| Title | Date Entered | Updated |
| Independent Study Backs Bristol's Plan for Tram to Parkway | 10 January 2003 | |
| Council Agreement | 18 July 2002 | |
| CityLink dissolved | 28 March 2001 | |
| Government announces backing for tram scheme | 28 March 2001 | |
| "Bristol Electric Railbus closes" | 27 October 2000 | |
| "Council backs Electric Railbus" | 10 Sept. 99 | |
| Permission for PRT test track refused | 10 Sept. 99 | |
| City Center route | 03 Aug. 99 | |
| Rapid Transit consultation announced | 19 Jan. 99 | |
| Green trams for Weston-Super-Mare? | 19 Sept. 98 | |
| HOV Lane on Avon Ring Road | 02 Sept. 98 | |
| Bristol Light Rail moves one step forward | 14 Aug. 98 | 19 Sept. 98 |
| Quality Bus Partnership signed in Bristol | 23 July 98 | |
| Electric bus arrives in Bristol | ||
| Problems for Railbus | ||
| New route for Line 1? | ||
| Parry People Mover - Portishead? |
The study by transport experts WS Atkins, which was funded by both councils, confirmed that the plan for a tram line to Parkway is feasible and offers real benefits - but rejected South Gloucestershire's favoured scheme to Cribbs Causeway.
It showed that the Cribbs Causeway option was never realistic because:
See Comment page.
Bristol and South Gloucestershire Councils have come to an agreement over the way forward for the trams project under which Bristol with take forward the section from Bristol to Parkway via UWE while S. Glos. will concentrate on the section from Parkway to Cribbs Causeway. Both sections will be tested by Bristol's new WS ATkins model and submitted to government in time for the Local Transport Plan (LTP) Settlement Letter. Dependent on the outcome of the evaluation then either one or both could then be progressed to obtaining permission under the Transport and works act procedure. This agreement comes after many months of delay caused by the late decision by S. Gloucestershire to extend the route to Cribbs Causeway which was opposed by Bristol on the grounds that it would delay the project further, which it has already done, and that it might jeopardise Government funding, which it might still do.
The Bristol Citylink consortium formed to bring the Bristol light rail proposals to fruition has been dismissed. This is apparently due to Government legal advice that with the revised funding arrangements the scheme must go back out to tender. Members of the consortium would be free to submit tenders.
The consortium had intended to provide 60% private sector funding, which would have been the highest so far achieved, but this is now likely to be reduced to 20%.
Although Bristol City Council's transport executive Labour Councillor Helen Holland has indicated that it wasn't a hitch for the project, and said that "on the contrary things are moving on", it is likely that the re tendering precess will add a further delay to the already extended timescale of the project. Seeing that both Leeds and South Hants, which have their powers under the Transport and Works Act and now are entering the tendering stage, indicate operation in 2006 it would seem likely that completion in Bristol could not be expected before 2007.
The plans for Line 1 of the Bristol/South Gloucestershire light rail scheme has received backing from the Government in the form of an announcement that providing certain details are resolved it would provide financial support to a greater extent than had previously been expected. The current cost is estimated to be £194 million of which it is understood that the private sector would be expected to provide 20% with the rest coming from Government and local authorities.
The press release from Bristol City Council states:
This decision will allow the two councils to apply later this year for powers to build the scheme under the Transport and Works Act following agreement with Railtrack and resolving outstanding matters with the Highways Agency in connection with Junction 16 of the M5.
The £194m supertram, which the Government is now committed to substantially fund, is a key element of the Bristol Local Transport Plan, which was produced following widespread consultation and support from the public and business community. The plan, which received high praise from the Government and led to the city being recently awarded Centre of Excellence for Integrated Transport, sets out a five-year strategy to revolutionise transport provision in the city.
Councillor Helen Holland, Executive Member for Environment, Transport & Leisure for Bristol said "Today’s announcement represents a giant step forward in the realisation of Bristol’s tram scheme. The tram is a key element in our strategy for getting Bristol to work. We now have government backing to take our exciting plans forward to the next stage and we're right on track for seeing trams in Bristol in 2005."
The outstanding details are about the method of getting under the M5 at Almondsbury which needs approval from the Highways Authority and agreement with Railtrack over the details of the portion of the line between Temple Meads and Filton. This has been made more difficult to the tribulations that have been affecting Railtrack over the past months.
The Government announced this morning that the scheme has passed the economic and technical criteria set by Treasury and DETR and should receive funding. The money will come from the allocation identified for Rapid Transit schemes in the Government’s 10-year plan.
Bristol city Council has been unable so far to obtain an agreement with Rail Property Ltd for the use of the stretch of track to the Create Centre in the Cumberland Basin. Without this extension operation of the system is not economic and therefore operator Bristol Electric Railbus (BER) is suspending the service as from today. It is to be hoped that agreement can still be achieved to permit a resumption of service in the future. Further details can be found on the BBC Bristol website
Bristol City Council has, at a meeting of the Transport Planning Committee, agreed to invest £25 000 in support of the Harbourside tramway operate by Bristol Electric Railbus (BER). Part of the money will be used to carry out a survey of the track with a view to allow the Railbus to provide an extended service to the Create Centre and across the river to Ashton Vale and the Long Ashton Park+Ride. Note: The Railbus (which is featured elsewhere on this site) is a tram - while the PRT system (see below) often referred to by the press as a tram is not!
Plans for a test track for a PRT (Personal Rapid Transit) scheme, which was proposed to be constructed on farmland in Almondsbury, have been rejected by South Gloucestershire Council. This was on grounds of the test site being situated in the green belt. The PRT scheme, which has been developed by the Advanced Transport Group at Bristol University headed by Professor Lowson, consists of small 4 seat vehicles operating under computer control on a segregated trackway. It is likely that further development would have to take place elsewhere, possibly South Wales.
Bristol City Council has chosen the route via Redcliffe Way, the Grove and Prince Street over the alternative via Bristol Bridge. Of the two options this gives the better provision for extension to South Bristol. The selected route also includes a loop Neslon Street, Union Street, Rupert Street and Bridewell in place of a stub terminal in Broadmead. For further information see the local comment page.
South Gloucestershire CC's decision on the Northern end is still awaited.
Birnbeck Island lies at the North end of Weston
and is connected to the mainland by a pier. Once quite an attraction, with
steamer excursions, it has lain derelict for many years (apart from its
use as a lifeboat station). The new owners hope to ressurect it by installing
a casino and other attractions and the use of the tramway would help to
overcome its remoteness and its viability.
The partnership commits Bristol CC to a range of measures intended to improve the ability of buses to maintain their schedules, such as Bus Lanes/Gates and other changes and improvements to the highway and stops. The bus company is committed to the purchase of new busses with low floors and low emissions and also to through ticketing among other things.
It
has been reported in the Western Daily Press that the proposed route for
Line 1 in the central area has changed. Originally a horseshoe from Temple
Meads via Haymarket/Bond Street to the Centre, the new proposals use a
southerly route via Redcliffe Street, The Grove, Prince Street and the
Centre then Nelson Street to Broadmead.
The current timetable is as follows:
There have been reports of reopening the Portishead line and running
trains between Portishead and Wapping Wharf in Bristol where passengers
would transfer to a lightweight tram system operated by the latest version
of the Parry People Mover for their onward journey into the Centre or Temple
Meads. It remains to be seen how practical this idea is, or how it would
fit with the light rail scheme between Bradley Stoke and the Centre.
Thursday 21st July 1998
The first tram to carry paying passengers in Bristol for over 50 years started operation this Thursday. The initial route is from Prince Street Bridge to the SS Great Britain (Brunel’s iron steam ship) stopping also at the Industrial Museum, using existing track of the former harbour railway. The service was inaugurated by Bristol's Lord Mayor and attracted considerable media attention. The vehicle is the latest model of the Parry People Mover, which is driven by a flywheel charged from a 70 volt DC supply picked up from a short stretch of third rail situated at the stopping places. This rail is energised when the tram is at the stop by the driver using a handheld remote control unit. These charging points are located at the Industrial Museum and SS Great Britain stops only.
The operating company, Bristol Electric Railbus Ltd., has plans for extensions initially on to the Create Centre, which is home to Bristol City Council's Environmental Department as well as many other environmental organisations. Neither the Great Britain nor the Create Centre is well served by public transport (other than by ferry) so there is the possibility of becoming a useful public service. Further extensions to Long Ashton P+R or to connect with a suggested reopening of the Portishead rail line are under consideration.
At present the service, which is wheelchair accessible, operates from 10am to 6:30pm daily every 15 minutes, except days when the steam train is operating. (This is two weekends in the month plus Bank Holidays). It is expected to operate until October but if the extension to the Create Centre is achieved then it could well operate throughout the year.
For more pictures of the Bristol Electric Railbus click here
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