Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have appointed an operator-maintainer for its Greater Manchester light rail system, Metrolink. TfGM considers the Metrolink system to be a tram and has procured the operator-maintainer on this basis.

The contract will run from July 2017 for a term of 7 years with a potential extension of up to a further 3 years. In addition, there will be a contract option for TfGM to extend the term for an additional 1 year at the end of either the 7th of 10th year of the contract to accommodate any delay in the procurement process for a subsequent operator-maintainer.

The successful contractor will be responsible for both the operation and maintenance of the Metrolink System and may also carry out some or all of the renewals on behalf of TfGM. Renewals may also be carried out by separate capital works contractors.

The Metrolink system is the largest tram network in the UK and is of strategic importance to the economy of Greater Manchester as it provides fast and frequent links across the Greater Manchester region supporting employment, leisure and tourism. In addition to the existing assets, during the proposed contract term the system may be extended to include at least one additional line and associated infrastructure which may include but not be limited to trams, track, overhead line, stops and substations. Any additions of the Metrolink network whether envisaged now or later during the life of the Contract can be added to the contract at TfGM's option.

The operator-maintainer is required to provide certain services under the Contract which include maintenance services and passenger services (together the Services) in addition to other services. The passenger services include operating a tram in passenger service on any section of the Metrolink system which is available for use by fare paying and concessionaire members of the public, consisting of either 1 single tram (with or without a centre section where applicable) or 2 coupled trams. The maintenance services include without limit:

1. maintenance planning;

2. cleaning;

3. routine maintenance including preventive maintenance and corrective maintenance;

4. incident management;

5. performance improvement;

6. condition monitoring;

7. operation and updating of a computerised maintenance management system;

8. asset information management;

9. management of engineering access;

10. management of engineering change;

11. configuration management;

12. assistance with obsolescence management;

13. management of Metrolink stocks; and

14. reporting.

The operator-maintainer is further required under the Contract to deliver the Services on the entirety of the proposed extension of the Metrolink system from Pomona to the Trafford Centre (the Trafford Park Line), when requested by TfGM.

Further passenger services may be required by TfGM to cover an extension to the Metrolink system which is designed and constructed/supplied by a third party under a contract with TfGM (which may also provide for the supply of additional vehicles to be used by the operator-maintainer in the operation of the passenger services).

In these circumstances, TfGM is able to propose and require the implementation of a change to the current provision of services through a prescribed change procedure.

Additionally, the operator-maintainer is required to deliver the maintenance services on any future extension to the Metrolink system if requested to do so by TfGM and in accordance with the prescribed change procedure.

In addition the operator-maintainer will assist with the testing and commissioning of new infrastructure and trams.