Review into transport interchanges will look to Europe

17 June 2009

The stations review ordered by new transport secretary, Lord Adonis, is likely to see more Continental-style tram and bus interchanges at railway stations.

Former Virgin chief executive, Chris Green, who is sharing the chairmanship of the stations review with planner Professor Peter Hall, told Surveyor: ‘My knowledge is very much about the railway network, Peter Hall’s is about planning, interchanges, and European hubs. He is already questioning why every other city in Europe has good interchanges connecting trams with trains while here – with honourable exceptions, such as Manchester – they haven’t.

‘I think he’s looking for much better planned interchanges for transport. And he wants it consistently. Why should Sheffield and Manchester have it and not Edinburgh?’

The pair are to produce a report by the end of November. The review is also likely to have much to say about car parking at stations – one of the failings pointed out by Adonis during his fact-finding tour of the rail network in April.

Said Mr Green: ‘We are consistently behind Europe on station car parking. Warrington, for instance, has got the fastest intercity service in Great Britain. It averages 100mph from Warrington to London every hour – but you can’t park to get on it.

‘You shouldn’t assume that car parking has to be expensive, but you should assume that there is no growth in inter-city if you can’t park.’

Register now for full access

Register just once to get unrestricted, real-time coverage of the issues and challenges facing UK transport and highways engineers.

Full website content includes the latest news, exclusive commentary from leading industry figures and detailed topical analysis of the highways, transportation, environment and place-shaping sectors. Use the link below to register your details for full, free access.

Already a registered? Login