The LiRa-2 Assessment tool that was developed during the LiRa-2 project will be put to practical use in the City Region of Haaglanden. New plans are made to extend the RandstadRail system, that is to be opened in September 2006. The new plans, convincingly dubbed 'RandstadRail phase 2', are in an early stage, so the Assessment tool seems to be the right instrument to give a first look at the number of passengers that may be expected on new lines. AGV, the consultant that made the tool, has been asked to help Haaglanden in working with it.
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Manchester
Greater Manchester's public transport gets the thumbs-up from the Dutch | Back to top |
Greater Manchester has the most environmentally-friendly transport policies in the world, according to Dutch newspaper readers.
A poll carried out by Wegener, which publishes seven regional newspapers covering the East and South of the Netherlands, asked people to vote for the measure they would most like to see introduced in their country to help reduce air pollution in urban areas.
Nearly a third of all respondents named Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority's free city centre bus and tram initiatives as their favourite, with other European cities, such at Stuttgart, Rome and Oslo, lagging behind in the poll.
Nearly four million journeys have been made by passengers using the free Metroshuttle buses in Manchester city centre since they began operating in 2002. The service is the largest of its kind in the UK and is estimated to prevent more than 2.5 tonnes of nitrogen dioxide and 0.3 tonnes of harmful particulate emissions from entering the air each year.
Readers of the Wegener newspapers were also impressed that rail passengers travelling to Manchester from inside the county are able to use the tram system in the city centre for free. Anyone whose train ticket has 'MANCHESTER CTLZ' as their destination can travel on Metrolink between Victoria and G-Mex at no extra cost.
Councillor Roger Jones, Chair of the Authority, said: "I'm delighted that Metroshuttle and Metrolink are as popular with people in the Netherlands as they are with people in Greater Manchester.
Ingmar Vriesema, Transport Correspondent for Wegener Daily Newspapers, added: "Manchester came top of our poll with 32 percent of the vote. Public transport is very expensive in the Netherlands and many people are unwilling to give up their cars. However, we often have long traffic jams during the morning rush hour.
"Manchester's Metroshuttle and tram initiatives prove that it is possible to provide some public transport for free and I think many people would like to see similar schemes introduced in the Netherlands."
Denmark came second in the poll with 27% for its policy of lower road tax for environmentally friendly cars. Glasgow gained 22% of the vote for fining drivers whose vehicles cause excessive pollution.
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Midlands
Walsall first for new look public transport info | Back to top |
Bus passengers in Walsall are the first in the Black Country to benefit from a new scheme designed to make travel by public transport easier and more attractive.
West Midlands public transport body Centro-PTA is providing new timetable information at bus stops together with better-coordinated information that knits together bus, train and tram networks.
"This is a major piece of work to get many more people using public transport," says PTA Chairman Cllr Gary Clarke. "It will add to our campaign to cut congestion in the West Midlands and make it so much easier for everyone to get about. Our goal is for passengers to be offered a truly integrated transport system, with simpler ticketing and easy to use information to make finding your way about the network as easy as possible."
Passenger information for the combined Network West Midlands is now starting to appear across the area, with Walsall bus station first on the list and an aim to boost bus travel into the town centre.
Eventually Centro-PTA councillors want all bus, train and Metro services to become part of the comprehensive Network West Midlands to rival similar networks in Paris and London.Under the previous arrangements it was left to bus operators to decide what information was displayed at bus stops - and most locations had no timetable or route information at all.
Now Centro-PTA is undertaking a £7m programme to roll out the new range of improved passenger information during the next two years. The finished project will also involve a recognisable 'n' logo to show that services are part of the network. This will appear at bus and rail stations, Midland Metro stops and on tickets, signs and vehicles. The cost of on-going maintenance of the information will be shared amongst operators.
Research showed that currently people didn't perceive there to be a real network of public transport services, even though there is comprehensive coverage of the West Midlands by a range of bus and train companies. It also showed that the lack of passenger information meant both users and non-users of public transport often lacked the confidence or knowledge to use more routes. |
Thousands of older and disabled people in Greater Manchester will soon be able to take advantage of free travel by public transport - but only if they show their pass.
More than half a million people will be able to travel for free on buses, trains and trams in Greater Manchester from Saturday 1 April 2006 by showing their GMPTE travel permit to the bus driver or ticket collector. However, those without a pass will be charged the full fare.
£22 million will be spent on providing free travel for disabled people and those aged 60 and over during the next financial year, following a decision by Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority. The scheme is being funded through a government grant.
People will be able to travel for free within Greater Manchester between 9.30am and midnight, Monday to Friday, and all day at weekends and on Bank Holidays. Bus journeys from Greater Manchester to destinations up to ten miles outside the county boundary will also be covered by the scheme.
Older and disabled people who already hold a GMPTE permit to travel at a reduced rate on public transport within Greater Manchester will be able to use their existing permit to travel for free and do not need to apply for a new one.
Councillor Roger Jones, the Chair of the Authority, said: "It's vital that disabled people and those aged 60 and over carry their pass with them at all times when using public transport - and show it.
"The decision to provide free travel will make a massive difference to people in Greater Manchester and make it much easier to reach essential services. However, people will only be able to benefit from the scheme if they can prove they live in Greater Manchester and so they need a GMPTE travel permit.
At the moment, GMPTE travel permit holders pay 50p or half the full adult fare, whichever is the cheapest, for bus journeys. It costs them 60p to travel on the train or tram after 9.30am or approximately half the full adult fare during the weekday morning rush hour.
From 1 April, older and disabled people wanting to travel within Greater Manchester before 9.30am during weekdays will be charged 50p on buses and the existing concessionary fares on trains and trams.
Some disabled people are currently entitled to free travel on public transport in Greater Manchester at all times of the day. They will continue to be eligible for this entitlement when the new scheme is introduced.
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Midlands
Midland Metro expansion plans to be submitted to Government | Back to top |
 Final plans for a £430m expansion of the Midland Metro are ready to be submitted to Government. Centro-PTA councillors approved the details at a special meeting on Monday 24 April.
The business case submission, which would follow the meeting, is effectively a bid for £322m of Government funding. The document shows a strong business case and highlights the fact that the required level of local contribution has been identified.
A report to Monday's meeting of the Passenger Transport Authority sets out the details of how new lines through Birmingham city centre and from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill via Dudley would be funded and built. The plans show trams running in early 2012.
As well as improving the environment in Birmingham city centre, the Midland Metro extensions will provide high-quality public transport through both residential and commercial areas of the Black Country along a route from Wednesbury to Dudley and Brierley Hill. It will give direct access for people to Wolverhampton, Birmingham and West Bromwich centres, as well as supporting the regeneration of significant areas along the route and development of Merry Hill and Brierley Hill.
Extensions to the Midland Metro were given planning approval by the Secretary of State last year following two public inquiries. Agreements have since been reached with developers and local authorities that clear the way for the plans to move on to the next stage.
Birmingham City Council has set out its support for the scheme in a letter to Cllr Clarke. Once the business case has been submitted it is hoped that the Government will grant 'conditional approval', giving the green light to go out to tender for three separate contracts for building the line, supplying the trams and operating the network - an approach that has already received a warm response from a Government keen to reduce the risk of cost escalation.
Latest figures estimate the cost of building the new lines to be £384m after an allowance is made for inflation up to the year 2012 when the trams will be running. Around three-quarters of the cost would come from Government, while the remaining local contribution has already been earmarked by local councils and private sector funding. Recent discussions with Government have allowed Centro-PTA to include some earlier costs into the funding bid and this will reduce the overall cost to tax payers by over £38m.
"We have put together a very solid case for expanding the Midland Metro. The planning inspectors have already ruled overwhelmingly in favour at public inquiry stage; we have the backing of the business community and local councils; now we can show that the business case more than meets Government targets for funding approval," comments Cllr Clarke.
"The submission of this business case is an important part of our mission to bring quality public transport to the people of the West Midlands," he adds.
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A virtual-reality model is being used to help create Wolverhampton's proposed new transport gateway.
By Paul Grayston, published at Surveyor Magazine, April 6th 2006
The Wolverhampton Interchange is an ambitious regeneration project which aims to create a memorable and easy-to-use gateway. Led by Wolverhampton City Council, the project will replace existing rail and bus station architecture, remodel local roads, improve transport links, prepare for the Midland Metro extension, and maintain a navigable canal waterway through the area. Among problems faced by travellers to the city at present are the poor links between heavy and light rail, buses, taxis and personal transport, and the lack of information to guide them as they change between modes. Poor information impacts on journey quality, especially for those with mobility problems.
Continue reading...
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The Hague
First RandstadRail tram arrived in The Hague | Back to top |
At March 2, 2006 the first RandstadRail tram arrived at the new workshop Zichtenburg. Bruno Bruins, regional commissioner for Mobility and Transport of the City Region of Haaglanden and Henk Waling, projectmanager RandstadRail of HTM, officially welcomed it and presented it to the region. It is the first of 50 vehicles that will start the first phase of the service between The Hague and Zoetermeer in September 2006.
 In April 2004 Stadsgewest Haaglanden and HTM choose the French company Alstom Transport to supply fifty light rail vehicles for the two lines form The Hague Southwest to Zoetermeer. The colours of the exterior and of the seats were determined after a public consultation. The new modern light rail vehicle is bidirectional, has two articulations and five doors on each side. Because the floor is at the same level as the platforms (30 cm above the rails) the vehicle is very good accessible for the elderly and people with a physical disability. The vehicle is air conditioned.
First RandstadRail tram arrived in Zoetermeer
At May 24, 2006 the first RandstadRail tram was transported to Zoetermeer and put onto the new tracks in Oosterheem. In June four more trams will be token there to start the trials with the new system. The tracks on this part of RandstadRail are brand-new, because it is a new extension of the existing loop through the city. The old tracks will be renewed between June and September to make it possible to start the operations with RandstadRail at September 3, 2006.
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Midlands
West Mids congestion-busting scheme opens two years early | Back to top |
A congestion-busting scheme, which takes 2.75 million journeys off the region's gridlocked roads and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 6,200 tonnes, has been extended two years ahead of schedule.
In a bid to ease traffic on the city's roads and reduce carbon emissions, Centro-PTA councillors chose to bring forward the £1 million car park expansions at Acocks Green, Whitlocks End, Chester Road and Wylde Green from their proposed start times of 2008 and beyond.
It is hoped that it will encourage more commuters to park up and catch the train into Birmingham, rather than contribute to the city's already clogged up roads.Cllr Gary Clarke, Chairman of Centro-PTA, and Cllr Keith Chambers, lead member for rail added the finishing touches at Acocks Green this week.
"A public transport user consumes three and a half times less energy than a motorist, so getting more people onto our buses, trains and trams is important for the future of our cities," comments Cllr Clarke.
"Bringing forward the expansion of these park and ride sites is an important step towards doing just that."
The four car parks previously provided parking for over 260 cars, but were still full on most weekdays. Centro-PTA has now supplied nearly 200 extra spaces, an increase of 70 per cent, to help satisfy demand.
Each extended site also has new security, lighting and safety features which have already lead to a dramatic reduction of vehicle crime and antisocial behaviour in station car parks across the region.
- Centro-PTA now provides over 3,000 free and secure park and ride spaces in Birmingham and Solihull.
- There are now over 6,400 spaces in the West Midlands region as a whole. This equates to a ten per cent increase in just eight months.
- These spaces are calculated to take over 53,000 journeys off the road per week, saving 66,000 litres of fuel. This is the equivalent to 94 tankers a year.
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