Euro-MP attacks GMPTE as “arrogant”

Greater Manchester passenger transport executive has been accused of putting a bias against bus operators before the interests of the travelling public.

Euro-MP Chris Davies says that hundreds of millions of pounds are being spent on building new Metrolink lines but claims that GMPTE has made no attempt to meet with bus operators to plan how to connect trams and buses.

The Liberal Democrat says that it is "arrogant and short-sighted" not to involve bus operators from the very beginning in building a voluntary partnership that can benefit all public transport users.

"Our aim should be to ensure that arrangements are as convenient as possible for passengers to alight from a tram and step onto a bus to complete their journeys," he says.

Mr Davies has urged the chairman of the transport authority, Keith Whitmore, to try and “knock some sense” into GMPTE.