'Follow the Money Sell the Benefits'
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UK Light Rail Conference ‘FOLLOW THE MONEY SELL THE BENEFITS’ Innovation and investment he 12th running of the UK Light innovation. Delegates came from 12 countries Rail Conference took place at the to the event – supported by Transport for was debated by senior University of Manchester on Greater Manchester, UKTram and the figures from 12 countries at 18-19 July, with over 260 Department for Transport – that also featured delegates debating key issues exhibits from leading industry suppliers and the UK’s premier industry Ton the future of the mode, and with service providers alongside a walking tour of conference and exhibition. presentations and panel debates on core the city’s Second City Crossing. Networking strategic, technical and operational issues. sessions were hosted by KeolisAmey Docklands, TAUT rounds up just a few With an ever-growing international a drinks reception was held by Keolis and a of the highlights. presence, the event is a showcase in the summer barbecue event for all delegates was promotion of technology and public transport hosted by event organiser Mainspring. The conference began with a keynote speech from Transport for Greater Manchester Chief Executive Dr Jon Lamonte who outlined the city’s 2040 vision. The region’s Metrolink network celebrated its 25th birthday two days before the event – it now stretches to over 90km (56 miles) with 120 high-floor trams. Dr Lamonte said: “We want to be a top-flight world city by 2025. The region is experiencing a population explosion; we’re at 2.8 million now and expect to be well over three million by 2040… we are experiencing some of the fastest growth outside London.” “In transport terms, we expect an extra 800 000 journeys each day by 2035-40 and the regeneration and transport opportunities offered by devolution are enormous. Our residents tell us they want access to jobs and opportunities, while businesses want access TOP: Manchester was the host city for the 12th ABOVE: Delegates participated in two halls of to new markets. The future generation, if Annual UK Light Rail Conference, in Metrolink’s 25th interactive debate over two days, offering challenging we’re going to stop them disappearing off on anniversary year. All photography by Neil Pulling viewpoints to the presenters and panellists. HS2 to London, need to see a future here.” 328 / SEPTEMBER 2017 www.tautonline.com . www.lrta.org “We’ve seen the largest Metrolink expansion has contributed investment in public significantly to modal shift in its quarter- transport outside century history, but there is much more to do, London, and a significant Lamonte explained: “Only 11% of trips ‘FOLLOW THE MONEY in Greater Manchester are made by public part of that has been transport right now. In contrast, about 60% funded by local people.” are made by car. The problem is that 31% of people in Greater Manchester don’t have Dr Jon Lamonte access to a car and 37% of job-seekers talk CHIEF EXECUTIVE SELL THE BENEFITS’ about lack of access to transport as one of TRANSPORT FOR the real barriers to getting a job. We’ve got GREATER MANCHESTER to make walking, cycling and the public transport offer more attractive to them. “Follow the money. “There are many challenges to overcome. Following the money What’s the impact of Uber? What’s the Transport impact of autonomous vehicles? Frankly we for Greater means following the just don’t understand right now. These are Manchester beneficiaries of better the sorts of challenges that this group can Chief Executive public transport and start to tackle and that’s why I’m delighted to Dr Jon Lamonte helping them to recognise described how he the benefits.” be here to open this important conference.” wants his city to The welcome was followed by TfGM’s new a ‘world leader’ Geoff Inskip Head of Metrolink, Danny Vaughan, who in transport CHAIR took the opportunity to thank outgoing innovation and UKTRAM operator Metrolink RATP Dev and welcome service delivery. the KeolisAmey Metrolink partnership that took over operations and maintenance of the International experience Meanwhile in Sweden, the city of Lund light rail network just days before the event. Tranvía de Zaragoza’s line one is “the spine of is planning for an expected increase in “Metrolink isn’t the easiest network to the city”, explained Ana M. Moreno, General population from 116 000 to 190 000 by 2050; operate,” Vaughan told the audience, “it’s Manager. This Spanish city of 700 000 opened 40 000 people already use the central station technically very complex with constraints all the 12.8km (eight-mile) route with 25 stops in each day. Work started earlier this year on over the place. Growing capacity is going to 2013 under a PPP with 80% private and 20% a 5.5km (3.4-mile)/nine-stop line that is be a key challenge, so we need to think about council backing. With 100 000 users each planned to open in 2019. things like investing in even more vehicles or working day, Zaragoza’s trams carry more The massive project to double the size of possibly extending vehicles – we need to get passengers than any other in the country; the Paris Metro from 200km (124 miles) to out heads around that challenge. during the famous Festes del Pilar festival in 400km outrivals all other French transport “Vehicle and infrastructure reliability October, it runs a 24-hour service. schemes, explained Elodie Hanen, SYSTRA’s needs to grow, as does customer satisfaction.” It has been measured that emissions in Director of Group Transverse Development. On the future, Vaughan was optimistic. some parts of Zaragoza have fallen by 33% Initiated in 2008, the official start of the “Will there be a Metrolink Phase Four? since the opening of line one, and that programme was marked in 2010 by the Probably. There are extensions such as 19.6m litres of fuel are saved per year – some passing of the ‘Grand Paris’ law; among other continuing the Trafford Park line to Port 24% of passengers now leave their car at things this enabled the creation of a dedicated Salford, that’s a very real possibility. home (Tranvía de Zaragoza won the Best public agency, Société du Grand Paris. “A western loop would also complete the Environmental and Sustainability category at The scheme has three objectives – with circle of the Airport line. We’re investigating the Global Light Rail Awards in 2016). housing and urban development closely orbital routes, tram-train routes – so we’re Against this background, plans have linked to transport. Of the latter, in addition keen to see what happens in Sheffield. A little been unveiled for a second line expected to to the new automated lines, the project covers wishful thinking maybe, but if Manchester cost EUR200.5m, which will run east-west modernisation of the existing metro system. grows in the accordance with the plans then connecting the railway station with the city As an idea of the scope, Société du Grand we may be looking at underground solutions centre. This 9.8km (6.1-mile) line will feature Paris has powers to act as a land developer in the not too distant future.” 20 stops, with an expected demand of 19.6m around stations – this extends for a radius of Peter Jones, Project Director of delivery passengers/year. It is predicted that a further 400m unless a specific contract is signed consortium MPT (VolkerRail, Laing O’Rourke four million passengers will use line one as a with local authorities/stakeholders. There are and Thales) not only gave delegates a guided result of the new route’s opening. 21 such specific urban planning contracts. tour of the 2CC project on the second day, he Bernd Reuß from the ‘Light Rail Day’ event There are to be 68 new stations, and 85% of also gave a presentation that outlined some updated the conference on Scandinavian the new network is to be underground. The of the construction techniques involved in projects. He outlined the plan for a Green line first section should open in 2019. delivering such a complex scheme in a busy in Copenhagen, stretching 28km (17 miles) Mark Walbrun from consultant Mott modern city environment. with 28 stops to connect to existing urban rail MacDonald travelled from Chicago to offer Jones commented: “The key challenge was services. Opening is planned for 2023-24. between disruption to the service versus the Aarhus, Denmark’s second-largest city with most economic build option. The option some 325 000 people, is integrating 98km chosen was phased works with two summer (61 miles) of existing railway as a tram-train closures of two months each to build the lines service – electrified as part of the scheme – quickly and effectively without causing too with 12km (7.5 miles) of new line. The new much disruption. This has been an excellent route will be operated by Stadler Variobahn call as it hasn’t disrupted patronage. vehicles, while Tango units will run over the “Things such as precast platforms allowed existing route. The infrastructure is nearing us to make best use of the tight construction completion and some 17 of the 26 trams have windows and we also re-used a tower crane been delivered; opening of the DKK2.5bn from an adjacent development, also by (EUR336m) project is planned for September. Laing O’Rourke, to minimise disruption. Separately, Odense, with 200 000 people We’ve planted 22 semi-mature trees, some of but 45 000 students, has a DKK3.17bn which are on platforms – a first for the UK. (EUR426.3m) project to build 14.4km Tranvía de Zaragoza’s General Manager Ana Delivered to budget, and early, it has created a (8.9 miles) of line.