Inexpensive electric trains can solve congestion problem, says firm
Lucy Coppin
A privately owned transport consultancy is planning monorail systems in UK towns at no cost to the taxpayer.
A Swiss-backed firm, which has also built roller-coaster rides at Alton Towers theme park, says it can solve the congestion problems of towns around the country at a fraction of the cost and disruption of new trams or light rail systems.
It can build electrically driven passenger trains that run on rubber wheels on raised rails, sometimes at ground level and sometimes climbing above roads and buildings. The system costs just £2.5m per km, much less than other transport systems such as the Docklands Light Railway, which cost £19.8m per km, and the Manchester Metro, which cost £18.6m per km.
Swiss firm Intamin says that installation costs of the variable light railway system (VLRS) can be funded entirely by private-sector money.
Portsmouth looks set to become the first in a spate of towns and cities to have the new system installed, carrying up to 3,500 passengers per hour in each direction at peak times.A £31m investment is to be made by Belgian bank Fitraco, which will be repaid through ticket sales.
Guildford-based Intamin subsidiary Carr West is being considered by some 54 towns and cities in the country to oversee development of the system. Guildford and Luton are in the running to house the country’s second monorail system. Swansea, Chester, Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester are also under consideration.
Surveyor Donaldsons is advising Carr West on planning implications and selecting sites for development.
Portsmouth city council is expected to grant planning permission in early January and will then approach the government for consent.
The total cost of the system will be £46.5m including construction of car parks and stations and a redevelopment of the continental ferry port.
