To celebrate the start of work there was an official “cutting of the first sod” ceremony on Tuesday (21 February).

Roy Wicks, the Director General of the SYPTE, said: “There has been an increase in the number of customers using Sheffield Supertram in the Malin Bridge area, many of whom travel to the tram stop by car from places such as Stannington and Loxley. We hope by introducing over 100 park and ride spaces at the tram stop it will encourage more people to leave their car on the outskirts of the city centre rather than driving into work everyday. Park and ride sites are a convenient, good value and easy way to travel to work and means you don't have to worry about congestion."

When completed the site will have space for 104 cars, including 7 for disabled users and 5 cycle stands. It will have CCTV cameras and a barrier controlled entrance and has been designed to achieve Park Safe standard. It will be fitted with good lighting and will have a riverside footpath around the edge of the site, along with seating.

Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, Cllr Terry Fox, said: “I am confident that this Park and Ride facility will be well used. It offers motorists the opportunity of making their journey to work as stress-free as possible and gives them a very practical alternative on how they travel into the city centre."

It is planned that the site will be ready to open in mid summer 2006.
Source: SYPTE

DARLING: NET EXTENSION DECISION “CLOSE”
Sunday 26 February 2006
Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Transport, has claimed that a decision on the proposed extension of Nottingham Express Transit will be made within months (but how many? 12? 24? 100?)

Mr Darling told the Nottingham Evening Post: “I would hope for a decision within a matter of months and certainly, I would hope, during the course of the summer. The first part of Nottingham's tram line, which I opened in 2004, has been very successful."

He added that the DfT has held up a decision on funding because they are waiting for further information from the city and county councils – particularly on the funding issue.

Pat Armstrong, project leader for Nottingham Express Transit said: “It would be helpful to the people who have concerns over the project and want some certainty. And it would obviously be of importance to those who want to see the benefits. Also delay is costing money - the inevitable fact is that the costs go up the longer it is delayed."
Source: This is Nottingham & BBC News Online

THE LATEST NEWS FROM CRICH
Sunday 26 February 2006
Work on London United Tramways 159 continues to progress with the body structure now having been completely wet fitted with the basic saloon shell now complete. The panelling of the saloon is now virtually complete and first fit of the saloon door gear has been undertaken, revealing a number of areas which will require adjustment. The platform areas are now complete and have been floored. Meanwhile, there are serious fractures in the driving wheels of the trucks and it has also been confirmed that the wheels are unsuitable for use in a standard gauge truck.

Leeds 602 is still being prepared for a repaint, and it is hoped that this work may commence soon. Meanwhile, the condition of the tyres on the north truck of Blackpool Standard 40 is causing concern. It is hoped to lift the car and re-tyre the wheels on both trucks soon.

* Why not become a member of the Tramway Museum Society? As well as helping the future of trams in the UK you can get free entry to the museum as well as other benefits including a quarterly magazine and a monthly newsletter.
Source: Contact from the Tramway Museum Society

CALL FOR PROBE INTO LIVERPOOL COUNCIL CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Sunday 19 February 2006
The leader of the opposition on Liverpool City Council, Cllr Joe Anderson, has called on an inquiry into the behaviour of outgoing Chief Executive, Sir David Henshaw, in respect to the Merseytram failure.

At the recent Judicial Review it emerged that Sir David Henshaw sent a report containing concerns about the financial implications of the tram to the government before senior councillors had seen it.

Cllr Anderson said: “The people of this city have a right to know what went on and I am convinced that they will be extremely annoyed that the chief executive's actions were not the actions of someone who supported the tram project. I ask that you give consideration to suspending the chief executive until there is a full and independent inquiry."

The leader of the Council, Cllr Bradley commented: “I am looking into this matter and awaiting legal advice on some of Cllr Anderson's comments. As far as suspending Sir David or his deal, that is not something I am considering at the moment."

Not unsurprisingly Sir David Henshaw declined to comment on the matter.
Source: icLiverpool

EDINBURGH WANTS TO HEAR RESIDENTS VIEWS ON THE TRAM
Sunday 19 February 2006
Edinburgh City Council are urging city residents to let them know their thoughts on the proposed tram scheme. Despite having already gone through the public consultation into the scheme transport chiefs have been urged to get further views with many wanting a referendum.

The council are currently redrawing their local transport strategy and have distributed thousands of forms through the capital asking for ideas. Anti tram campaigners want residents to use this form to let their feelings known on the trams.

* Meanwhile, Scottish Gas and Telford College have warned the City Council that they may be unable to recruit and retain staff and students if the tram line to Granton is not built on time. At the present time this line will only be built if other sections are completed on time and in budget.
Source: The Scotsman

DUDLEY COUNCIL LEADER DRIVES TRAM
Sunday 19 February 2006
Cllr David Caunt, the leader of Dudley Council, got to drive a Midland Metro tram within the confines of the Wednesbury depot as he got a taste of what is to come for Dudley when the extension is built to the town.

Cllr Caunt met Cllr Gary Clarke, Chairman of the PTA and Cllr Roger Horton, lead member for Metro at the depot on Friday (17 February). After he received an initial introduction he got to drive a tram on a siding within the depot.

Cllr Horton said: “Cllr Caunt’s interest in driving a tram shows his enthusiasm for the Metro extension through the Dudley borough. The project is very important for transport and regeneration in the Black Country and having the ongoing support of Dudley Council is a great benefit for the scheme.”

Cllr Caunt signed an agreement for the extension of Midland Metro via Dudley town centre to Brierley Hill last month, to outline the authorities relative roles in the funding, construction, operation and maintenance of the route. Cllr Caunt said: “The Metro extension is a very exciting prospect for local people. The extended line will not only make travelling around the area much easier and more convenient for everyone, providing an attractive alternative to the car, but it will also bring regeneration, jobs and other socio-economic benefits to this part of the Black Country.”
Source: Centro

NO BLANK CHEQUE FOR EDINBURGH TRAMS
Sunday 12 February 2006
The Scottish Executive Transport Minister, Tavish Scott MSP, has said that he is not willing to write a blank cheque to fund the Edinburgh tram proposals. Sound familiar? It may echo the views of his counterpart in London, Alistair Darling, but there is one difference in that the funding awarded of £375 million will be linked to inflation meaning that if the project is approved money of £400-£500 million will be given.

Mr Scott revealed this at the Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Bill committee meeting held last week, where MSPs had the first chance to question the key players in the scheme since it was revealed it would be built in phases.

Mr Scott said after being questioned: “This is not a transport minister who is going to write an open chequebook or hold the chequebook in that way. This is someone who wants to make sure we get clarity about the numbers, we deliver what we say we're going to deliver and we do it in the timescale we've outlined."

He added that although he backed the Council’s plan to build the system in phases the Executive had only backed the scheme in principle so far. Final approval would depend on a robust business case – which should be completed by the end of the year.

At the same committee meeting it was revealed that completion of the two tram network could be delayed by 10 years – to 2020. The first phase of construction of the line from Leith to the Airport should be completed by 2010 if approval is given by the Scottish Executive but if funding is not in place the northern loop via Roseburn and Granton and a section from the airport to Newbridge could be delayed by 10 further years until that money is in place.

The loop between Roseburn and Granton Square should be built by 2015 at the latest (costing £75 million) but the £45 million stretch eastwards to Leith could be delayed by a further 5 years. The Newbridge section is also likely to be delayed too. It is hoped this will not be the case as there should be spare cash from the £55 million contingency fund for at least the loop.

Michael Howell, Chief Executive of tie, warned that if delays were incurred in construction of these additional lines costs could rise by 50%. He said that an additional £23 million may be added to the total cost if this happened.

Despite the Scottish Executive providing somewhere between £400 and £500 million and Edinburgh City Council £45 million there is still a funding shortfall. It is hoped that the gap will be plugged by applying for Executive grants and using profits from tram ticket revenue. It is also expected that contributions will be forthcoming from developers across Edinburgh.
Source: The Scotsman & BBC News Online

BLACKPOOL GAZETTE LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO SAVE TRAMS
Sunday 12 February 2006
The local newspapers for Blackpool, The Gazette has run stories this week on the future of the Blackpool Tramway and urging the government to approve the funding needed for its upgrade. The stories were run whilst the Labour Spring conference was in town with Prime Minister, Tony Blair, giving a speech on Friday.

As BRITISH TRAMS ONLINE has previously reported, Blackpool Council have put a £88 million plan on the table to upgrade the 11 and a half mile tramway from Starr Gate to Fleetwood. The articles in The Gazette mention just what this plan will include:
* Replacement of all track not treated in the last 3 years
* Replacement of the overhead equipment north of Thornton Gate
* Purchase of 16 low floor trams (Skoda Astra’s have been mentioned)
* Creation of low floor accessible platforms
* A new depot for the trams on the site of the Blundell Street car park (and of course the site of the former tram depot)
* The rebuilding of the workshops at Rigby Road

The bid has been backed by both Blackpool Borough Council and Lancashire County Council and the North West Regional Assembly put the bid for funding into their plans back in January. The government are only being asked to provide 75% of the money (only £66 million) with the council’s committed to finding the remaining £22 million from other sources.

It has also been revealed that if the upgrade plans are thrown out by the DfT the tramway will only run between Bispham and Pleasure Beach – meaning £2million would have been wasted on track replacement in the Little Bispham and Fleetwood areas in the last few years.

Steve Burd, Managing Director of Blackpool Transport – operators of the tramway: “We're in a situation whereby parts of the tramway and the electrical infrastructure will only last for a few years. Government funding for a tramway upgrade is therefore essential. Without this funding it's inevitable the tramway will have to be reduced in terms of its total length over the next few years. The limited financial resources available will have to be concentrated in the core central area between Bispham and the Pleasure Beach. If something major goes on another section of track, it will lead to the closure of other sections."

If, and with this government it is a big if, the bid if approved by Alistair Darling, the new low floor trams would be used on a 10 minute headway all year long. They are also likely to be supplemented by a small fleet of heritage trams for a tourist route – but only if an exemption is given to the DDA which states all public transport vehicles must be accessible by 2020.

Philip Higgs, trustee of the Lancastrian Trust and a transport consultant commented about the use of heritage trams: “It would be similar to the way that while updating its buses to low floor models, London still retains some of its traditional Routemaster buses to use on heritage routes. Trams have a place in modern transport especially with fuel shortages. Electricity can be made from a number of sources. In any European city you will find an extensive tramway system."

Mr Burd added: “The bid has to demonstrate the tramway system isn't just used by visitors, but by locals as well, and if the service is enhanced to be low floor, it will encourage more people to use it. The council is very aware of the proposed impact of the masterplan. If regeneration is successful and we get a super casino, travel demand will increase even more. That's one of the reasons the tramway needs to be upgraded because the road system is unlikely to be able to cope with all the extra people coming into town."

Local MP Gordon Marsden (Labour, Blackpool South) said: “I continue to make the arguments about the unique nature of the Blackpool tramway, both in terms of its existing importance to both tourists and residents, and its potential importance on the back of regeneration. I hope that delegates and ministers coming to the Labour Spring Conference will see first of all that although it's a very fine system, it's clearly in need of an upgrade. They can see for themselves that we are not exaggerating the need. In terms of cost, the social need and the fact we need to upgrade to offer full access for disabled people are all strong arguments. It's a working tramway and it's important we get that across so the ministers don't see it as something that if we can throw some Lottery money at it, that will do instead."

The final word goes to Mr Higgs: “It would be a brave politician who risked the future of the country's oldest electric tramway. Because Blackpool already has a tramway the actual cost of the bid isn't as significant as other bids that the government has declined for new systems. Without this funding the future of the tramway will be put in jeopardy. We're hoping it will survive in its entirety to celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2010. It has been listed as an icon on the government's website, and it is an icon, not only of Blackpool but of the country just as much as Big Ben or Yorkshire Pudding."

The two articles on the Blackpool Tramway can be read in full here and here.

* With the Labour Spring Conference in town it would have be a great opportunity for Blackpool Transport to put on extra services on the tramway to show delegates just what the tramway is about. Instead, in their wisdom, they decided to put Line 1 buses to transport extra passengers. Surely this shows the government that Blackpool can cope without the trams if they have a bus route which duplicates it?
Source: Blackpool Today

NET EXTENSIONS: THE WAIT CONTINUES OVER 700 DAYS LATER
Sunday 12 February 2006
On 8 March 2004 at Beeston Town Hall, Alistair Darling, then, and unfortunately still now, Secretary of State for Transport, said: “to do nothing is not an option. You need to decide what to do and decide quickly", in respect to the extensions to NET which had just opened in Nottingham city centre. Since this date both Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council have done their bit but still a decision is awaited on the plan – 706 days on (at the time of writing). Now Beeston and Chilwell for Integrated Transport (BACIT) have launched a “Blight-o-Meter” on their website showing all the broken promises of the government.

Steve Barber, the chairman of BACIT, said: “It is affecting people who have a house along the route and there is a lot of development planned but everyone is waiting to see what happens. We have been getting the same line from Government for 700 days."

But any hopes of a decision coming soon from the government will appear to be quite quickly dashed. Prime Minister Tony Blair has written to Broxtowe MP, Nick Palmer, in response to a question. Mr Blair said: “Government needs to be as confident as possible at this stage about the proposed funding route and that, if the scheme were approved, the risks of subsequent increases in costs had been minimised. Once the additional information has been received, the Government will endeavour to reach a decision on granting Programme Entry as soon as possible."

The letter revealed that the DfT have asked for the dreaded further information from the councils before a decision was made. This “further information” was also requested from Liverpool and Leeds before their projects were thrown out. In fact many cynics may suggest that the request for more information is just a prelude for more delays and then a final rejection because “costs are too high” and can’t you do it so much cheaper with buses so we can use the money for something far more important like 10 more lanes on the M25.

The Blight-o-Meter can be found here and also shows several other broken promises from men in the government.
Source: This is Nottingham

CROYDON TRAMS TO RECEIVE ELECTRONIC DESTINATION BLINDS
Sunday 12 February 2006
All the tram in Croydon are to receive new electronic destination blinds in the near future to replace the current blinds – which were themselves replacement sets to comply with the DDA.

In addition to the blinds being replaced a new automatic next stop voice announcement system will be fitted which will use GPS to pinpoint the location of the tram. This system is similar to that which is being fitted to the trams on Stagecoach Supertram in Sheffield. The main reason is to cater for the proposed timetable change expected some when in 2006 due to the addition of the Centrale stop.

All the trams are to receive a modification to the operation of the passenger doors. In future once the doors are opened they will remain so for 2 minutes to avoid them closing on people or buggies. The driver will be able to close them before this time as well.

2538 is back in service following the damage sustained in the incident at New Addington although it will have to return to the workshops for attention to its driver door once other trams have returned to use. 2533 remains out of service awaiting parts before its own repairs can be actioned.

This news has some from the Unofficial Croydon Tramlink website, whose news service makes a welcome return following legal issues. For full news on the above stories and other news from the system including details on Operation Smart End click here.
Source: Unofficial Croydon Tramlink

HILLINGDON COUNCIL WITHDRAWS TRAM SUPPORT
Sunday 12 February 2006
Ealing Council are all alone in their support of the West London Tram after Hillingdon Council formally withdrew their support. Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats backed the motion to object at the end of January.

Cllr Will Brookes, Conservative transport spokesman was happy with the outcome and urged Ealing Council to bow to the inevitable: “This is a deeply unpopular scheme for good reason. It will make congestion worse not better in Ealing, and it will blight the lives of thousands of residents who will suffer from traffic diverted to outside their homes. As further details emerge it becomes ever more obvious that residents will not wear the chaos and disruption that Mayor Livingston wants to foist on us. Labour Hammersmith and Fulham Council recognises this and Conservative Hillingdon does too. We need Ealing Council to abandon its dogmatic faith in Ken Livingstone's pipe dream and stand up for local people."

However, Ealing Council cabinet member for transport and planning policy, Cllr Ray Wall, said: “Ealing Council will continue to support and promote the tram because of the very real benefits it will bring to the people of Ealing and west London. Given that half the tram's route as well as key destinations are in Ealing, with only smaller parts running through Hillingdon and Hammersmith and Fulham, it is important that Ealing continues to work with Transport for London as it is our residents that will be far more affected than those in neighbouring boroughs."

The deeply unpopular scheme now has Hillingdon, Kensington & Chelsea and Hammersmith & Fulham opposing it. It would link Uxbridge with Shepherds Bush and would cost £650 million to construct. Is it now time for Ken Livingston, Mayor of London, to concentrate on the Cross River Tram scheme?
Source: Ealing Times

CONFERENCE TO HEAR GOOD THINGS ABOUT MIDLAND METRO
Sunday 12 February 2006
A national conference supported by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, is to show how the Midland Metro line from Birmingham to Wolverhampton has benefited the local economy.

Cllr Gary Clarke, chairman of the WMPTA said: “The Midland Metro is established as the most reliable form of public transport in the region, but the benefits to passengers is only a part of the story. This study visit will also stress the importance of an integrated transport system and how getting this right is vital to the future of all our towns and cities.”

The conference will take place next week (13-15 February) and has been organised by the Local Government Association at the Birmingham International Convention Centre. It will include a study tour of the Midland Metro tomorrow (13 February).
Source: Centro