Select Committee on Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence


Annex

LIGHT RAIL SYSTEMS IN GREAT BRITAIN

  Blackpool.  Conventional historic tramway system with some street running and some segregated track on promenade and between Thornton and Fleetwood.

  Croydon Tramlink.  (28 km). Due to open at the end of 1999, Tramlink uses former rail routes and some new construction, linked with street running across the centre of Croydon. The network will link Wimbledon, Croydon and Beckenham Junction with an extension on a new alignment to New Addington. It will be operated by a consortium, Tramtrack Croydon Ltd, under a 99-year concession agreement.

  Docklands Light Railway.  (22 km). The existing network from Bank and Tower Gateway to Island Gardens, Stratford and Beckton is being extended. The 5km extension to Lewisham will open later this year, and that to City Airport has just been approved in principle. Operated under a seven year franchise agreement. Fully segregated and automated system.

  Manchester Metrolink.  (31 km). The existing system from Altrincham and Piccadilly to Bury links two former suburban rail lines with street running across Central Manchester. Work is under way on an extension to Salford Quays (which will open later this year) and to Eccles, due to be completed in 2000. Further extensions to Ashton under Lyne and to Manchester Airport are proposed. The system is operated by the Altram consortium.

  Midlands Metro.  (20 km). The line from Birmingham to Wolverhampton opened in June. The route uses an abandoned main line railway, with street running in Wolverhampton. Extensions are planned. Travel West Midlands is the operator.

  Nottingham Express Transit.  (14 km). Approval has been given to the first phase of this scheme, which will link the city centre with Hucknall, partly street running but with 8km alongside an existing railway and construction work has started. It will be operated under a 30 year concession by the Arrow consortium which includes the local authority.

  Sheffield.  (29 km). This system links the suburban areas of Sheffield with the City Centre and Meadowhall. Part street running, part reserved track. Stagecoach operates the system under a 27 year franchise.

  Tyne and Wear.  (59 km). Using former suburban rail routes from Newcastle to Tynemouth and South Shields, the system also involved a new underground section in Central Newcastle and a new bridge across the Tyne. The network has been extended to the airport, and an Order for extension to Sunderland was sought in 1997. It is operated by Nexus, the Tyne and Wear PTE, and is fully segregated.

OTHER SCHEMES

  Powers have been or are being sought for other light rail schemes in Bristol, Leeds, South Hampshire (Portsmouth to Fareham). Many other schemes have been evaluated, as described in the 1991 Transport Select Committees report, but are still some way from implementation.

October 1999


 
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