Sintropher European Project Results and Messages. Colin Osborne Project Manager Seminar, Brussels September 2015

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1 Sintropher European Project Results and Messages Colin Osborne Project Manager Seminar, Brussels September 2015

2 Sintropher Project Overall Aim Improve connectivity to/from peripheral regions around mediumsized cities, through innovative cost-effective regional tram-based transport networks, integrated with national/international networks through high quality interchange hubs.

3 Sintropher - Objectives v Promote cost-effective innovative solutions (transport links) to improve regional connectivity v Investing in such links economic feasibility; and strengthening case by wider approach to appraisal v Connecting such links to national and transnational networks promote quality interchange at rail/air hubs v Realising territorial and economic benefits marketing initiatives for passengers and investors/developers v Realising territorial and economic benefits promote integrated approach (corridors)

4 SINTROPHER: EU Interreg IVB Project v 7 regions, 5 Member States, 16 partners v plus extension 2015 v 24.5m ( 8m ERDF) v peripheral regions in NW Europe: poorly served (bypassed) by rail/air links v poor (slow/indirect) public transport to TEN-T (high speed rail)

5 SINTROPHER partner regions TEN High Speed Rail peripheralises some regions v Fylde Coast/Blackpool v West-Vlaanderen(west) v Valenciennes v Arnhem-Nijmegen v Nordhessen v Saar-Moselle v West-Vlaanderen (Zeebrugge - Bruges) Fylde Coast (UK) > West-Vlaanderen (BE) > Valenciennes (FR) > < Nijmegen (NL) < Nordhessen

6 Sintropher activities (1) v technical and economic feasibility studies for innovative tram schemes v European case studies (scheme implementation experiences; success factors; territorial impacts) v European good practice and guidelines (transport interchanges, marketing) Nijmegen-Kleve

7 Sintropher activities (2) Investments in pilot and demonstration schemes eg: v Valenciennes single-track system 11m (20% ERDF) of 150m scheme v Fylde Coast tram system upgrade for tram/tram-train 4.5m (33% ERDF) of 140m scheme v West-Vlaanderen Kusttram extension and station interchanges 2.1m (45% ERDF) Nijmegen-Kleve

8 Economic and financial dimensions v economic feasibility do innovative systems like tram-train (Kassel) or single-track tram (Valenciennes) offer viable low-cost solutions, especially in smaller cities and regions? v investment in tram-based schemes: national systems for appraising costs and benefits, and decision making? barrier? new approach? v wider economic and urban benefits capturing these can strengthen case for investment; integration of transport and territorial planning v territorial and economic impacts European experiences? help case for new schemes? v potential to trigger urban & economic regeneration? key factors? v innovative financing of schemes: becoming essential....

9 Results: feasibility of tram-trains tram-trains an attractive concept (urban penetration, existing regional rail infrastructure) but conventional tram link to rail hub often a preferred option (in contrast, links to air hubs are a different story) Nijmegen-Kleve why? generally economic feasibility rather than technical feasibility

10 Economic feasibility general pattern v cost: generally central to preferred option & business case v cost control strategies - Kusttram example v tram-train cost issue: vehicle costs, operational costs, track charges v benefits: recognising wider benefits can strengthen case, especially for weaker regions v business cases - different agency priorities reconcile Nijmegen-Kleve

11 Results: Kassel/Nordhessen feasibility of RegioTram & Tram Lessons for other cities: v extensions to major employment sites usually not feasible but catalyst for mobility initiatives v RegioTram success story regional access to University v connect to major rail hub (Wilhelmshöhe), accessing other European cities

12 Economic feasibility to regional air hubs v examples of Kassel, Blackpool, Nijmegen v tram or tram-train not economically feasible, perhaps fast bus links v barriers: airport interests (car parking), dispersed passenger catchment area, infrastructure cost v integrate airport access planning wider regional transport; protect route alignments into airport

13 Results: Valenciennes single-track bidirectional system v innovative system, first in Europe on this large scale (16km) v cost-saving of 35% compared to doubletrack, key factor in case to proceed v advantages in dense urban areas and streets Nijmegen-Kleve

14 Territorial and economic impacts of light rail/tram schemes v case studies of similar schemes by French partner CETE in six European cities Nottingham, Utrecht, Malaga, Nijmegen-Kleve Saarbrucken, Bergamo, Valenciennes v plus UCL Review of European experiences, 50 cases in last 20 years or so v varied picture, strong and weak effects in different cases - rarely cause and effect, but often positive correlations v can often trigger regeneration with proactive approach and integrated package of measures

15 Regeneration Potential - West-Vlaanderen Kusttram

16 Regeneration Potential - Valenciennes v tram integral to Scheme de Cohérence Territoriale v Ligne 1 University expansion and Technopole v Ligne 2 priority regeneration corridor, housing renewal schemes, Convention Centre Nijmegen-Kleve

17 Marketing going beyond passenger marketing, to location/city marketing French cities tram systems used as positive force in the wider urban/regional plan and use location marketing for attracting developers, investment, tourism a symbol of dynamisme Nijmegen-Kleve

18 Financing of transport schemes innovation at a time of austerity Nijmegen-Kleve