News Archive

13th June 2005
Transport Minister Alistair Darling has refused to pay for Line One of Merseytram, following an increase in the amount required from the Govenment from £170m to £238m. Unless a revised funding package can be arranged this will probably mean the end of the Merseytram project.

7th April 2005
Merseytravel has named a consortium called M-Pact which comprises Laing O’Rourke and Grant Rail as the preferred bidder for the construction work on Line One. Subject to final contractual details, construction is scheduled to begin in July 2005 and to be completed for 2008.

2nd April 2005
The government has made a payment to Merseytravel of £4.2 million towards the development costs of Line One. The main £200 million funding is not expected to be approved until the summer.

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.