09.06.16
UK light rail usage at record high
Tram usage in England is at a record high, with increased numbers of passenger journeys and vehicle miles, the latest annual figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) show.
In 2015-16, the number of passenger journeys increased by 5.8% from the previous year to 252 million, the highest since records began.
Vehicle miles increased by 14.2% to 21 million and revenue increased by 9.3% to £336.9m.
The extensions to Nottingham and Manchester’s trams also paid off, with Nottingham Express Transit passenger journeys increasing by 50.2% to 12.2 million and Manchester Metrolink passenger journeys increasing by 19.1% to 34.3 million.
Midland Metro, which recently opened its new line after delays, had a 10.4% growth in passenger journeys to 4.8 million.
Overall, London had a higher number of passenger journeys but a slower rate of growth. Light rail passenger journeys within the capital increased by 2.1% to 143.9 million, whereas journeys in the rest of the country increased by 11% to 108.1 million.
Docklands Light Railway was the biggest network in the country, with 116.9 million passenger journeys, 3.8 million miles travelled and £161.9m revenue.
It experienced a 6.1% increase in passenger journeys, but London Tramlink was the only network to suffer from a fall in numbers, with a 12.1% decrease in passenger journeys and a 6.7% fall in revenue.
The problems were linked to engineering works on the line.
According to the DfT’s report, vehicle occupancy decreased on both the Sheffield Supertram and London Tramlink due to engineering works resulting in part closures of the lines.
For instance, London Tramlink was affected by part closures of the lines due to the London Borough of Croydon carrying out town centre pedestrian ‘ambience works’ as well as line improvement works.
The figures are more good news for light rail after a Passenger Focus survey found that passenger satisfaction is also at a record high of 92%, higher than rail or buses.
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