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TRAMLINES No 5
September 2000

 


A Step in the Right Direction

After months of discussions between Bath & North East Somerset Council, Hyder Consulting and Trams for Bath, a reference to trams as a future possibility has at last been included in this year's Local Transport Plan.
Earlier this year the council had taken the decision to fund a study to look into what a tramway network of the type proposed by T f B would be able to offer the city.

THE HYDER REPORT
The result was the Hyder Report which identified the Western Riverside as a corridor that would particularly benefit from this form of public transport. In the limited timescale available, it was not able to deal properly with the concept of a network or the technology it would require, but the message was clear - trams needed to be looked-into seriously and in greater depth.

GOVERNMENT REPORT
Coinciding with the Hyder Report, the issue of a Light Rapid Transit report by the Government Select Committee on Environment, Transport and the Regions couldn't have been more timely. It identified the tram as the only means of public transport with a tried and tested record of getting motorists out of their cars. More importantly, it advised the Government in no uncertain terms that it had better start making funding available for tramway projects without delay. The long-term benefits would be great if the necessary short-term
funding could be guaranteed so as to allow new and existing projects to get started.

COUNCILLORS AGREE
Councillors Gitte Dawson, who had originally proposed funding the Hyder Report, and Peter Metcalfe now found themselves supported by a growing body of councillors from all parties who could see that, with a possibility of proper funding, the ideal of a tramway for Bath might not be so unattainable after all.
In this climate, the decision was taken to incorporate the findings of the Hyder report into the Local Transport Plan. Not only suggesting that trams should be considered as a possible alternative to the guided bus for Western Riverside, but stating the intention to carry out a further tram network study in the years 2001 / 02.

What the Hyder Report Says:

 

The report considered TfB's estimated cost of £70 m far too low and suggested £170 m would be a more practical figure. This
revised estimate was not based on the TfB proposals but on a single-corridor off-road heavy tramway of the type already rejected by the earlier JMP report.
The Hyder report noted many of the key cost saving and revenue generating features of the TfB proposals but then failed to take them into account when making the final assessment.
In particular, the conclusions ignored:

 

This Autumn sees a change in our regular meetings. The Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute has been our meeting place since TfB started, and it was felt that now was the time to enable a wider audience to hear our message. Two meetings have been planned, one in Upper Weston and one in Bathwick, where the routes in those respective areas will be discussed in detail with local residents.


On October 11, the Moravian Church Hall is our venue at the far western end of Weston High Street and on Thursday
November 9, we are the guests of the Bathwick Residents' Association at St Mary's Church Hall.


We have not abandoned our friends at the BRLSI and we hope to engage some major speakers to talk to us at that venue in the near future.


Postscript:
The BRLSI Transport Group has arranged for Alan Wilkins, author of the Hyder Report, to give a talk "Bath Trams : Can They Fly?" This will be of interest to all TfB members - See Diary Dates for details.

 BATH AND NORTH EAST SOMERSET LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN 2000

Rapid Transit

4.93 Until 1939 Bath had an extensive tram network serving the city and some of the outlying rural communities. This formed the basis for the bus system which replaced it, and is reflected in today's First Badgerline city bus network. In 1995 a consultants' report commissioned by Avon County and Bath City Councils concluded that it would be feasible to establish a light rapid transit (LRT) system for Bath to link the Newbridge park-and-ride site with the city centre and thence the proposed Lambridge park-and-ride site on the eastern side of the city, consideration was given to the vehicle technologies available, and the study concluded that guided bus offered the best way forward.

4.94 The Council commissioned a further study in 1997 to take into account general LRT developments, and to look at the possibility of providing a more extensive network which would also serve the existing park-and-ride sites at Odd Down and Lansdown. This study confirmed that a guided bus system was the best technology option, based on a balance between implementation cost, funding opportunities and likely patronage and fare revenue. The consultants foresaw the system embracing a combination of segregated busway and on street running. With street running, the system could offer cross- city centre routes and links to the Odd Down and Lansdown park- and-ride sites using bus priority measures along the highway.

4.95 The 1997 report recommended that the guided bus option be investigated further and this has been pursued in the planning of the Western Riverside regeneration area. A public transport spine through the core site, with a segregated busway using the former LMS railway line is foreseen linking westwards to additional park-and-ride facilities outside the urban area. On street running would take place between the site and the city centre.

4.96 A further study carried out in 2000 re-examined the possibility of developing a city-wide tram network. It reaffirmed previous work in recommending that attention should continue to be focused on achieving the east/west Newbridge/ Western Riverside/city centre/Lambridge corridor. The study suggested that rail based technology should be considered as a possible alternative to guided bus for this route. Elsewhere in the city the study proposed that, whilst other corridors might have long term potential for tram operation, the emphasis should remain for the foreseeable future on enhancing conventional bus services and introducing bus priorities. This approach is carried forward in the LTP, although the Council has noted the comments about transit systems made in the Eighth Report of the Select Committee on Environment, Transport and the Regions. It is intended to carry out a further tram network study in 2001/02 in order to take advantage of any opportunities that may arise from the Government's Ten Year Transport Plan.

4.97 The planning of the Western Riverside regeneration is continuing, in collaboration with the Regional Development Agency and the landowners, based on the need for implementation of an LRT system and this will need to attract substantial public funding. Detailed work is being carried on the Comprehensive Development Framework into the alignment of the corridor, vehicle technology and a range of other issues. This LTP puts forward a major scheme bid for the development of a LRT scheme, potentially as a PFI project, to provide the essential public transport access to this major brownfield site.





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NOTTINGHAM
Work has now started on the first route of the new Nottingham tramway. Mindful of the heavy disruption suffered in Sheffield and Manchester during the construction phase, Nottingam is determined to minimise the impact of the tracklaying on the city.
The Council's website carries superb up-to-date detailed information on all the latest traffic diversions, even down to the routes specified for contractors' vehicles. Great effort is being put into ensuring that everyone knows what is happening and why - and for how long.

CROYDON
Croydon Tramlink has been open four months and passenger figures are
rising rapidly. The three routes already carry over 45,000 passengers per day, equivalent to 46% of all Bath car traffic, with just 24 trams .

TRAM VIDEO
Bristol Tram expert Peter Davey has just released a video "Around Bath by Bus and Tram" which includes film of the old Bath trams and some priceless tram anecdotes by Colin Maggs.
It can be obtained on the Tour Buses of the Bath Bus Company and from Wightmans Bookshop, Orange Grove; W.H. Smith, Union St and Locksbrook News Agents.


T f B Committee

Secretary: Adrian Tuddenham, 88, Mount Road, Southdown, Bath BA2 1LH 01225 335974e-atudd@bathtram.demon.co.uk
Treasurer: Keith Berry, Canon Hold Cottage, Church Walk, Melksham SN12 6LY
Admin Officer:Jenny Sutherland, 27, Purlewent Drive, Bath. BA1 4AZ
Acting Chairman: Derrick Hunt, 43,Greenland Mills, Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts. BA15 1BL
Helen Cox,
Jeff Kenyon
Sue Langdon
Brian Lomas,
Jeremy Paterson-Fox
Peter Provest