Trams Versus Transits

Meeting:

Plenary on 2006-12-06

Session date:

December 6, 2006

Reference:

2006/0420

Question By:

Roger Evans

Organisation:

GLA Conservatives

Asked Of:

Peter Hendy (Commissioner, Transport for London)

Question

There is a clear need for major transport improvement in East London and Greenwich, as well as the Thames Gateway. The Mayor has previously stated that a service upgrade from the currently proposed East London Transit and Greenwich Waterfront Transit would be sought in the future, yet TfL's Director of Strategy contradicted that by telling the Transport Committee in June; "we do not see that there will be an upgrade or a change to a different mode of operation." What is the current thinking on whether an upgrade will be sought?

Answer

Answer for Trams Versus Transits

Answered By:

Peter Hendy (Commissioner, Transport for London)

Date:

Wednesday, 6th December 2006

Peter Hendy (Commissioner, Transport for London)

TfL's position has not changed. The Greenwich Waterfront Transit and East London Transit routes have been designed so that they could be upgraded to a tram in the future, providing there is a robust business case in place supported by demand projections.

My Director of Strategy quite rightly noted that current demand projections do not support upgrade to a tram in the short or medium term. Demand forecasts for the medium to long term will continue to be revisited, although there are no indicators presently that point to the viability of a tram system in these areas of London.