News Archive

3rd February 2005
An exclusive report in the Liverpool Daily Post has revealed that Balfour Beatty, one of the three partners in the MET consortium chosen to design, build and operate Merseytram, have been dropped from the scheme because of a failure to agree an acceptable cost, timetable and design package.
This leaves MET, and therefore Merseytram, without a construction company.
Merseytravel have stated that they expect to appoint a new construction contractor within four to six weeks, and that construction work will begin on schedule in April 2005.

February 2005
Canadian firm Bombardier have been selected as preferred supplier of trams for Merseytram. They will build 21 trams costing £1.75 million each, and the deal includes an option for 23 more trams for Line Two.
Bombardier trams are already running in the UK in Nottingham and Croydon.

21st December 2004
Transport Minister David Jamieson has announced Government approval for Merseytram Line One. Inspector Chris Tipping, who presided over the public enquiry earlier this year, has recommended approval, and ministers will now make the Transport and Works Act Order.However, a final decision on the granting of £170 million of government funding for the project is still awaited.

20th October 2004
Mersey Express Tramway (MET), the only consortium remaining in the competition to design, build and operate Merseytram, submitted their bid just before the deadline yesterday. The project would have collapsed if a bid had not been forthcoming.

It has been reported that the MET bid proposes postponing the Dale Street-Pier Head-Strand part of the city centre loop until Line 2 is constructed after 2008.