past five years, the service has moved from the drawing board to become the UK's most successful urban public transport service - gaining a worldwide reputation for its performance.

When it opened in 1992, the pioneering, modern day tramway was an unknown quantity as the first of its kind in the country.

Within months, it won popularity and now carries 13.4 million passengers each year - twice the number using the Bury and Altrincham lines before Metrolink.

The success has been so phenomenal that transport professionals from overseas regularly embark on fact-finding tours seeking advice.

The passenger statistics have been revealed by the system's operators, Greater Manchester Metro Ltd (GMML) which, along with its private sector partners, is now bowing out after five years.

GMML lost the contract to continue operating the system when it was outbid by the Altram consortium during a lengthy tendering process in 1996.

The new contract, which includes the operation of the Bury and Altrincham line, takes on the building and operation of the extension to Salford Quays.

GMML managing director Jim Harries commented on the five -year operation of the system and the two years preparatory stage before Metrolink was launched.

"It has been a superb seven years working on Metrolink. We have shown that public transport can be run in a cost effective, professional and business-like manner.

"Since we opened, we have maintained an average of almost 99 per cent reliability in terms of passenger miles operated.

"It is an achievement of which we feel justifiably proud and a major factor in winning the loyalty of our customers," he added.

During its seven years on the project, the company says it has enjoyed working with the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive to develop an asset of which the whole of Greater Manchester can be proud.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.