Metrolink trams could run til 1am in new late-night trial in Manchester - if council chiefs can agree on pilot

Calls have been made again for late night trams, this time at Manchester city council – but political parties cannot agree on the details of the proposal.

The Lib Dems called for a three-month trial of a night tram on the Eccles via MediaCity to Ashton-under-Lyne service at a council meeting this week. Lib Dem councillor Alan Good argued it would boost the night-time economy, help shift workers and make women feel safer when travelling by tram at night. It comes two weeks after Salford council unanimously passed a similar motion.

But much like in the neighbouring city, there were disagreements during the full council debate at Manchester Town Hall this week. Council leader Bev Craig said her Labour administration is already ‘pushing hard’ for trams to run until 1am on Friday and Saturdays night from next year.

However, she said passenger numbers have not returned to pre-pandemic levels and even then, they were at around 22 % capacity in the final hour. The Labour councillor said that Greater Manchester should be calling for a fairer funding system from the government, comparing it to that of London.

She offered to work cross-party on a better proposal, but criticsed the Lib Dem motion for not prioritising the needs of Manchester by calling for a trial on the Eccles to Ashton line which ‘simply cuts across the side of the city’.

It followed comments from North and South Manchester councillors calling for better connectivity, with one describing his area as a ‘public transport desert’.

Coun Craig said: “If you want to prioritise Manchester residents, you want to work cross party, and you want to come up with something that actually puts Manchester’s needs at the heart of what we’re asking for, the door is open. I’m happy to work together.

“But what I’m not happy to do is copy and paste a motion that even Salford City Council didn’t pass.”

Last month, Salford Council approved a motion which called on transport bosses to restore late-night trams and bus services in a three-month trial. Cross-party talks were held between councillors in the Labour-run city which resulted in a number amendments to the original motion from the Lib Dems.

However, Manchester’s council leader said that the Lib Dem motion needed to be amended so much that it would have changed beyond what is permitted.

Councillors did unanimously approve two other motions at the meeting.

The Green Party called for the council to support the Climate and Ecology Bill, which they argued would help Manchester achieve its carbon cutting targets.

Labour agreed to the motion, which urges Manchester’s MPs to back the bill in Parliament, but amended it by listing the council’s achievements on this issue.

The ruling group also put forward a motion calling for a general election to ‘end the chaos of the Conservative government’ which was unanimously approved.