TramTrains for Bristol – A News Release From the LRTA

I include this news release from the LRTA because of the similarities with Rail For The Valley’s campaign to reinstate the Vancouver to Chilliwack interurban service. Diesel light-rail is of course, a tramtrain!

PRESS RELEASE FROM

TramForward

21 January 2009

TramForward

suggests TramTrain for Bristol Metro

Light rail campaign

TramForward has welcomed support for the idea of a Bristol Metro as asignificant step in the right direction but considers that it can only meet its full potential with a rail link into the centre of Bristol.

TramForward believes that rather than wasting resources on the bus link to Ashton Vale, which could be better served by connection to the Metro, efforts should be concentrated on providing a tramway to link the Metro into the central area to permit the operation of tram trains.

While the proposed half hourly service is a good start, to be really successful some of the routes would need a higher frequency service. This combined with direct access to the central area would make a significant improvement to Bristol’s traffic.

It is welcome that the West of England Partnership and the four local Authorities are beginning to get the message but they need to be far more ambitious to if they are to create a real Metro for the Region.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1.

TramForward is the campaigning arm of the Light Rail Transit Association.

2. The Light Rail Transit Association is the world’s leading organisation campaigning for better public transport through light rail, tramway and metro systems in our towns and cities for 70 years. It also supports the revitalisation of suburban and rural transport through the application of light rail.

3. The LRTA acts through its network of local branches, which campaign for better transport in their localities.

4. Membership of the LRTA costs under 12p a day. To join, visit www.lrta.org or write to the Membership Secretary, LRTA, 38 Wolseley Road, Sale, Greater Manchester, M33 7AU. Members of the LRTA receive the monthly magazine Tramways & Urban Transit – written and read by experts in the field – and gain other benefits including discounts on videos and books, tours of transport systems and cut-price admission to selected transport sites.

5. Press enquiries – please contact:

Geoff Lusher, Deputy Chairman, Light Rail Transit Association

86 Heritage Court, Warstone Lane, Birmingham, B18 6HU

Telephone 07768 457911

E-mail glusher@lrta.org

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