Following on from PIN’s news of 3 rd June, it has been announced that Manchester is to receive a further £3bn towards the ongoing improvement to its public transport network.

The £3bn, which is reported to be the single biggest investment in public transport outside of London, comes off the back of the announcement that there will be an introduction of a congestion charge affecting different roads and areas in the region. The congestion charge will come into place in 2013 and will be a limited use charge, costing around £5 a day to drive during peak times of the morning and afternoon. Although the charge is some years away and much more limited than that in London, it has met with some opposition with people who live and work in Manchester

The areas of public transport which will benefit from investment in the next five years include – increased frequency of trams, more frequent and reliable buses, new and improved bus interchanges and refurbishments to train stations.

Lord Peter Smith, leader of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA), said: “This announcement is great news for Greater Manchester. As a successful and growing economy, congestion is an increasing problem and one we cannot afford to ignore. This will provide a level of investment not seen before outside of London, and will transform our public transport system into one capable of supporting the growth of the region for years to come.”