Final Conference 15 September 2005 Feasibility study Light Rail-operation in Vlaams-Brabant Kris Lambrechts Province of Vlaams-Brabant Museum of Science.

Final Conference

15 September 2005

Feasibility study Light Rail-operation

in Vlaams-Brabant

Kris Lambrechts

Province of Vlaams-Brabant

Museum of Science and Industry

Manchester, UK

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities2

1 Background

2 Approach

3 Results

Contents

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities3

Background: Geographical setting

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities4

RegioNet Brabant-Brussel

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Heizel

Tervuren

Boom

Leuven

Light Rail on two axes of the RegioNet?

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What is at stake?

• At the moment, there is no quality Rapid Transit on these two congested corridors

• What are the opportunities for Light Rail operation to fill this gap?

• What are optimal connections with: – the urban public transport system in the Brussels

Capital Region (BCR)– the heavy rail interchange stations – and the airport region, which is poorly accessible?

• (specific location and design of interchange stations: see study part BCR)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities7

• Consultation of existing committees consisting of policy makers of the different Regions and public transport companies

• Supervision committee of LiRa-project: including local communities and socio-economic groups

• Approval of the study: provincial council

• Note: discussion about the PAT on the 'Worldday of urban development' november 2004 (Belgium)

Approach: consultative structure

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities8

Structure of the study

• Stage 1: Orientation phase

• Stage 2: Quick-scan possible routes

• Stage 3: Feasibility study

• Stage 4: Action plan

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Stage 2: quick Scan

First selection of:

• Regional concentrations of activities

• Possible technologies

• Possible routes

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Residential area

Major employment

areas

Major regional spots

(leasure, trade,...)

Regional concentrations of activities

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Concentration of activities in Brussels

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Technological issue

• Eliminated: light train, metro

Further investigated

• Regional tramway or Stadtbahn – Karlsruhe-model)

• ‘Fall back-scenario': express bus

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Karlsruhe-model

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Favourable route concepts

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Stage 3: Feasibility

• Expected patronage• Cost-benefit analysis

Calculation patronage:

trip-time-factor-methodology

• Calculation of the modal split • Public transport/private car traffic• Through trip-times

Basis: regression-analysis TU-Delft (Netherlands)

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Trip-time-factor-methodology

Results

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Expected patronage Boom–Brussels (variant airport)

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Expected patronage Boom – Brussels (2)

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Expected patronage Leuven–Brussels (variant airport)

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Expected patronage Leuven–Brussels (2)

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Conclusion expected patronage

• In general: rather moderate patronage for Light Rail (max. 200 travellers/km)

• Route into Brussels does better than airport

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Cost aspects

• Costs of construction: 300-400 mio euro

• Cost-coverage: 15-25%

→ On the short run: moderate political support for a regional tramway

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Stage 4: Action plan

• Development of a high-quality express bus on the two axes (so-called 'regio-express'):– comfortable rolling stock– substantial measures to enhance free circulation of

public transport

• Reservation zones are worked out to facilitate the development of a regional tramway in the future

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Regio-express Leuven-Brussels

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Regio-express Boom-Brussels

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Seamless journeys?

• RegioNet is presented as one cobweb structure; importance of qualitative interchange stations

• Conflicting interests between different means of transport (crossing a shipping canal, joint use of a heavy rail-track)

• Suggestions for the connection with the airport region have been worked out

• The design of new constructions along the axes and a new industrial park takes into account the arrival of Light Rail-operation

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities27

Westrode: connection with Light Rail

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• It enabled us to cross the 'threshold' to investigate regional tramway

• There was a tremendous exchange of experiences with other regions

• Showing a wide spectrum of (common) challenges

Added value of European co-operation

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Added value of European co-operation (2)

• The acquired expertise in the province and partner-organisations will be used in the investigation of the possibilities for Light Rail in other projects– e.g. on the regional heavy rail-track between

Leuven and Tienen

• The concept of 'Light Rail' could make its entry in our region!