THE AGE OF THE TRAM

A review is presented of light rail projects in Britain. The Tyne and Wear metro has been a success bringing a 10% increase in the use of public transport. The Docklands light railway is under construction in London and there are plans to provide Manchester with a similar system. The first route is planned to serve Bury and Altrincham and would link Manchester's Picadilly and Victoria stations. Other towns with hopes for a light rail system include Sheffield, Birmingham and Croydon. It is also suggested that trains might be the answer to congestion in London's Oxford Street. Cities around the world with LRT systems are listed and it is suggested that there is a large potential in Britain for train systems. (TRRL)