TfGM begins procurement of new multi-year Metrolink contract worth up to £1.6bn

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has started the procurement process for the next operating and maintenance contract for Metrolink, the UK’s largest light-rail network.

A key part of the Bee Network – Greater Manchester’s integrated public transport and active travel system – the city region’s trams serve 99 stops across eight lines and 103 km of track.

KeolisAmey Metrolink (KAM) has operated and maintained the network since July 2017. With that contract set to expire in 2027, TfGM has kickstarted the procurement process to find the next operator and maintainer of Metrolink, a contract estimated to be worth around £1.6 billion over a duration spanning a maximum of 11 years.

The contract will run during a period of significant change in Greater Manchester with the region driving investment and development in transport, housing, innovation and the net zero economy at six nationally significant locations with the biggest potential to boost growth, create jobs and deliver benefits across all 10 boroughs.

It will also enable the future expansion of Metrolink to other parts of Greater Manchester, with work ongoing to assess options for new, extended and converted lines, including tram-train services that join up the light and heavy rail networks.

Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: “Metrolink is at the heart of Greater Manchester’s public transport and active travel network with record numbers of people choosing to use it. By introducing tap and go payment on buses and integrating that with contactless payment on Metrolink, we are making travelling by public transport more convenient, affordable and accessible for everyone.

“Greater Manchester is growing strongly with increasing investment and development across the city-region opening up access to new homes, jobs and opportunity. Metrolink is core to enabling that sustainable growth and we continue to work on plans to improve day-to-day services and extend the network to other parts of the region.”

Metrolink enjoyed a record-breaking year in 2024, recording the highest number of passenger journeys in a calendar year with 45.6 million, while also seeing its busiest ever month in its 33-year history with 4.2 million people getting on board last November.

It also hit another major milestone this year with 50 million journeys being made by contactless, which has become the most popular way for people to pay for tram travel since launching in 2019.

As of March this year contactless ‘tap and go’ is also in place across Bee Network buses and Metrolink, allowing passengers to travel seamlessly between bus and tram while fares are automatically worked out for them so they pay the best value fare up to the daily or weekly cap.

Danny Vaughan, TfGM’s Chief Network Officer, said: “With patronage at record levels and plans to add further capacity and expand its network, it’s an exciting time for Metrolink which is in a strong position to continue playing a vital role in the Bee Network and enabling the growth of the Greater Manchester economy.

“In order to maintain this positive momentum, we’re hoping to enter into a new arrangement which better aligns Metrolink with our franchised buses and plans to integrate with local rail services, while also paving the way for even more integration and an improved customer experience.”

A planned procurement notice issued on Thursday 24^th April sets out the scope of the contract, which includes:

• Operating Metrolink services
• Inspecting, maintaining, repairing and cleaning Metrolink assets and infrastructure
• Identifying and notifying TfGM of renewal works required to Metrolink assets
• Supporting TfGM in delivering future enhancements to Metrolink such as building new lines and stops, rolling out new trams and working on the installation of new signalling systems

Once the procurement notice is issued, TfGM will host a market engagement day on Tuesday 10^th June where potential bidders can find out more about the opportunity and procurement process. A subsequent market engagement notice to publicise this event will be issued on 15^th May.