The contract was awarded for 15 years subject to early termination should the network be extended. In 1997 contracts for extension was let to Altram (Manchester), a consortium of Ansaldo Transporti, Serco, Laing Civil Engineering and 3i. Serco Metrolink, a wholly owned subsidiary of Serco Limited, took over the operations and maintenance of the system on 26 May 1997. In March 2003, Serco bought out its partners and Altram (Manchester) LimitedCompanies House extract company no 3261281 Altram (Manchester) Limited became a wholly owned subsidiary of Serco.
