The consortium of Laing O'Rourke, VolkerRail and
Thales has already begun work on the extensions to the town centres of
Oldham (£89 million) and Rochdale (£36 million), which will open in
mid-2014. The £398 million 14.5km line from St Werburgh's Road to
Baguley, Wythenshawe, and Manchester Airport will be completed in
mid-2016. Laing O'Rourke and VolkerRail will be responsible for all
civil works and rail infrastructure, while Thales will deliver the
electrical and signalling systems.

metrolink-extensions.jpgGMPTE will also exercise a £27 million option for an additional 14
Flexity Swift LRVs (pictured) from Bombardier and Vossloh Kiepe, taking
its fleet of these vehicles to 62. Delivery of the extra LRVs will
begin in October 2011.

MPact-Thales was awarded the Phase 3A expansion contract in June 2008,
which includes the new Trafford Bar - St Werburgh's Road and Piccadilly
- Droylsden lines, together with the conversion of the Manchester
Victoria - Oldham - Rochdale line to light rail operation. In March
this year, it also won the contract to build the Phase 3B extensions
from St Werburgh's Road to East Didsbury and Droyslden to
Ashton-under-Lyne.