Letter: Another look at tram idea
Wednesday 15th July 2009, 5:32AM BST.
LETTER: I am writing in response to Dr Maxwell Winchester’s letter relating to Councillor Mansel Williams’s call for trams to solve Shrewsbury’s traffic problems as a ridiculous idea.
There is, being developed at present, an idea of promoting tram travel on current operational rail tracks, which are not utilised to their full capacity.
Why don’t we have a tram terminus at Meole Brace retail park to serve the retail park, football stadium and park and ride car park.
We only need two platforms either side of the main line, then use the main line and perhaps have tram stops accessible to the public at Sutton Bridge/Coleham before going into shared platforms in the station.
Or we can go around the loop, have a tram stop by Monkmoor Road Bridge and perhaps at Belle Lane and go as far as a parkway station tramstop by the Emstrey Island. From the station a crossover would have to be installed to take trains and trams up to Harlescott.
There would be costs involved with signalling, track and infrastructure alterations, but I am sure the cost would not be as involved as flipping up our town streets to lay lines.
It just needs all parties getting together and looking at a feasibility study.
On another point, what has happened about the idea of trying to reopen the path from the south end of platform three down into the English Bridge and Abbey Foregate car park?
This would save a lot of cars driving into the station and Howard Street car park, it’s worth discussing with all parties.
David Giddins
Shrewsbury
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Someone else with their head in the clouds.
Tram fans take note: There is going to be no money for tram schemes – and very likely any other form of transport, the way things are going.
Investment in high quality and high frequency buses might be the way forward – expensive though it may be, its going to be infinitely cheaper than these pie in the sky tram schemes.
If Shropshire Council did put money into a tram ‘feasibility study’ it would be public money down the drain (again) because it is never ever going to happen. Surely they can see that?
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Network Rail and Arriva Trains Wales would never allow this tram-train idea to happen.
It would also be uneconomical for a town the size of Shrewsbury. The money would be better used to improve the bus services. A new bus station, new environmentally friendly buses and new routes and more frequent services.
The only rail related improvement that should be made – which would be served by real trains, not trams – is a station at Harlescott, near the level crossing. That would be feasible as the line from Shrewsbury to Crewe already has a stopping service (calling at Yorton, Wem, Prees, etc) and it would not cause too much problems for Network Rail as there is already a signal box there.
As for the pathway to be opened from the station to the Gay Meadow… yes, of course this should be opened. But once again Network Rail, in their infinite wisdom, won’t allow it. Even though it would be a safe route and one that could be locked at night.
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Pie in the sky rubbish, it will never happen.If their is money to be spent i suggest it goes to regenerate areas of shrewsbury such as meole brace estate ditherington etc etc .Lets tidy up this town.
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Are these people living in the real world. There is a recession on the country is billions in debt and I am sure whatever government is in power woukld laugh this crazy idea out of court. There is such a thing as priorities.
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That’s an easy one, I totally agree with all three comments above. I would put it a bit stronger though than “head in the clouds” (Jeepers) and “pie in the sky rubbish” (Andrew).
This is the biggest load of little round objects that I have ever read in my life and the best I can think of, is that the letter writer was “with the fairies” at the time of writing. Utter piffle.
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Do these transport experts ever read railway mags that will tell of umpteen feasability studies costing megamillions in areas of large population that have been cancelled.Shrewsbury has no chance.The only route put forward for serious discusion on tram /rail systems is on the route from Penistone to Sheffield and Barnsley has been like most transport ideas on hold for 2 yrs.There is a system on the Newcastle Metro line to Sunderland where tram.Rail work together but Healty and Safety issues meant that was held up for years b/f coming into full service
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what a sensible idea to open a station at harlescott. why not a station at bayston hill, hanwood and a parkway station at walcot. this would reduce motoring in the county town. and while they are at it if there is not a station at baschurch build one.
the parkway station at walcot could serve either telford or shrewsbury.
just a pipe dream but more of a chance than trams in the town
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I think the positive element about the tram plan is that those proposing it have realised that there must be a public transport alternative to the expensive (£100 million) North West Relief Road plan, which will destroy the green wedge, which makes Shrewsbury such a unique place.
Surely those who value our local environment would support this shift in emphasis.
With peak oil on its way and the imperative of policy decisions, which match the UK’s international rhetoric on tackling climate change, a modal shift from private to public transport is vital if we are to keep Britain moving and set a positive example for the rest of the world to follow.
If Shropshire Council is genuinely going to prioritise combating climate change and clean up air quality, its scarce resources should be invested in smaller, cheaper, smarter transport policies than a costly road or an expensive tram project (both of which would inevitably run over budget).
We should invest in increased pedestrian crossings, more cycle paths and cycle courses for novices, as well as marketing for lift-sharing schemes and car clubs.
Money should also be invested in making bus fares more affordable and helping bus companies convert their fleets to less polluting vehicles.
Fitting all buses with “Continuously Regenerating Particulate Traps” (CRTs) in their exhaust systems would reduce particulate emissions, clean up our air and raise the quality of life here.
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Since this letter was aimed at me, I think it only reasonable to take the time to respond.
Firstly, if we are going to talk about public transport solutions, we should probably get our terminology right. The system I said won’t work, is a tram system, and anyone who thinks it will work really does have their head in the clouds. The system being described in this letter is, in fact, not a “tram” system but a “light rail” system.
Many people have made comments above that I’d agree with. It will be very difficult to get such a large amount of money for such a project. The other aspect is that it would need to be seen whether light rail gauge is compatible with what Arriva run. These are just two issues that require investigation. In spite of this, in principle, I think this is an excellent long term solution for Shrewsbury’s transport woes.
But let’s in future get our terminology right. We are now talking about a LIGHT RAIL system, NOT a TRAM system. Okay?
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Why are we even considering this Railway Heritage Museum proposed by Mansel Williams?
There are so many of them round here, Brignorth, Tysley, Telford, Llanfair and Llangollen with actual trains that run from them that I fail to see why £400,000 should be set aside to open a tiny bit of station platform that was in use once (big deal). We have Victorian railway and housing heritage all over the country.
This money could help so many other schemes that have floundered recently or charities that are in great need. Shrewsbury Voluntary bureau closed a couple of months ago so where are the volunteers to man this rail nostalgia magnet going to come from. Surely nobody believes it will be self financing?
The tram concept would not be feasible in Shrewsbury financially or aesthetically but the frequent cleaner smaller buses feeding the centre from aound the town sounds acheivable and tourist friendly.
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if trams are desirable and yet not economic, we should be asking WHY? they are greener and cheaper to run so what are the barriers to capital being invested, i suggest if the profit is not there on the infrastructure then the public sector should invest public money in it because it will boost our economy and protect our environment in the long term, private returns may be low but public benefits are huge, come on council, build us a world class public transport system like the swiss
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we dont want trams they are EU style things, i like to drive, only the loony left like trains and trams and things, get in your car i say, and conservatives will cut petrol tax because we are the party of the motorist unlike clown brown who just follows EU rules and tries to create buses everywhere with MY hard earn taxes
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Personally, in addition to a new stop at Harlescott, I’d like to see a daily train service from Telford to Shrewsbury.
At about 8 in the morning and back at 5.30 in the evening would be great, as it would let me catch the train to work instead of driving to Shrewsbury along the M54 and A5 and back. It might also be nice to have a train or two at other times of the day to let people from Telford go shopping in Shrewsbury.
But, of course, I suppose that really is a “pie in the sky” hope.
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They are not a green option partly because they need sufficient numbers of users to be viable. Shrewsbury is not a large enough town, the streets are not wide and components required to support trams would be visually negative to the historic centre.
Would we like to see trains running within feet of the Abbey again?
Perhaps Councillor Williams should use some of the £12,000 expenses he now receives to fund more details when he chooses to use his position as a councillor to make a proposal.
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You mentioned the difficulties in getting ‘a large amount of money for such a project’, Dr Winchester.
Are you in favour of an even more expensive, even more controversial and environmentally destructive North West Relief Road?
£100 million is a huge amount in these cash-strapped times, and would surely be better spent investing it in a sustainable transport system, subsisdising eva land’s ‘frequent cleaner smaller buses’ among other smart measures, wouldn’t it?
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