Passengers, Technology and Regulation
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Conference Report Passengers, technology and regulation... TAUT presents some of the highlights of the 7th Annual UK Light Rail Conference, the leading forum for debate on the challenges facing the industry. REPORT BY SIMON JOHNSTON & TONY STREETER, IMAGES BY NEIL PULLING here are too many different UK ‘smartcard’ Right: UK Transport ticketing systems, everyone is nervously eyeing Minister Norman new technology and no-one seems sure whether it is Baker used the Treally necessary to spend tens or even hundreds of millions platform to confirm moving pipes and cables before new track is laid. formal funding These issues, and concern that not enough is being done to approval for the UK’s build more systems when the present expansion is complete tram-train trial on in three years time provided lively debate at the 7th Annual 17 May. UK Light Rail Conference in Manchester on 16-17 May. A record attendance of promoters, operators and infrastructure owners, many from across Europe, heard first Below (left to right): day chairman Ian Brown give the “tremendous news” that Metrolink RATP the UK Government is in the mood to invest in light rail Dev’s Managing despite the delicate state of the economy. Director Chris Mr Brown, who during his time with London Rail steered Coleman welcomed massive cash injections into the Docklands Light Railway delegates; and Tramlink in Croydon, said the winners will be those who the Paris-based RATP Group, suggested: “There are understand the Government’s agenda. This is a determination many challenges in operating successful systems that are to attract more international investment, improve transport Manchester undergoing expansion. It is all about being reliable yet infrastructure such as with the High Speed 2 rail link from Metrolink Director flexible, and working with the client to fix issues together. London to the West Midlands and beyond, as well as toll Philip Purdy Playing it contractually is not our culture.” [Transport for Greater Manchester] is looking to build new Above: Sharing Technology roads, more air capacity, and light and heavy rail schemes. explained the need Including experience from Roger Harrison, Chairman of cycle hubs and to cater for cycling facilities further.” best practice The UK’s Light Rail Conference has a strong reputation for The mood of the audience soon changed however, with for better modal Tramlink Nottingham, all agreed that operating contracts In terms of LRT’s future in the UK, Thomas J Potter from – leading figures debating the latest technical innovation, and taking up the general regret that the mixed fortunes of the first two decades integration to entice needed to be flexible enough to cope with changing events Norconsult and former UK All-Party Parliamentary Light from UK operators, ‘wired-versus-wireless’ debate in 2012, Vossloh Kiepe’s of investment in second-generation tramway systems have people out of their and follow the ‘spirit’ of the contract between the authority Rail Group Chair Paul Rowen gave the fascinating double- sitting from left: Stuart Kerr began: “All the vehicle builders have systems created barriers to standardisation, the most obvious being cars; and operator, rather than literal meanings. sided presentation ‘Convincing the Politicans’. Paul Scully, Veolia they can offer, depending on the opreator’s requirements. high-floor tram operation on Manchester Metrolink. Mr Potter explained his experiences in Bergen, Norway, Transdev, Richard So, are we ready technologically? Yes. However, we need Conference Passenger and politician involvement home to the Bybanen tramway that opened in 2010. the will and the understanding to progress further. We International collaboration McClean, DB Regio delegates benefitted Working with passengers and stakeholders, and clear “The immediate reaction to a light rail scheme is… often Tyne & Wear, have batteries, ‘supercaps’, fuel cells and solutions like Pulling together better was a key theme at the start of the two- from demonstrations communication, are key to developing trust and negative,” he said of the time before a project is finished, Thierry Ossent, Bombardier’s Primove system, but what’s the expectation? day event, with leading operators highlighting the benefits of the latest understanding, delegates heard. While Roger Harrison “so you have to work not just toward the politicians, but “For running 500m in front of historic monuments there derived from the experience of being part of worldwide groups. emphasised the importance of “understanding the local also the population in general.” RATP Group, Roger is a definite benefit, but running 10km on a permanent basis technology from the Harrison, Tramlink Paul Scully, Operations Manager of the Luas light rail industry’s leading culture”, DB’s Richard McClean recognised the importance Such is Bybanen’s success in doing this that a second is a very different set of parameters... None of the systems system in Dublin, said: “It’s a great demonstration to of digital media and social networking for operators. section is to open in 2013 and a third section (to the airport) Nottingham. currently on offer are 30-year systems, so we don’t have the manufacturers and Conference Chair our client that support was there from the beginning, and suppliers; Mr McClean said: “Social networking, Twitter and in 2016; two other expansions are also planned. figures to make lifetime cost comparisons. There are many because Veolia Transdev is in so many countries if an issue Facebook, as well as internet and email alerts, give us a way Mr Potter said the Bergen tramway now had a positive Ian Brown CBE (far variables over size and lifecycle of battery, weight and what left) moderated the arose or a question needed to be answered we could cast the Norconsult’s Thomas of communicating as cost-effectively with as wide a base as standing among residents, and that this had come about you wish to achieve – each authority/operator needs to net worldwide for support and possible solutions.” possible in real-time. They’re essential parts of the toolkit.” through a process of careful engagement, such as carrying debate. answer these questions for themselves. DB Regio Tyne & Wear MD Richard McClean agreed: J Potter discussed Improving connections and convenience for the travelling both the ‘pro’ and ‘anti’ arguments on the project’s website, “Fuel cells offer a good solution, but most applications “We have two parents, DB and Arriva. While it’s obviously how to achieve public also featured strongly in the presentation of plus being prepared to meet people to discuss the issues. have been seen on rubber-tyred vehicles so far so there are beneficial to have the back-up in terms of systems, political ‘buy-in’ to Manchester Metrolink Director Philip Purdy. He said: “We’re Such activities, he argued, showed “you can be trusted.” vibrationary issues that aren’t clear. The life of a fuel cell technology roll-out, rolling stock, driver aids, safety and LRT projects at an improving park-and-ride facilities and creating new projects “We had a very good reputation among the public, even is 6-12 000 hours, so again the lifetime costs aren’t clear.” energy efficient operations it’s also important not to neglect early stage as well to increase capacity for cars from 1100 to 3500 vehicles on for people who were opposed to the project.” “In terms of batteries, we will learn a lot from the the local customers and existing knowledge base.” as demonstrating the new network. There is also a perception that Metrolink Mr Rowen, formerly a UK member of Parliament and investment in the automotive sector. So to see what’s going Leading the panel debate on operator best practice, the benefits to is against cycling. We do have a policy of no bikes on our heavily involved in the successful campaign to see Manchester on in the future, we will get a benefit from this sector.” Thierry Ossent, Director of International Relations for future passengers. trams, but nothing could be further from the truth as TfGM Metrolink’s expansion approved, continued the theme from On the topic of smart ticketing, although new systems a UK perspective, arguing that the proposed changes to are poised for launch in Manchester and Nottingham, more ‘local’ decision-making could become game-changing. Tyne & Wear Metro MD Richard McClean confessed he In the UK, he added: “the problem that’s bedevilled us was confused by the number of incompatible travel cards is that there’s been a two-stage process in light rail. You’ve he now has to carry in his wallet. He questioned whether got to get buy-in at a local level and then… you go into a Manchester Metrolink’s new touch-and-go travel cards lottery at national level, some of which you win, some of were yet another example of a lack of national integration. which you don’t.” Manchester, whose operations have just transferred from He added: “European experience… is a faster delivery, Stagecoach to RATP Dev control, has put integration with cheaper development and a… political consensus.” bus, rail, car and cycling modes as one of its priorities. However, he argued that although local funding “means Innovations in track maintenance and predictive inspection you are not dependent on what central government techniques were also outlined in depth by Dr Jay Jaiswal deems to give us” he added a warning that such a funding from Tata Steel and Dr Rob Carroll from Stagecoach approach also contained “great dangers.” Supertram. These are examined in greater detail on page 268. 254 JULY 2012 www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org Reproduced with permission of Tramways & Urban Transit Reproduced with permission of Tramways & Urban Transit www.tramnews.net . www.Irta.org JULY 2012 255 Conference Report Procurement Mr Robey also believes there is still life to be had from One of the most significant panel debates was seen at the Midland Metro’s 16 soon-to-be redundant Ansaldo T69 end of the first day, and looked at procurement strategies trams, suggesting that overseas operators have shown and whether there are cost and efficiency savings to be made “serious’ interest and that they still have a life of 20 years.