Late-night Metrolink trams could be trialled to help people get home safely in Greater Manchester

Talks are now to take place over a call for night trams for workers, lone women and revellers in Salford.

A debate on whether to ask Transport for Greater Manchester to introduce trams until 2am on weekdays and 4am at weekends stalled at a Salford city council meeting because of lack of time.

But cross-party discussions are now to take place between the controlling Labour group, Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, who forward the proposal.

Lib Dem leader Coun Alex Warren and Conservative leader Robin Garrido both cited the safety of women and people returning from ‘a night out’ as well as shift workers as a reason for the possible introduction of such services.

A motion, adjourned until a later council meeting for discussions to take place, suggested a three-month trial of the night tram on the Eccles via Media City to Ashton-under-Lyne services.

Coun Garrido went further by suggesting bus shuttle services for outlying areas of Salford, such as Worsley, Boothstown, Ellenbrook, Walkden, Little Hulton and Swinton, for safe onward travel.

“We do need to look after our night workers,” he said. “Also those people coming home from a night out.

“They should be able to come home safely without fear of being attacked or getting into the wrong sort of car. And I really think we’ve got to look after the safety of women.”

Coun Warren said: “This will help our workers and our residents, particularly women, be safe when returning home. We’ve not tried it before so let’s have a go.”

Responding, Labour’s executive member for planning and sustainable development Coun Mike McCusker, said: “I don’t think we are all a million miles away across the parties [on the proposal].”

He said the Lib Dem proposal which said passenger numbers on the Metrolink were back normal was ‘incorrect’. “In fact they are at only three-quarters of what they were before the pandemic,” he said.

Coun McCusker’s request for an adjournment so that ‘wording can be agreed which is acceptable to us all’ was agreed.