Transport - Paul Rowen's regular article in the Tramways and Urban Transit Magazine
Added 26/03/2009Paul Rowen MP is the Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Light Rail and current 'Parliamentary Campaigner of the Year' for his work on Light Rail including the extension of the Metrolink into Rochdale and the rest of Greater Manchester. Paul writes a column for popular industry magazine - Tramways and Urban Transit - the definitive light rail journal and is essential reading for all concerned with urban transport and planning as, in addition to its coverage of Tramways and Light Rail systems worldwide, it also covers all other major modes of urban transit. Paul used to be a Lib Dem Spokesperson for Transport and is still heavily involved in Transport issues.
Here you can find his regular columns.
Last month I visited the Bombardier tram factory in Vienna. It is an impressive site. Built less than 18 months ago – though the company and its predecessors have been in Vienna for 170 years; it was a shining example of a modern manufacturing plant.
Though the main reason for my visit was to see the first two trams being built for Manchester, I was able to see trams being built for Copenhagen, Linz, Vienna and Manchester.
The Linz tram was particularly interesting; though thoroughly modern it was a retro tram with wooden seats and wooden panels. In Crème and green it was the same colour as the Blackpool trams. I hope those looking at awarding the replacement for the Blackpool trams have a look at what is possible – whichever company gets the contract!
When I was first elected and speaking as a Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Minister we were repeatedly told that one off orders of small numbers of trams for particular towns or cities was one of the reasons why trams cost so much in the UK. However I feel that both major tram manufacturers – ALSTOM and Bombardier have now got on their books modular designs with a common technology but allowance to allow individual designs. The new Manchester trams reflect that and are superb.
My visit took place just after the government’s decision on the replacement of the heavy rail 125 – the workhorse of the intercity routes. Awarding the contract to Hitatachi - a company with no manufacturing capacity in the UK will have serious repercussions for heavy rail manufacturing capacity in this country – particularly in Derby. Back in the 80s and 90s we lost what remained of our tram manufacturing capacity because successive governments failed to place any orders for new trams. I fear we may go the same way with heavy rail but because we’ve not supported UK manufacturing.
On a more positive note the Light Rail All Party Parliamentary Group recently hosted a lunch with Alstom and Centro at which Transport Minister Paul Clarke MP was the main speaker. I feel that with him Andrew Adonis and Geoff Hoon we have the most talented and committed Transport Team – at least since I was elected.
With Edinburgh, Blackpool and Manchester with tram extensions/replacements currently under way and announcements on Birmingham and Nottingham imminent it is clear that the picture is much better than a few years ago. We are not out of the woods but we are on the way. Another positive outcome was the Minister agreeing to a joint rail/light rail group to meet industry experts to discuss the tram/train trial. This in my view offers the best long term prospect of extending trams to more areas. That meeting is scheduled for the end of this month and I will report next month on our progress.