Issue - meetings

Danny Vaughan, Head of Metrolink, TfGM introduced the Metrolink quarterly performance report which provided a performance summary for the rolling 12-month period.

Members were provided with a further update on emerging issues since the publication of the report and most notably it was reported that patronage had continued to increase and by early December, levels had reached circa 76% of pre-pandemic levels. The highest weekday patronage since March 2019 was on 2 December and had reached 86 and the strongest levels of recovery still appeared to be leisure travel. This however was prior to the implementation of the “plan B” government guidelines, which requested people to work from home where possible. Since then, patronage had decreased to 40% pre-Covid levels and face covering compliance had increased from 23% to 62% as the wearing of face coverings once again became mandatory on public transport.

The Committee were advised that operational performance during periods 7 and 8 continued to be affected by staff shortages, especially within the driver cohort. A combination of seasonal and Covid related absences had resulted in driver absence between 10-15% and as a result service changes had been implemented.  Boxing Day services operated every twenty as opposed to every twelve minutes. Furthermore, short notice service changes were necessary on New Year’s Eve, the Airport, Ashton and Eccles routes were withdrawn from 5pm until the end of service, with bus replacement services operating between Ashton and Piccadilly., A more permanent reduction in timetable similarly implemented across rail services had been considered, however it had been recognised that staff absence had now gone past the peak and would no longer be necessary. Performance had improved, however there were still some gaps in services particularly over the weekends due to staff absence.

Members were informed of two fatal accidents across the network in December 2021. In one case a male fell from the platform into the path of a double tram as it departed Deansgate Castlefield. In the other, a female fell from the auto-coupler while climbing between trams from the street side at Droylsden tram stop. Both incidents were currently under investigation by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and KeolisAmey (KAM) were also carrying out their own inquiries. It was advised that the incidents reflected the usual spike in safety issues in the run up to the Christmas period as more passengers travelled across the network. It was recognised however that the most recent Christmas period had been notably more serious from a safety aspect than previously.

It was reported that discussions continued with DfT regarding funding for Metrolink beyond March 2022 as the ongoing support remained uncertain, however, any decision was unlikely to be until early 2022. Following similar discussions, TfL had agreed in principle with Government that they would achieve operational financial sustainability by March 2023, but this would require significant changes in their operation. 

More positively, Members were informed of the partnership work with GMP to tackle ASB and the recent funding as part of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5