THE Department for Transport should be fairer when evaluating proposals for more trams, say MPs. A cross-party Parliamentary inquiry has concluded that light rail schemes can help to transform urban transport systems, but that the present DfT methods are tending to discriminate against urban and street-running rail.
The report from the All Party Parliamentary Light Rail Group stresses that to bring back trams to more city streets there’s a need for a clearer lead from Government, less bias against them during appraisal, and for costs to be brought under control.
Rochdale MP Paul Rowen, who chaired the inquiry, said: “Where the UK has invested in modern trams we have seen motorists switching to the tram and impressive growth in passenger numbers. However, progress has been slow and fitful – certainly when compared with our near neighbours in Europe, where entire systems are being built in the time it takes us to get through mountains of paperwork.
“We wanted to see how we could put the future of modern trams on to a sounder footing. Our report suggests that leadership and co-ordination is key.”
The report says that although there have been some improvements in the way the DfT approaches light rail proposals, it still lacks a light rail strategy or centre of expertise, and neither does it treat light rail in the same way as other modes. There is also a tendency to micro-manage from the centre. Elsewhere in Europe, schemes are generally completed more quickly and efficiently, and often benefit from devolved decisions and local funding.
It points out that trams can bring many benefits, including reducing carbon emissions, improving air quality and aiding urban regeneration, which are not being fully taken into account.
The passenger transport executive group pteg is welcoming the report. Light rail spokesman Geoff Inskip said: “We fully support the MPs’ findings and the recommendations of the inquiry. The report presents a balanced picture of where the debate on the future of light rail in the UK has got to. It also sets out practical and helpful recommendations on the steps that government, promoters and the light rail industry should take to provide a better framework for developing tram schemes in the future. The MPs have mapped out a way forward for us – it’s now down to us, in partnership with Government and industry, to work through these recommendations.”