• Major opportunity opens up for more, and more affordable, tram schemes

Commenting on the report ‘Green Light for Light Rail' (launched yesterday by local transport Minister Norman Baker) Jonathan Bray, Director of pteg, said:

‘This report is a clear and welcome statement that trams have a key role to play in urban transport policy and that if government and tram promoters work together we can lower the cost barriers that are currently preventing trams returning to more city streets. A major opportunity has now opened up to deliver more, and more affordable, tram schemes through effective joint working between Government, local transport authorities and the light rail industry.'

‘The report’s findings echo the outcomes of the joint pteg / All Party Parliamentary Light Rail Group inquiry in 2010 which focused on making tram schemes more deliverable by creating a steadier flow of tram schemes to encourage a UK market, tackling costs through greater collaboration between promoters and the industry, standardisation and calling to account the utilities companies.’

'We now look forward to working with DfT, UKTram and the wider industry to deliver the report’s recommendations’

Commenting further on the Sheffield - Rotherham tram-train pilot, Jonathan Bray added:

‘Across Europe tram-trains are now revolutionising urban transport systems and bringing down the costs of providing those systems. The UK trial of tram-train technology has been far too stop-start so far and there's a need to pick up the pace to get this trial fully underway as soon as practical. It's now a matter of when, and not if, tram-trains come to Britain's major cities so let's make the ‘when’ as soon as possible.'

ENDS

For more contact Jonathan Bray on 0113 251 7445 / 0781 804 1485

pteg represents the six Passenger Transport Executives which serve 11 million people in the largest urban areas outside London. With its associate members (including TfL and Nottingham) pteg represents the large majority of public sector promoters and operators of light rail and modern tram systems.