§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a list of tram systems currently operating, indicating the number of passengers carried for each where known; if he will make it his policy to promote the development of trams; and if he will make a statement. [1787]
§ Mr. NorrisThere are five principal light rail/tram systems currently operating in England. Details of the schemes and the number of passenger journeys made on each system in 1994–95 are:
Millions 1994–95 Blackpool Tramway 5.8 Tyne and Wear Metro 37.2 Docklands Light Railway 11.0 Greater Manchester Metrolink 12.3 South Yorkshire Supertram 2.2 Source:
Transport Statistics Great Britain 1995 and Blackpool Transport Services Ltd.
Inter-urban operations have survived on the Isle of Man with Manx electric railway and the Snaefell mountain railway. A seasonal tramway operates in Llandudno. Construction of the Midland Metro line 1 has begun, and funding has been arranged for the Croydon Tramlink subject to the bids that come forward from the private sector for the concession.
The Government do not have a policy of promoting light rail schemes: local authorities are best placed to develop solutions for the urban transport problems in their town or city. We are prepared to consider supporting light rail schemes that can be demonstrated to be the right and most cost-effective solution to a particular problem, where they are planned within the context of a strategy or transport package to achieve mode shift away from the private car, and where they will attract significant private sector and local investment.