In Europe, and in many other parts of the world, new mass transit systems based on trams or/and light rail are being built to reach out to new development and connect people and businesses together. We did not see this happening in England. There are many concerns at the expense of tram and light rail systems in this country. According to Campaign for Better Transport, building new tram systems in Britain is more expensive than almost anywhere else in the world.
This stops us doing what in other parts of Europe and the world is increasingly common. We have heard how new tram and light rail technologies have significantly lowered the costs of construction. We now have the opportunity to make the best of the state-of-the-art urban transit systems, coupling modern public transport provision with housing and employment growth. Developers, aware of the many advantages of building homes around new metros and mass transit, would, we think, be enthusiastic partners in this more modern way of growing our cities and satellite towns.
Nottingham Express Transit is an example of how beneficial tram systems can be in England. Nottingham’s tram network covers many of the wider area’s key towns and suburbs, with quick access to two universities and a college, hospital and places of employment. It has a number of stops across the city centre, for easy access to all the city has to offer.
A new extension would see the line at Clifton South Park and Ride run into the proposed Clifton Pastures estate, expected to be one of the largest housing and business space developments in the East Midlands. Meanwhile in South Wales, investment is now delivering a metro system of frequent local trains to connect the area together with a tram to connect Cardiff Central station with the waterfront development area at Cardiff Bay
In England, we often hope that buses will do the job. However, for areas that encompass not only a large urban centre but outer suburbs and expanding satellite towns as well, trams and light rail have many advantages. This isn’t to say that buses are not part of the picture, for they most definitely are. They are essential. However, it is the combination of trams, metros and buses that we have seen to be successful.
The Coast Tram (Kusttram) is light rail system that connects growing cities and towns along the heavily populated Belgian coast, with stops in nature reserves and beaches on the way. It is 67 kilometres (42 miles) in length and is every 20 minutes. The tram is well integrated with the railway system. We arrived from Brussels at Den Haan and found the tram stopped not far away. Between urban areas the tram became a local train, stopping less often until the next town. We imagined something similar serving the coast on the other side of the channel, which currently has infrequent and outdated local rail connections.
