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| £165m Manchester tram line opens | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A new £165m tram line which took three years to build has opened. | |
| Manchester's Second City Crossing, running from near the Town Hall at St Peter's Square to Victoria Station, is the final part of a £1.5bn transport expansion plan, which began in 2009. | |
| Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said its opening was "historic" and the "culmination of years of hard work". | Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said its opening was "historic" and the "culmination of years of hard work". |
| TfGM bosses have acknowledged the works caused major disruption for commuters and local businesses. | |
| The Second City Crossing's first phase opened between Victoria and Exchange Square - the area of Manchester city centre that faced the brunt of the 1996 IRA bomb - in December 2015. | The Second City Crossing's first phase opened between Victoria and Exchange Square - the area of Manchester city centre that faced the brunt of the 1996 IRA bomb - in December 2015. |
| Since work to expand Metrolink began in 2009, the network has trebled in original size and has become the largest light rail network in the UK. | Since work to expand Metrolink began in 2009, the network has trebled in original size and has become the largest light rail network in the UK. |
| Councillor Andrew Fender, chair of TfGM's committee, said the completed route would offer a "fantastic new view of historic Manchester landmarks". | Councillor Andrew Fender, chair of TfGM's committee, said the completed route would offer a "fantastic new view of historic Manchester landmarks". |
| Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said it highlighted "how much the city has changed in such a short space of time, and represents a major milestone in Manchester's continuing development and growth". | Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said it highlighted "how much the city has changed in such a short space of time, and represents a major milestone in Manchester's continuing development and growth". |
| About 250 drivers have undergone training on the new route. | About 250 drivers have undergone training on the new route. |
| The line was built as part of the government's £1.5bn investment in tram, bus, rail and cycle routes across Greater Manchester. | The line was built as part of the government's £1.5bn investment in tram, bus, rail and cycle routes across Greater Manchester. |
| Trams on track | Trams on track |
| Source: TfGM and Greater Manchester Museum of Transport | Source: TfGM and Greater Manchester Museum of Transport |