UKTram Urges Holistic Approach to Transport Planning

Calls for city regions and local authorities to take a more holistic view to meet their future transport challenges are at the heart of our response to a landmark Government consultation.

Whilst we believe that light rail, very light rail and tram-train systems have a vital role to play in many parts of the country, all transport plans should be based on a thorough analysis of passenger travel patterns and a ‘mode agnostic’ approach to future transport planning.

This pragmatic view represents the central pillar of UKTram’s submission to the Department for Transport as it seeks views on a future Integrated National Transport Strategy.

We firmly believe that future transport planning should not be another political football. It should transcend party politics, requiring a long-term approach that doesn’t change every few years following local, mayoral and national elections.

Central to this will be fostering the view amongst politicians that public transport is an essential service rather than an afterthought or unnecessary additional cost. We have been clear in our view that spending on transport is an investment with a proven track record of driving economic growth.

Many cities and regions in the UK have already seen the benefits of investment in light rail as part of integrated transport networks, with trams becoming one of the most popular forms of public transport,

In areas including Greater Manchester, South Yorkshire and the West Midlands they are at the heart of extensive integrated transport networks, and in cities such as Nottingham and Edinburgh they have attracted significant inward investment – unlocking the potential of communities along the routes they serve. 

At the same time, while improving connectivity, our existing light rail systems have made a major contribution to helping cities and regions improve air quality, reduce congestion and are contributing to the fight against climate change.

However, we have been clear in our submission that there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution to the transport challenges of the future and large-scale tramways and similar transit systems may not be suitable for smaller towns and cities. 

Instead, we need to invest in new technologies to realise the benefits of very light rail and ultra-light rail. These systems can be built much quicker and at a fraction of the cost of more established tram systems and look set to become an increasingly attractive option for urban planners. Tram – Train systems also open up a range of other options to improve connectivity, particularly in more rural areas, and can free up capacity on the mainline rail network.

We have also urged the government to base future networks around fixed infrastructure, with more flexible modes such as buses feeding into them. This should be supported by comprehensive, cross-modal ticketing and travel information that makes it as easy as possible for passengers to switch between train, tram or bus to complete their journey.

Most importantly, all transport plans should be thoroughly reviewed by sector experts to ensure they are well-planned, viable, and will deliver the optimum solution required to meet the requirements of a towns, cities and regions that each have their own unique characteristics.

In short public transport needs to be Integrated for all modes to maximise their potential and we hope that the government will take this on board when finalising their future policy.

James Hammett

Managing Director, UKTram