Tram Power is involved in a number of new tramway projects in Europe. The most advanced is in Galway (pop. 85,000) (GLUAS.com). Here a team of the local business community is promoting a new tramway, costed at €200million for a 21km long network, needing 18 trams to offer a 6minute frequency service. This proposal is the result of nearly two years of study, including the preparation of a Feasibility Report, Economic Evaluation and a Business Plan. A detailed route plan has been draw up by local architect Simon Kelly. Discussions over installation details will be undertaken by Civil Engineering Consultant Tobins based in Galway, with advice from Australian Transportation Consultants GHD. The City Council commissioned MVA to evaluate the GLUAS proposals. Their recommendations are expected shortly. (NB GLUAS means “movement” in Irish )
A second project (CROST) is based in London, and picks up the recently abandoned Cross River and Oxford Street tram lines promoted by Transport for London, for which the UK Government withdrew funding in May 2008, until at least 2018. Details about CROST can be found on london-trams.co.uk CROST has been evaluated on the same basis as the GLUAS scheme, with an initial economic evaluation to identify the likely capital and operating costs, together with an assessement of patronage and revenue, and so therefore viability. A further sensitivity analysis has determined an optimum operating ca pacity of 30 million passengers pa for the Cross River line. At this point CROST could operate without the £1 per journey subsidy required by buses in London. TfL predicted 96million pa by 2026 for Cross RIver.
A third project has started in Gyor (pop 130,000) in Hungary. A team from the local Technical University, working with the City Council and bus operator (Volan), is undertaking a Feasibility Study part funded by the EU. This will report later in 2009.
In the meanwhile TRAM Power is progressing its affordable technical equipment. The City Class tram has recently completed a rebuilding and is ready to finish its test running programme. Discussions are underway with a number of potential partners.