West London Transit – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

The Uxbridge Road is an important transport corridor

WLT – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

But only PART of a large West London transport network

WLT as Tram or Trolleybus – What’s the Same?

1. Improved air quality

2. Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

3. Modern attractive form of transport

4. Level Boarding and Easy Access

5. Improvement in ride quality and safety

WLT – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

Trolleybus – What’s Better?

TramCosts: £450 million plus support

Requires maximum flows to justify

Large slice of investment ‘cake’

TrolleybusCosts: around £135 million

Cost effective at current bus levels

Money available for other projects

WLT – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

Trolleybus – What’s Better?TramRequires whole road dug up.Buses need to ‘feed trams’Stops segregated from bus

stops Tram operation of N 207

impossible

TrolleybusRoad works over short sectionsPresent network maintained Trolleybus and bus stops

integratedThe N207 operated by

trolleybuses

WLT – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

Trolleybus – What’s Better?TramBlockage = service disruption Kerbside - disabled

load/unloadCentre - right turns/delays to

tramsDemolition - vibrant shops &

residences

TrolleybusTrolleybuses divert - minimal

delayTrolleybuses can go around Trolleybuses go to left of traffic

Greater flexibility – No demolition.

WLT – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

Trolleybus – What’s Better?

WLT – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

Tram – TfL Claims to be Better?TfL claim tram is only option because:“Trolleybuses are untried technology” BUT over 360 trolleybus systems are in daily use.“Trolleybuses must be fully guided” BUT only one system is partially guided.“Trolleybuses would cost 70% of the tram figure” BUT TfL have never costed unguided trolleybus system“Trolleybuses could not handle the flow as they are too small” BUT 2 X 18 m. less than 40 m.- capacity equal“Only a tram will … eradicate congestion” WELL let’s examine that…….

WLT – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

Traffic Congestion (Tramway)TfL’s claim in reduction assumes:

1. Car traffic increases on road ‘as is’,2. WLT as tramway = car traffic ‘disappears’,3. New road does not cause new congestion,4. No transfer from other bus routes to car,5. Large number of car users transfer to tram.

WLT – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

Traffic Congestion (Tramway)1. Car traffic increases on road ‘as is’,2. WLT tramway = car traffic ‘disappears’.Difficult to reconcile these statements – figures

extrapolated from elsewhere.(1) no gridlock but ‘decline to 34kph.’ (2) TfL says traffic in other streets will increase but less

overall. Who wins?

WLT – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

Traffic Congestion (Tramway)3. New road - new (different) congestion?Example - West Ealing (Lido Junction) layout will

cause congestion (including buses)Stopped tram on shared highway = congestion. System disruption = widespread congestionNo simulations of the specific layout

WLT – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

4. No transfer from other bus routes to car,5. Large number of car users transfer to tram.Costs/disruption require traffic reduction. Patronage must be greater than bus usagePredictions inaccurate = scheme unjustifiable

Traffic Congestion (Tramway)

WLT – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

Choice of Modes

Convenience for required journey,Length of time of overall journey,Reliability,Comfort,Environmental ‘Feel-Good Factor’,Frequency and Price.(Passengers do NOT prefer steel wheels on rails!)

Passenger feedback shows -

WLT – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

Traffic Congestion and Modal Shift (Tramway)4. No transfer from other bus routes to carBus routes altered, more changes - confirmed by total

of bus users included in patronage,More composite bus/tram journeys,Overall less convenient, longer, less reliable, less

comfortable (walking/waiting in weather),Still partly using ordinary buses (now worse), Many bus users will transfer to car if they can.

WLT – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

Traffic Congestion and Modal Shift (Tramway)5. Large number of car users transfer to tram. MORI poll indicates car journeys not just along but also

across Uxbridge Road,Change car to composite bus/tram similar to bus users

in (4). Same comments apply,Other schemes: high modal change from car needs fast

journeys or ‘Park and Ride’ or both,MORI Poll confirms shift car to tram not large.

WLT – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

Traffic Congestion and Modal Shift (Trolleybus)4. No transfer from other bus routes to carHigh level of use not required to justify costs. No

‘manipulation’ of other bus routes No additional change required. Unavoidable changes at

same stops - no walk in the rain.No less convenient, no longer, no less reliable, no less

comfort. Improvement possible. No bus to car shift - possible shift car to trolleybus

because of bus improvements.

WLT – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

Traffic Congestion and Modal Shift (Trolleybus)5. Large number of car users transfer to tram. MORI poll shows Uxbridge Road flows by bus and car

across Uxbridge Road,Trolleybus also difficulties in shift from car. Much lower capital cost of trolleybus wouldn’t need such

shift to justify it.Saved capital can be used for range of options to shift

from car to public transport.

WLT – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

Government View

‘We have always said that trams can be effective but they won’t be suitable everywhere and there may be better alternatives. Tram schemes need to offer value for money and we do not approve schemes at any cost.’

John Twigg, Junior Transport Minister

West London Transit – One Track Mind or Broad Vision?

www.tbus.org.uk info@tbus.org.uk