Making light rail quicker, cheaper and easier

“People like trams” says former Campaign for Better Transport Director Norman Baker. So why are there so few light rail systems in Britain, and what is the path to building more? RICHARD FOSTER reports

It’s probably fair to say that we Brits don’t like admitting that other countries do things better than us. But it’s a bitter pill that we have to swallow when it comes to light rail. The French, the Germans, even the Americans, do light rail better than we do. China, for example, opened 218 miles of new light rail in 14 cities between November 28 2023 and December 30 2023. By comparison, Britain’s newest piece of tramway is just 600 metres long. The Blackpool Tramway’s Talbot Road branch, which officially opened on June 12 2024, cost £22 million to build. Why does Britain lag behind in light rail (most specifically tramway) construction? Campaign group Britain Remade joined forces with urban planning specialist Create Streets, and with help from Campaign for…

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