TRAMS NOT JAMS

This article reports on the improving prospects for light rail in the UK, and on seven of the most important British light rail systems. It includes route maps of two of them, Croydon Tramlink and the Sunderland Metro. The phenomenal early success of Croydon Tramlink, which was fully opened on 30 May 2000 and already carried 40,000 passengers per day within a month, has led to a change of attitude. The Government's ten-year transport plan is expected to adopt a positive approach to light rail. 17km of the 28km route of Tramlink runs along former rail track, 3km runs on existing roads, and 8km runs on new rights of way, mostly alongside existing roads. It already has plans for extensions. The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) in east London opened on 30 July 1987, and has been extended three times. The Government may contribute #30M to the #100M cost of a further extension to London City Airport. Greater Manchester Metrolink opened in 1992 and is now to be extended to Eccles, and the Government is to grant up to #250M for five more extensions, including one to Manchester Airport. Midland Metro from Birmingham to Wolverhampton opened in May 1999, Sheffield Supertram is to be extended, Tyne & Wear Metro has been extended to Sunderland, and planned new light rail schemes include Leeds Supertram and Nottingham Express Transit.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00268356
• Corporate Authors:

  Ian Allan Publishing, Limited

  Riverdene Business Park, Riverdene Industrial Estate
  Molesey Road
  Walton-on-Tham, Surrey  United Kingdom  KT12 4RG
• Authors:
  • SULLY, J
• Publication Date: 2000-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 50-4
• Serial:
  • MODERN RAILWAYS
  • Volume: 57
  • Issue Number: 623
  • Publisher: Ian Allan Publishing, Limited
  • ISSN: 0026-8356

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Demand; Federal government; Financing; Itinerary; Policy; Public transit; Trolley cars; Urban areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Growth rate; Increase
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 2267: Attitude (psychol); 3655: Construction; 224: Cost; 285: Demand (econ); 9013: Development; 244: Financing; 183: Government (national); 265: Growth rate; 9032: Increase; 8049: Ireland; 699: Itinerary; 143: Planning; 173: Policy; 744: Public transport; 1284: Tram; 8119: United Kingdom; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Policy; Public Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00799842
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Oct 6 2000 12:00AM