*Provisional name
Above: Map of an outline of the proposed Regional Scoping Study for Rapid Transit in the West of England. An outline of the study is further down, and we are talking to several global engineering consultants to develop this fully.
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Dr Walmsley was formerly Fixed Track Executive at the Confederation of Passenger Transport and, before that, worked at the Transport Research Laboratory, mainly on public transport projects. Since retiring in 2012, he has worked on a European tram safety project and on some projects for UK Tram.
*CMILT: Chartered Member of the ILT.
**MCIHT: Member of the CIHT.
Please get a free ticket here:
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Here are the Inaugral WETA meeting notes, followed by the introductory letter. There are also links to the talk itself and a video of it:
Final meeting notes for 1930hrs 22 Oct WETA* West of England Transport Association Inaugural Bristol Royal Infirmary Meeting Notes.
*Provisional name
NOTES ON THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE PROPOSED NEW GROUP, WETA* WEST OF ENGLAND TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION FOLLOWING PROFESSOR MARK BARRY’S LECTURE 1930 hrs 8th Oct.
15 persons attended.
The meeting commenced with introductions, names, and affiliations.
The chairman David Andrews set out the overview of the proposal: which is to create a new group WETA mutually affiliated with all interested parties: other transport groups, businesses, and political parties, particularly with WECA West of England Transport Association and to raise money to conduct a scoping study into rapid transit options for the wider Bristol/Bath area including Thornbury, Portishead, Radstock, etc.
It was emphasized that this would not be a campaigning pressure group as such but a completely cooperative group, working with authorities, businesses and communities. It was also emphasized that this was the approach taken by Professor Mark Barry.
Gavin Smith, an experienced transport planner who has worked for Bristol City Council and several other LAs, then set out in more detail what the approach could be. He referred to the two-page notes already circulated and included again here. Using a similar approach to the one outlined here, Gavin whilst a transport planner for the London Authority persuaded AECOM a global engineering consultancy to do s similar study into what was called the West London Freight Line, and as a result had it transformed into an essential part of the overland railway network in London. ( Those orange lines on the map)
He stated that we are already aware of two major global engineering companies of the calibre of our Mott MacDonald, AECOM, WSP, Arup etc interested in our project.
A senior planner, in one of the big consultancies, who had worked on several very well-known light rail schemes was also keen to work with us.
(note also, not mentioned at the meeting that Professor Barry has also agreed to work with us as part of the group)
We also have the cooperation of the large local legal group Burges Salmon who kindly provided us with a meeting room for the other professor Barry meeting and also did the legal work for the contract for the Cardiff Light Rail
Councillor David Wilcox of the Bristol City Council transport committee opined that the new group should be working with WECA as they were the only show in town.
Gavin Smith stated the view that indeed we would work with them, but it will do no harm to also come up with a fundamental analysis and share it with them as per Professor Mark Barry’s approach in Cardiff.
One of the attendees disagreed and was very firm we should not overcomplicate the issue by producing a grand plan simply picking one route.
The chair responded that we had to show that we were serious and taking a global view. No one would take seriously any group that just offered out of the blue a single technical option and route. He emphasized the need to have everybody inside the circle and to make compromises. He also quoted the architect of Chicago who said, “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably they themselves will not be realized”. Note also the requirement for a TWAO. See later.
The proposed £20,000 analysis would come out with a sub-set of obvious routes to choose from. It is well known that whenever a single new tram line is built there is an immediate clamour to extend it because people then realize how excellent they are.
A senior medic from the BRI firmly suggested that the obvious route was from Temple Meads into the centre of Bristol via Temple Way.
The chair agreed and noted this had already been covered In a report associated with the Light Rail Transit Association (LRTA), download here:
The best mass transit route for Bristol.
(One of the authors of the above report, a respected planner, Professor Mike Gibson is also keen to work with us)
Gavin Smith suggested that YTL due to their corporate power would make the proposed rail connection to the YTL Brabazon Hanger venue into light rail fairly quickly. YTL are experienced tram and train operators worldwide.
David Redgewell strongly supported a route from the airport to Temple Meads taking in an arc through South Bristol and thence via the old Brislington-Temple Meads railway alignment. He stated that this would be important for the regeneration of South Bristol.
A further point raised by David Redgewell is that there is only one more WECA meeting (in January 2025) before the mayoral election which takes place in May 2025. It was agreed that we should circulate our policy paper to all candidates for that election.
Jeff Manning said he would deal with the process of agreeing a name for the group.
The chairman emphasized the intention to work closely with all local official bodies such as WECA and to support any existing proposals such as reopening the Portishead line
Generally, the meeting was receptive to our proposal and keen to be involved, time permitting.
ENDS
Note on picking the best route TWAO. Some attendees advocated picking the best route and building that first. Unfortunately, this is not possible because any new tram railway requires a Transport Works Act Order TWAO.
This cannot legally be granted unless a process as outlined by Gavin Smith has been carried out first, and then a more detailed study which specifically has to examine alternative corridors and alternative modes.
Best Wishes
David Andrews
00 44 (0)7795 842295
Notes:
-
- We have a video of the lecture downloadable from here: https://mbf.me/5MIv0k
- Please join the WETA.groups.io email group which can be used for offline discussions – invites have been sent which can be used for offline discussions – I will send them again if you want, let me know
- Here is a video for the lecture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnlambueWW4
- Prof Barry has just published his online book covering these matters https://cardiffmetro.wales/
- The slides from Professor Barry’s talk can be downloaded here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/dvnzedjplsr8q9apzakqu/M-Barry-Metro-and-Cardiff-Oct-2024-for-Bristol-DRAFT-1.pdf?rlkey=s3dvwddrv1qguej5lll3xabsf&st=yee89apd&dl=0
- Professor Barry would be most keen for any donations to the charity he has run a half marathon for lobular cancer: Lobular Breast Cancer UK (https://www.justgiving.com/page/mark-barry-1721734420943)
DRAFT COMMISSION FOR A REGIONAL SCOPING STUDY OF RAPID TRANSIT OPTIONS FOR THE WEST OF ENGLAND
Prepared for West of England Transport Association (WETA) by GS. 10/11/24.
- EARLIER AND ONGOING STUDIES
There have been several. Yet none:
- have a regional metro West of England perspective (equivalent to that of the Welsh Assembly study for Cardiff, Newport and the Valleys),
- replicate the Welsh study’s full evaluation of existing regional transport infrastructure,
- are neutral with respect to mode (whether rail, tram, bus rapid transit or bus),
- have been the subject of widespread public information and debate.
In approximate date order, these partial studies are:
- Advanced Transport for Avon, 1987 (see for example http://claphammodelrail.com/fancyapps-fancyBox-18d1712/demo/The Avon LRT Bill 1.pdf ).
- Avon County Council, then Bristol City Council/South Gloucestershire Supertram proposals, 2004 (see Wikipedia>Bristol Supertram).
- WECA’s MetroWest rail plan (available at: http://westofengland-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/transport/metrowest; Wikipedia>MetroWest (Bristol) ).
- Bristol & Bath Area Tram Association studies of trams for Bath (see bathtrams.uk/ solving-baths-traffic/one-set-of-proposals-for-a-new-tram-layout).
- TFGB/Zero West’s Bristol on-street tram study (available at: tfgb.org>campaigns> Moving Bristol Forward>detailed study).
- Bristol City Council Mass Transit studies, 2023 (search: Bristol City Council mass transit).
- West of England Combined Authority Cttee, 2024, Outline Business Case, WEST Rapid Transit. (See ….
Each of the above give useful insights, yet are insufficient for purpose at the required regional scale.
- AN OUTLINE REGIONAL SCOPING STUDY FOR RAPID TRANSIT IN THE WEST OF ENGLAND
INTRODUCTION.
QUANTITATIVE DEMAND EVALUATION, OR REGIONAL NETWORK VISION?
Conventional ‘transport planning’ in Britain has relied heavily on ‘transport models’ (see Appendix 2) – a very expensive form of mechanical trend planning, in which large consultancies have cornered the market. This is far less so on the Continent, where planning combines parallel land-use development and transport investment decision-making and is more vision-led. (Modelling there is confined to engineering detail, as in micro-modelling for junction capacity design). Fortunately, the latter is now much more the case in locally-controlled metro city planning, and was true for the Cardiff, Newport and the Valleys.
Rather than assume transport investment should follow ‘demand’, metro, Continental and Welsh practise is that investment and service provision can create demand. Such an approach amply was justified by Mayor Ken Livingstone’s Greater London Council’s policies of Fares Fair (lowered public transport fares) and the London Overground (orbital rail services) in the 1980s.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
We take the view that the West, in order to continue to prosper, requires a modern regional and urban Rapid Transit (‘metro’) network comparable to our neighbouring metro regions, the West Midlands and South Wales, and standard world-wide.
In the continued absence of such a network, the West inevitably will remain car-dominated and car-dependent, with all the concomitant problems of inefficiency, inequality, congestion and pollution.
A low-investment solution – such as one relying on buses or bicycles – is no solution; nor regarded as such by other metro areas. We need a plan ready, consulted upon and agreed, to be enacted as soon as initiating funding becomes available.
The most recent example of such a plan is that of Cardiff, Newport and the Valleys, which, as we intend for the West, was first mooted by not by the official planning authorities, but by community, academic and business interests. We intend to replicate that situation here in the West, and for that purpose outline in this document a scoping study, to be carried out by a competent engineering consultancy and thereafter advocated to all regional political bodies, the media and the public, in order to create a groundswell of opinion sufficient for it to come to pass. As happened in Wales.
A second major area of concern is that a rapid transit plan should be instrumental in decisions as to where new housing should be built in the region. The government has set Local Authority housing targets. Accessible housing development and transport planning must proceed in parallel.
The study should include the following elements.
AN EVALUATION OF EXISTING REGIONAL TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE:
Rail-based
Mainline rail
To London, Birmingham, Cardiff, Taunton, Salisbury and via Bristol Parkway.
Additional MetroWest lines
To Severn Beach, Avonmouth/Henbury, Portishead. Additional RT stations.
Potential rail re-openings
Thornbury-Yate,
Yate-Westerleigh-Mangotsfield-Fishponds-(Temple Meads),
Clevedon-Yatton,
Bath-Radstock.
Map 1 – A Potential Expanded MetroWest Rail network
Existing lines, planned lines, other options.
Road-based
M32
Avon Ring Road
Other wide highways
Suited to relative ease of RT partial conversion.
- In Bristol: Easton Way/St Philips Causeway, Bond St/Temple Way, Clarence Rd/Commercial Rd, Redcliffe Way, Redcliffe Hill/Bedminster Parade, Malago Rd, Callington Rd/Airport Way/Hengrove Way/Colliters Way, Whitchurch Lane (part), Hartcliffe Way, Winterstoke Rd, Brunel Way/Ashton Rd, Portway, Falcondale Rd, Passage Rd/Cribbs Causeway, Hayes Way, Highwood Rd, Gloucester Rd North, Park Ave, Bradley Stoke Way, Gypsy Patch Lane/ Winterbourne Rd/Great Stoke Way/Stoke Gifford Bypass, Bromley Heath Rd.
- Keynsham Bypass/Bath Rd (part – to Brislington P&R).
- Long Ashton Bypass.
Former on-street tram routes
More expensive.
- Bristol: city centre circuit, Gloucester Rd, Fishponds Rd, Lawrence Hill, Bath Rd, Wells Rd, Bedminster Parade, Hotwell Rd, Whiteladies Rd.
- Bath: city centre circuit, London Rd, Upper Bristol Rd, Lower Bristol Rd, Wellsway.
Map 2 – Highways suitable for RT.
Easier; more expensive.
PARALLEL TRANSPORT PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS:
Integrated public transport ticketing
Form, and organising body.
Potential additional Park&Ride schemes
RT line outer terminus sites
Motorway exits M4 J10, J19; M5 J15, J16, J17, J18, J19.
See also ‘former on-street tram routes’ (above, outer termini).
Rail/motorway crossing sites.
Interchange hubs
Phase 1: Bus/bus; bus/rail if at station. Phase 2 upgrade to RT interchanges where appropriate.
In Bristol: Temple Meads, Bristol Centre, Haymarket, Cabot Circus, Old Market, Filton, Aztec West, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol Parkway, Southmead Hospital, Emerson’s Green, Fishponds, Staple Hill, Kingswood, Redfield, Longwell Green, Brislington P&R, Arno’s Vale, Broadwalk Knowle, Hengrove Park, Bristol Airport, Imperial Park, Bedminster Parade, Ashton Gate, Avonmouth, Severnside.
Workplace Parking Levies
à la Nottingham
City centre vehicular access schemes
Bristol, Bath.
Closure of car-commuter rat-runs
Bristol CC’s Liveable Neighbourhoods initiative.
Bath.
Completion of Residents Only Parking Zone rings
Bristol,
Bath.
Highway heavy goods routes and their requirements
Break-of-bulk depots, access vehicles.
AN ANALYSIS OF RAPID TRANSIT OPTIONS:
Integration of Rapid Transit with rail, bus, car and cycle
Ticketing, interchange hubs, complementary routes, Park&Ride, cycle parking and cycleways.
Route options
Rail corridors, rail/highway Rapid Transit route options, bus corridors, orbital routes.
Vehicle types and route capacities
Heavy rail, tram-train, tram, bus, bus rapid transit.
Depot sites
Note existing rail depot sites at: East Depot Whitby Rd, St Philips (several), Totterdown, Bedminster Down, South Liberty Lane, Filton Triangle. Safeguarding thereof.
Possible site options at out-of-town RT termini.
Route safeguarding
Which alignments and sites require safeguarding. By which Authority and by which device?
Compulsory purchase
Sites where land is an issue (safeguarded alignments, required route realignments, station sites, depot sites, P&R sites).
Approx costs and benefits per line
Land acquisition, track costs, signalling, bridges etc., rolling-stock, depot, stations/stops. Anticipated demand, route capacity and predicted usage.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Selected schemes for further study
Recommended RT network, specific lines. See Appendix 1.
Phase 1: heavy rail and bus options
Phase 2: partial conversion to Rapid Transit
Optional pilot route.
HOW TO MAKE PROGRESS:
Who needs to be brought onboard at an early stage?
WECA, Local Authorities, MPs, town campaigns in Portishead, Clevedon, Thornbury, etc., Civic Societies, individual LA officers, local media, business organisations, universities, transport campaigns, major local businesses, Port of Bristol, YTL (Filton Airport), Network Rail officers, DfT, Labour Ministers, possible civil engineering consultancies, possible rolling-stock manufacturers, grant-giving bodies for the study.
Media campaign
Public meetings
Political assent
No vision or plan is likely to succeed unless it has general buy-in: it needs to be cross-Party.
Incremental and realistic
Due to financial constraints, implementation can only be incremental. An early relatively low-cost success is required, in order to establish public confidence, political support and to increase the likelihood of further government and private investment. Flashy expensive vanity white elephants Bristol has seen before, and is unimpressed by; they are dysfunctional and time-wasting. As illustrative only, initial schemes might for example be any or some of:
- a South Bristol-Severnside bus,
- safeguarding, through the planning system, rail alignments and rail depots,
- de-motorwaying the M32,
- an Avon Ring Road bus, Keynsham-Emerson’s Green-Bristol Parkway-Cribbs Causeway-Severnside,
- an integrated rail/(future tram)/bus WEST ticketing scheme (like London),
- compulsory purchase of future Park&Ride sites,
- an upgraded Henbury-Temple Meads rail service,
- an upgraded West Wilts rail network service levels,
- an M4 Park&Ride bus, via the M32 to Bristol Centre,
- a reopening of the Henbury rail Loop,
- a Bristol Workplace Parking Levy.
To give due credit, most of the above can be regarded a continuation of existing progress with the WECA MetroBus and MetroWest programmes. So far however, no regional integrated rail/tram/bus rapid transit plan has been formulated or agreed. Therefore at the same initial stage, work should begin designing and initiating a pilot tram scheme. This might be, for instance:
- tram-trains operating on the Henbury or West Wilts rail lines,
- a rail line re-opening,
- a Bristol city centre tram circuit,
- (after the current Portishead tail scheme has been implemented), a phase 2 Portishead scheme: as RT, with additional stations at Ashton Court, Ashton Gate and with a Park&Ride at M5 junction 19. (A phased eventuality occurred for instance with London’s Docklands Light Rail).
- a more complex mixed rail/highway tram scheme perhaps:
- Thornbury line-Yate-Westerleigh line-Emerson’s Green-Avon Ring Road-M32-Bristol Centre, or
- Temple Meads-Brislington line-A4-Bath/South Bristol-Bristol Airport.
A West of England regional RT metro would be an incremental 25 year project, gaining annual government grant inputs, local financial contributions (through a Workplace Park Levy for instance, or land value capture schemes) and private investment. A metro system for the West needs to be prepared to catch the government’s windfall of pension funds investment; we must not miss our chance yet again.
APPENDIX 1. SPECIFIC ASSESSMENTS OF PREVIOUSLY SUGGESTED SCHEMES
Any scoping study should ensure that at least the following previously suggested pilot schemes be evaluated for practicality and value-for-money.
Rail up-grades
- An up-grade of MetroWest to Rapid Transit. Include services to Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Warminster, Frome.
Rail re-openings
- Portishead-Temple Meads. (Agreed, but perpetually delayed, perhaps due to its limited ambition). Prepare a phase 2 scheme: an RT service, additional stations at M5 J19 P&R, Ashton Court, Ashton Gate. Could be tram-train. Requires negotiation with Port of Bristol re shared freight usage.
- Henbury-Temple Meads. (Funded and in progress). Prepare a phase 2 scheme: an RT service, complete the ‘Henbury Loop’ connection to Avonmouth, additional stations at Chittening, Hallen. Add a service direct to Bristol Parkway. Add a link into Cribbs Causeway. Could be tram-train. Requires negotiation with Port of Bristol re shared freight usage.
- Clevedon-Yatton. A shuttle RT service, or heavy rail through to Temple Meads. Requires M5 bridge, route realignment in Yatton, line safeguarding. Could be tram-train.
- Thornbury-Yate. A shuttle RT service, or RT through to Bristol Centre (via Yate-Emerson’s Green rail alignment, Avon Ring Road and M32 – see below). Stops at Grovesend Rd Thornbury, Tytherington M5/A38 P&R, Iron Acton, alterations to Yate. Requires possible new bridges at A38 and M5. Line safeguarding. Could be tram-train.
- Radstock- (No details available).
- Yate-Westerleigh-Emerson’s Green-Staple Hill-Fishponds-(Temple Meads). Could be reopened in part or whole, as RT. Requires negotiation with existing oil depot rail user. Could be tram-train. Negotiation with cycling interests re parallel usage (as on Warmley-Saltford line). Enables a Yate-Bristol RT service while avoiding Westerleigh viaduct mainline congestion point. New stations at Westerleigh, Emerson’s Green. If continued to Temple Mead, requires bridge at Avon Ring Road.
- Whitchurch-Temple Meads. (Variously planned as a highway or as rail re-opening for bus or RT). Re-opening could be partial, to Brislington (either A4, or Callington Rd) or to Whitchurch. Whitchurch A37 P&R. Negotiation with cycling interests re parallel usage. Links into Bristol-Bath routes, and South Bristol orbital (see below, 14).
- Wapping Wharf line (Harbourside-Ashton Gate). Owned by BCC. Formerly used for Harbour (Steam) Railway. New Cut (Ashton Ave) Bridge currently used by ‘guided bus’ Long Ashton P&R MetroBus service. Formerly proposed as an RT route between Bristol Centre-Spike Island-Cumberland Basin-Long Ashton potential housing development area. Requires engineering evaluation of Ashton Ave. Bridge.
Highway repurposings
- M32. Both BCC and Highways England policy is to de-motorway, due to environmental and network considerations, and the cost liability of its existing grade-separated structures.
Prepare a phase 1 scheme: M4/Avon Ring Road P&R, bus-lanes, bus service to Bristol Centre.
Prepare a phase 2 scheme: demolition to surface level, RT lane(s), continued usage of rest as a lorry and general distributor traffic route, bus/RT stops at junctions, pedestrian crossings.
- Bristol City Centre Circuit. Temple Meads-Temple Gate-Bond St-Haymarket-Lewin’s Mead-Centre-Baldwin St-Bristol Bridge-Victoria St (or Centre-Prince St-The Grove-Redcliffe Way-Temple Meads).
Existing P&R bus services circuit.
Prepare a phase 2 scheme: upgrade to RT. Could be tram-train. Links into M32 routes and all former Bristol on-street tram routes (see 13, below). If tram-train, could link into Temple Meads RT routes at Friary. Requires engineering evaluation of Bristol and Redcliffe Bridges.
- Portway (Hotwells-Avonmouth). Existing partial bus-lanes for P&R bus service. Prepare a phase 2 scheme: RT, linking Bristol Centre to Severnside. Hotwells and Avonmouth interchanges.
- Avon Ring Road. Keynsham-Filton-(continue to Cribbs Causeway-Severnside). Bus/RT lanes, traffic signals, bus/RT stops, pedestrian crossings, several P&R site options.
- Other orbital routes. Orbital bus services. Possible phase 2 RT sections.
- Easton Way/St Philips Causeway. Stops at junctions and Avon Meads, can continue to A38 via (Lower) Ashley Rd.
- South Bristol orbital 1: (Brislington P&R-West Town Lane-) Callington Rd-Airport Way-Imperial Park-Hengrove Way-Colliters Way-Long Ashton P&R. Links through to Brunel Way-Portway-Severnside. Could branch to Bristol Airport via A38.
- South Bristol orbital 2: Hengrove Park-Imperial Park-Hartcliffe Way-Winterbourne Rd-(linking to Long Ashton P&T and/or Hotwells).
- Brunel Way. Replacement bridge needs to be tram-compatible. A possible component of South Bristol orbital extended to Severnside via Portway, and of Bristol-Bristol Airport route via Bristol Centre-Hotwell Rd-A370-Colliters Way-A38.
On-street tram options
More expensive.
- Bristol radials: see above (‘former on-street tram routes’).
- Bath radials: see above (‘former on-street tram routes’).
Mixed rail/highway RT schemes
- Bristol-Bath. Temple Meads-Whitchurch rail re-opening-A4 Bath Rd on-street-Bath. And/or linking into South Bristol orbital 1 (see 14, above), This scheme is a component of several former and on-going studies. Could be bus, bus rapid transit or tram. Could be extended to Bristol Airport via A38.
- Thornbury-Yate-Bristol Centre. Thornbury-rail reopening-Yate-Westerleigh line reopening-Emerson’s Green-Avon Ring Road-M32-Bristol Centre. (See above, 5, 7, 13, 10, 11). Could be tram-train.
APPENDIX 2: QUANTITATIVE DEMAND EVALUATION
A conventionalThe Map v2 24-11-16 modelling study would include the following:
A map and scaling of the main population (‘origin’) centres
Bristol, Bath, Swindon, Corsham, Keynsham, Warminster, Westbury, Trowbridge, Bradford on Avon, Melksham, Chippenham, Frome, Midsomer Norton/Radstock, Shepton Mallet, Wells, Cheddar, Weston super Mare, Bridgewater, Taunton, Burnham, Yatton, Clevedon, Nailsea, Thornbury, Yate/Sodbury, Winterbourne/Coalpit Heath, Stroud, Chepstow, Newport, Cardiff, Gloucester, Cheltenham.
A map and scaling of the main ‘destinations’
City centres, suburban centres, out-of-town retail centres, employment centre, universities, hospitals, sports/entertainment facilities, transport hubs.
Within Bristol: city centre, Filton, Aztec West, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol Parkway, Southmead Hospital, Emerson’s Green, Fishponds, Staple Hill, Kingswood, Redfield, Longwell Green, Brislington, Broadwalk Knowle, Hengrove Park, Bristol Airport, Imperial Park, Bedminster Parade, Ashton Gate, Avonmouth/Severnside.
