Light rail industry body UKTram is seeking comments on its draft Light Rail Strategy for the UK, which is due to be submitted to ministers and the Department for Transport later this year. Comments on the document should be submitted to UKTram by October 8.
The document ‘builds a compelling case for future investment in light rail and looks at ways to remove barriers to the expansion of existing systems and the building of new networks’, said UKTram Managing Director James Hammett. ‘Crucially, it highlights the many economic, environmental and social benefits of putting tramways and similar transit systems at the heart of future integrated urban transport networks.’
The association notes that mobility needs are evolving, with people seeking convenience, speed and predictability. It argues that light rail — along with variants such as tram-trains and very light rail — has the potential to serve as a central artery for urban areas and create a connection between other modes, to provide orbital connectivity between suburbs, and radial access from the outskirts to the inner city. However, success will depend on integration of the light rail into an overall urban development strategy. A minimum ridership of 3 000 passengers/direction/h is seen as necessary to ensure cost-effectiveness and ‘some degree of self funding sustainability’.
The industry would like to see tailored funding support from government to enable it to get back to normal after the pandemic, along with continued commitment and engagement from stakeholders, wider transport strategies to maximise integration, and the use of international innovation.
The big challenge with light rail where there is on-street running is the construction. Trams are great; the construction to deliver them isn’t. I remember visiting Edinburgh a few years ago and walking from York Place tram stop towards Leith down a wide street bustling with traffic, pedestrians and trade. Visit there today and it is in a state of controlled chaos as the tram extension is being built. Traffic is restricted to one lane city bound and it’s not a fine place for trade. Further towards Leith, Constitution Street is completely closed to traffic with disastrous impact on businesses that rely on road access (eg a vehicle repair business). This is happening in a city that has put a lot of effort into minimising the impact on residents and businesses after the fun and games with the original construction. Perhaps the low profile track being developed by the Very Light Rail group might help, but only if the task of moving utilities can be avoided, Part of the problem is that no one knows exactly what is under the road until its been dug up. Even after extensive surveying, they still get surprises!
I’m saying all this yet I’m a great fan of trams.
A big reason why utlities are often relocated out of the right of way of trams isn’t just because of the track (many new tram lines reinstate lines that were there before), but rather that so that once the line is open, you don’t have to close it every time you need access to the utilities for some reason.
It is much easier to temporarily divert pedestrians and road vehicles around construction work than a tram, and very light rail won’t solve that problem.
Fundemantally though, the current disruption is just the price you have to pay to hopefully get a much more effective transport system at the other end. If done well, you coordinate the tram constrcution with other utility renewal works on the same street and get it all done at once, so that hopefully you don’t have to do too much else for a while after that.