Andrew Fender, Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) ex-Chair, has been given the Judges’ Special Award at the Global Light Rail Awards.

Only bestowed at the judges’ discretion, the award is given to individuals and organisations that have made a significant difference to a city, region or the wider light rail industry.

Andrew Fender was presented the award for being one of the main advocates and driving forces behind Greater Manchester’s Metrolink, the UK’s largest light rail network. His commitment and dedication helped develop Metrolink from a single 31km line between Altrincham and Bury in 1992 to today’s 97km network that carries 42 million passengers each year.

Andrew Fender served as a Manchester councillor between 1977 and 2018 and was the Chair of TfGM between 2011 and 2018. He also chaired the Rail Study Group which initially developed the ambitious plans for Metrolink.

Alongside the Judges’ Special Award, TfGM and MPact Thales (MPT) were highly commended in the Best Environmental & Sustainability Initiative and Technical Innovation of the Year categories for their joint utilities and traffic management work on the Metrolink Trafford Park Line (TPL) extension.

MPT’s Health and Wellbeing programme also won the Significant Safety Initiative prize, while their work at Pomona as part of the TPL extension was also recognised.