News / Transport
Could tram-trains be the future of transport in Bristol?
Is it a tram? Is it a train? No! It’s a tram-train and a group of campaigners think it could be the future of Bristol’s integrated transport network.
As the West of England Combined Authority’s metro mayor Dan Norris vetoes plans for a tube-style underground in Bristol, Bristol Rail Campaign (formerly Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) have suggested that tram-trains are the answer.
Already operating as part of a pilot scheme in Rotherham, tram-trains allow passengers to travel both on the existing rail network and on the street on one continuous journey.
“Tram-trains could allow us to build on the success of MetroWest rail services,” say Bristol Rail Campaign in a new article on their website.
“We believe that a mass transit system which can be extended incrementally, using known technology, is much more likely to be deliverable than one which relies on novel or untested systems.
“A tram-train system could serve Bristol Temple Meads station directly. The topology of Temple Meads makes it very difficult to access using road-based transport.
“Vehicles either stop on Temple Gate, a minimum 250m walk from the platforms, or potentially take a 300m detour into Friary – still leaving passengers 200m from the platforms.
“Tram-trains could connect to the existing rail network at Bristol Temple Meads Station adjacent to Platform 1, giving direct interchange with other train services.
“The JLTP4 (Joint Local Transport Plan 4) routes to Bath and Bristol Airport could connect the existing rail lines at Avonmeads, using a disused railway route as far as Callington Road. Other JLTP4 routes could also make some use of existing rail corridors.
“New tram-trains could replace the unsuited and dirty diesel trains currently used for MetroWest services. This could act as a catalyst for electrifying these services, and could be done ahead of the JLTP4 routes.
“These vehicles use tried and tested zero-emission propulsion. And their batteries allow tram-trains to operate in areas where providing overhead wiring is difficult.
“Experience elsewhere suggests that once a tram system is built and seen to work, it becomes easier to make a case for extending it. We CAN do this!”
Main photo: Network Rail
Read next:
- Rees envisages ‘chaos’ on Bristol roads without underground
- Remembering Bristol’s tram network
- ‘Trams should no longer be a relic of history but a lesson in possibilities’
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