The rejuvenated Blackpool Tramway and the expansion of Manchester Metrolink have helped the number of light rail passenger journeys in England to increase yet again with a 9% overall increase shown in figures released by the Department for Transport. Just over 222 million passenger journeys were recorded on the eight light rail systems in England in 2012/13, up from 204 million in the previous 12 months.
It was always expected that the 2012/13 figures would show a major increase in journeys as for the first time in several years the whole Blackpool Tramway was in operation for all the year and extensions of Manchester Metrolink including those to Oldham and Rochdale and Droylsden opened. In addition the London Olympic and Paralympic Games gave a significant boost to the Docklands Light Railway which topped 100 million passenger journeys for the first time. The only other light rail system in the UK to enjoy an increase was London Tramlink.
The biggest increase was the Blackpool Tramway with 3.7 million passenger journeys recorded – the highest amount since the 2004/5 figures. This amounts to a 243% increase but there should always have been a major increase on the tramway as a result of a proper all year round service being operated. There was also a 360% increase in vehicle miles (although still the lowest operated mileage in England at 0.5 million miles) and a 187% increase in fare revenue (£5 million).
On Manchester Metrolink the continuing opening of extensions to the system has seen a 12% increase in passenger journeys with 25 million recorded. This ranks the system as fourth in England but 3.6 million vehicle miles (27% increase) were operated which is actually the joint highest of the eight systems. A 23% increase in passenger revenue was experienced with this figure being at £42 million.
Nearly 60% of all journeys on light rail systems are actually made in London with the Docklands Light Railway accounting for nearly 45% of these. A 16% increase in passenger journeys was seen on the Docklands Light Railway with 100 million passengers recorded. £124.9 million (increase of 17%) in passenger revenue was raised and there were 3.6 million vehicle miles operated. Meanwhile the other London system, Tramlink, saw a 5% increase in passenger journeys (up to 30.1 million), a 7% increase in vehicle miles (up to 1.8 million partly down to the introduction of line 4) and passenger revenue was up to £22.5 million (5% increase).
Unfortunately it isn’t all good news as all the other systems saw a decrease in passenger journeys with Nottingham Express Transit suffering the most with a massive 18% decline. Stagecoach Supertram was down by 4%, the Tyne and Wear Metro decreased by 2% and Midland Metro by 1%.
Although there was a major fall in journeys on Nottingham Express Transit the number of vehicles miles remained the same and there was just a 1% decrease in revenue (down to £8.5 million). Critics of the public transport system in the UK and the fare structure will probably leap on this as a classic example of what is wrong with it as although 1.6 million less passengers were carried the revenue barely fell.
Stagecoach Supertram suffered with the largest drop in revenue with a 7% fall to £14.4 million with the Tyne and Wear Metro having the biggest decline in vehicle miles (down 3% to 3.4 million – still the third highest in England).
With further extensions of Manchester Metrolink due to open (or already opened) for the 2013/14 figures it is hoped that next year’s figures will also see an increase in passenger journeys in England.
The Figures
Blackpool Tramway
Passenger journeys – 3.7 million (243% increase)
Vehicle miles – 0.5 million (360% increase)
Passenger revenue – £5.0 million (187% increase)
Docklands Light Railway
Passenger journeys – 100.0 million (16% increase)
Vehicle miles – 3.6 million (17% increase)
Passenger revenue – £124.9 million (17% increase)
London Tramlink
Passenger journeys – 30.1 million (5% increase)
Vehicle miles – 1.8 million (7% increase)
Passenger revenue – £22.5 million (5% increase)
Manchester Metrolink
Passenger journeys – 25.0 million (12% increase)
Vehicle miles – 3.6 million (27% increase)
Passenger revenue – £42.0 million (23% increase)
Midland Metro
Passenger journeys – 4.8 million (1% decrease)
Vehicle miles – 1.0 million (1% decrease)
Passenger revenue – £7.8 million (4% increase)
Nottingham Express Transit
Passenger journeys – 7.4 million (18% decrease)
Vehicle miles – 0.7 million (no change)
Passenger revenue – £8.5 million (1% decrease)
Stagecoach Supertram
Passenger journeys – 14.4 million (4% decrease)
Vehicle miles – 1.5 million (1% increase)
Passenger revenue – £14.4 million (7% decrease)
Tyne and Wear Metro
Passenger journeys – 37.0 million (2% decrease)
Vehicle miles – 3.4 million (3% decrease)
Passenger revenue – £43.6 million (2% increase)
* You can find all the facts and figures from the Department of Transport (including figures dating back to 1984/5) at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/light-rail-and-tram-statistics-2012-13
If we are talking mainly tramway then Docklands and Tyne and Wear are more akin to general railways with no street running and it is difficult to compare like with like.
As far as the Department for Transport are concerned there is only one tramway system in the country and that is Blackpool – everything else is considered a light rail system. I do agree, however, that both the DLR and Tyne and Wear Metro have very little relation to a tramway and are very much more railways but as far as the DLR is concerned we take anything we can get down south with very limited tramways to visit!