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Article: Making the case for light rail in Britain: the benefits of light rail are being questioned in Britain, but a new study argues that the case for investment has never been stronger.(Rapid Transit: Britain)
- Article from:
- International Railway Journal
- Article date:
- June 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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AFTER the Second World War, Britain's dilapidated tramways were seen as symbols of the past and cities across the country started to replace them with new buses. Only Black-pool kept faith with the tram. But over the following decades traffic congestion grew and the limitations of both the bus, and of ageing heavy rail commuter lines, became increasingly apparent. British cities began to look enviously at those European cities that had retained and developed their tram systems, and at sparkling new French light rail networks that symbolised and stimulated urban renewal.
There are now seven operational British light rail and metro networks. Extensions to most are ...