CBT’s ten-point plan for light rail

The Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) has issued a tenpoint plan to help light rail realise its full potential.

Speaking at the UK Light Rail Conference in Gateshead on July 12, CBT Head of External Affairs Norman Baker said: “Light rail is a great form of public transport, but it is not realising its full potential. Our new ten-point plan will help it do so.”

The plan says: Government to set a growth target for light rail use in its Transport Decarbonisation Plan.

Government to identify towns and cities that have no light rail network, and work with local transport authorities to remedy this (for example, Leeds).

Government to redirect a portion of the £27 billion road building programme to pay for light rail schemes.

Government to streamline the 1992 Transport and Works Act to make it easier and quicker to get light rail schemes up and running.

Light Rail Standards and Safety Board to review barriers to investment and encourage sector standardisation and cut costs.

Government to allow local areas to use the equivalent of the French ‘versement transport’, allowing local transport authorities to levy local business that will benefit from a light rail system, to help offset the costs.

Light rail sector to share best practice to bring down costs of new schemes.

Light rail promoters to consider very light rail schemes which cost less to install.

Government to help fund integrated ticketing between light rail, heavy rail and bus.

Department for Transport to produce an annual statement to Parliament on progress within light rail.