Derby ‘will decline’ without trams, rail expert warns

David Gibson, regional officer of Light Rail Transit Association says Derby needs a tram network. Image by LDRS.

A rail expert has said Derby needs a revolutionary tram network “because otherwise the city will decline”.

David Gibson, regional officer of the Light Rail Transit Association (LRTA), is urging for around £550 million to be spent on improving transport across Derby with new tram lines.

But he warned they could take a decade to build, should everything be on track money-wise.

Mr Gibson spoke out during the organisation’s launch of its “Trams For Derby” campaign.

Two public events were held in Derby so people could learn more about the proposals and how to steer them forward.

The proposals could see at least four new tram lines built across Derby.

It is hoped that such a project would boost the local economy and improve the environment.

The LRTA has submitted proposals to East Midlands Mayor Claire Ward as part of a major consultation on how new transport initiatives could improve living and working in the region.

It was announced last year that the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMMCA) had secured £2 billion to transform the region’s transport network.

Mr Gibson, who lives in Derby and has expertise in engineering and light rail, said he believed the money available could help deliver a tram network for the city.

The Allestree resident claimed such a system would solve traffic congestion problems – more than the A38 Junctions scheme, which the Government has committed to funding within the next five years.

The A38 scheme is estimated to cost in the region of around £600 million and would see underpasses and flyovers built around key junctions such as Kingsway, Markeaton Island, and Little Eaton.

Mr Gibson said: “Derby is congested, polluted and the city centre is getting run down. We need better mobility.

“Trams are the best way, I believe, for a city the size of Derby to achieve that.

“It would rejuvenate the city centre largely, but improve the economy of the city as a whole.

“Public transport only accounts for five per cent of journeys – we need something better.”

Mr Gibson believes Derby will need more and improved public transport if thousands more homes are built in the coming years.

“We are getting lots of housing developments in the periphery, hardly served by public transport at all, all adding to the extra congestion on the roads,” he added.

“The A38 scheme, which is said will allow 43,000 more houses to be built, will be just as congested or more so than it was before. It just can’t keep going on like this.

“I certainly hope it will happen because otherwise Derby will decline.

“If we really get everything going it [new tram lines] will take something like 10 years [to build].

“We’ve got to get a sensible management structure set up, not rely on consultants all the time and get things done ourselves.”

The LRTA’s proposal has been submitted to EMCCA for consideration.

East Midlands Mayor Ms Ward was seeking proposals and ideas from the public on how to improve transport across Derby, Nottingham and both of its counties as part of the major investment.

The Mayor was asked about the tram proposal in January and whether Derby needed a tram network.

She responded: “This proposal is just one that’s been submitted to the consultation. Until we look at the whole of the region, I’m not going to be making a comment on any particular proposal.”