Two tram extensions in one day

[snowball]

On 6 December, extensions to two different UK tram systems were opened on the same day: Snow Hill to Bull Street in Birmingham, and Victoria to Exchange Square in Manchester.

When was the last previous time such a statement could have been made?

 

[WatcherZero]

1910's maybe?

Tram expansion was mainly around 1890-1920 when every mid sized town had their own network, then a decline through the 30's and post war due to economic depression and the rise of the car.

 

[nottinghamcity]

August 25th 2015. Nottingham Express Transit opened two extensions, Clifton South andToton Lane. Admittedly on the same network, but they were discrete extensions.

 

[fandroid]

The sad thing is that the recent flurry of openings will soon end. Manchester will complete the second city crossing and in Brum the line will get to New Street station. It's anyone's guess what the next ones after that will be. Is anyone's money on tram-trains to Rotherham?

 

[thealexweb]

The sad thing is that the recent flurry of openings will soon end. Manchester will complete the second city crossing and in Brum the line will get to New Street station. It's anyone's guess what the next ones after that will be. Is anyone's money on tram-trains to Rotherham?

The Metrolink extension to the Trafford Centre will hopefully be opening in the next few years.

 

[DiscoSteve]

Is anyone's money on tram-trains to Rotherham?

That should get there next year

 

[duffield]

The sad thing is that the recent flurry of openings will soon end. Manchester will complete the second city crossing and in Brum the line will get to New Street station. It's anyone's guess what the next ones after that will be. Is anyone's money on tram-trains to Rotherham?

Centenary Square extension in Birmingham already underway (this will be good for the 'canal district'):
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/midland-metro-new-street-delayed-10417405

Relevant quote:
"Work has already begun on extending Midland Metro from New Street Station to Centenary Square with services expected to start running in 2019.

Outline funding approval is also earmarked to extend the route still further along Broad Street, past Five Ways and on to Edgbaston by 2021."

 

[edwin_m]

TfGM, SYPTE and Centro are all looking very seriously at further tram extensions, funded by their respective City Deal devolution packages. Assuming the Rotherham project is successful it may well lead to a number of other tram-train schemes.

 

[thealexweb]

TfGM, SYPTE and Centro are all looking very seriously at further tram extensions, funded by their respective City Deal devolution packages. Assuming the Rotherham project is successful it may well lead to a number of other tram-train schemes.

Which Greater Manchester towns have never been officially considered for Metrolink extensions? To the best of my knowledge Bolton is the only town never to have been considered by TfGM, even Wigan and Stockport have been considered!

 

[WatcherZero]

Yeah, though if you go right back to start Bolton was part of the proposed Pic-Vic tunnel metro services. (Along with Bury and running through to Hazel Grove, Macclesfield, Wilmslow and Alderley Edge)

Leigh-Atherton and possibly later to Bolton services are being considered as the first extension of the guided busway though.

 

[edwin_m]

Bolton has been looked at in various tram-train studies.

 

[exile]

When a heavy rail route is converted to light rail/tram, is the local authority subsidising the service going to be paying more or less in subsidy?

 

[DynamicSpirit]

TfGM, SYPTE and Centro are all looking very seriously at further tram extensions, funded by their respective City Deal devolution packages. Assuming the Rotherham project is successful it may well lead to a number of other tram-train schemes.

Another possibility for the next tram project after Rotherham is Thamesmead in East London: TfL, as part of their Thames river crossings proposals, have shortlisted the possibility of building a tram line linking Abbey Wood, Thamesmead, Woolwich, Gallions Reach and Dartford. Offhand I think that's the only possibility that could plausibly become a brand new tram network in the next few years, as opposed to merely an extension of an existing network.

(Though I should add that I personally hope it doesn't get built, purely because it's competing on the shortlist with an option to build a DLR line in the same place, and I think the DLR line would be more useful).

 

[edwin_m]

When a heavy rail route is converted to light rail/tram, is the local authority subsidising the service going to be paying more or less in subsidy?

Fares generally cover operating costs on light rail routes in the UK, unlike most shorter-distance heavy rail routes. However, depending on the funding model the local authority may be paying back the capital cost over a period of time.

 

[WatcherZero]

The idea is that the local authority gets a grant from the Dft of the money that would have been spent by the Dft on subsidy over the next couple of decades and spends it upfront on infrastructure to create something which covers its operating costs and may even generate a cash surplus while also helping to balance the revenue budget by removing a subsidy obligation from the Dft.

Think of it like getting a loan to invest in a more fuel efficient car, after a few years you are better off than you would have been if you kept your old banger and are enjoying a better quality car with more creature comforts at the same time.

 

[CAF397]

Blackpool council received part funding for the extension to Blackpool North Railway station. The points were already installed during the recent Tramway upgrade.

It has gone awfully quiet about this - 2013 it was announced, and I have actually contacted the council about where their plans are regarding this, but no response has been received.

https://www.blackpool.gov.uk/News/2...efit-from-Transport-for-Lancashire-plans.aspx

 

[WatcherZero]

Still needs final sign off but timetabled as work beginning 2017/18.