Memorandum by the South West Transport
Network (RT 38)
LIGHT RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM
Please find Transport 2000 South West Network
response to the Environment Transport and Regional Affairs Committee
inquiry into Light Rail systems. We welcome the decision of the
committee to explore schemes in other countries and are particularly
interested in their exploring methods of finance for schemes by
bond issues by local authorities and corporations, finance in
public transport utilities in Canada, the United States, Europe
and Australia should be examined.
Transport 2000 would like to draw the Committees
attention to the important role of Light Rail and Urban Transit
systems especially in our urban cities linked into our local rail
networks. In Bristol there is a need to provide a light rail system
linked into the local suburban rail services. The network could
extend from the city centre to Bradley Stoke via the North Bristol
main lines and further towards Gloucester. If the Severn Beach
and Portishead routes are linked into the network to South Bristol
this could provide an urban renaissance that is socially inclusive
for the Bristol Travel to Work area linked to the wider area of
Taunton, Bradford-on-Avon, Weston-super-Mare, Bristol TM, Yate,
Gloucester, Bristol TM, Keynsham, Bath, Trowbridge, Westbury,
Frome, Bristol TM to Bath, Swindon heavy rail corridors.
Light rail schemes can improve choice and make
modal shift at a higher rate on key corridors than using bus services,
especially on congested corridors such as Gloucester Road in Bristol,
where bus priorities cannot be provided.
A light rail scheme could also benefit the regeneration
of the rail system around Cardiff with a Light Rail Link taking
over the valley line and improving access to Cardiff Bay by a
short running system.
In small urban settlements there is a need to
review the role of ultra light rail systems such as a People Mover
that is operating in Bristol Harbour and could provide a good
light rail system linked via the British Rail Harbour Railway
and Portishead Line Link to Long Ashton Park and Ride. Another
use is in Weymouth using light weight rail buses on the Weymouth
Quay Tramway to improve access to shops, channel ferry quay and
railway station.
There is also a need to still address the protection
of former British Rail land routes and corridors. This land should
be protected[5]
via strategic rail authorities and a revised PPG13. Light Rail
schemes on the Isle of Wight would help the regeneration of the
island line from Ryde to Shanklin with additional lines to Ventnor
and Newport.
The Bristol System if linked to good rail and
bus networks could prove a viable public transport alternative
to the private car linking from Bristol City Centre to Bristol
Temple Meads to Filton and Bradley Stoke via the socially excluded
inner city area of Lawrence Hill, Stapleton Road, Lawrence Hill.
Barton Hill is an SRR area and needs good transport links. The
scheme should be linked to the Severn Beach Branch line via Clifton
Down, linked to Portishead branch reopening and use of the railway
formation to Whitchurch and Hartcliffe in south Bristol but improved
network links need to be provided at Bristol Bus Station.
We would support Light Rail Schemes linked to
heavy rail refranchising proposals of the National Network in
Portsmouth, Nottingham, Birmingham Midland Metro extensions to
New Street station, Merry Hill, Wolverhampton Bus and Rail Station
and also Leeds, Liverpool and Edinburgh.
The guide light transit vehicle GLT should also
be evaluated in small urban areas in the UK such as Gloucester,
Cheltenham, Taunton and Plymouth etc. Light rail track can also
provide improved freight corridors in our urban areas. Light rail
vehicles, similar to those in Europe, could be used on the Exeter
to Barnstaple and Okehampton Railway or Radstock to Frome, Wells,
Shepton Mallet to Frome route.
October 1999
5 By preventing British Railway Board Land Sales of
routes required for future heavy and light rail options. Back
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