Final Conference

1
Feasibility study Light Rail-operationin
Vlaams-BrabantKris LambrechtsProvince of
Vlaams-Brabant

• Final Conference
• 15 September 2005

Museum of Science and Industry Manchester, UK
2
Contents

• 1 Background
• 2 Approach
• 3 Results

3
Background Geographical setting
4
RegioNet Brabant-Brussel
5
Light Rail on two axes of the RegioNet?
Boom
Heizel
?
?
Leuven
Tervuren
6
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)

7
Approach consultative structure

• 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)

8
Structure of the study

• Stage 1 Orientation phase
• Stage 2 Quick-scan possible routes
• Stage 3 Feasibility study
• Stage 4 Action plan

9
Stage 2 quick Scan

• First selection of
• Regional concentrations of activities
• Possible technologies
• Possible routes

10
Regional concentrations of activities
Residential area Major employment areas Major
regional spots (leasure, trade,...)
11
Concentration of activities in Brussels
12
Technological issue

• Eliminated light train, metro
• Further investigated
• Regional tramway or Stadtbahn
• Karlsruhe-model)
• Fall back-scenario' express bus

13
Karlsruhe-model
14
Favourable route concepts
15
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)

16
Trip-time-factor-methodology
Results
17
Expected patronage BoomBrussels (variant airport)
18
Expected patronage Boom Brussels (2)
19
Expected patronage LeuvenBrussels (variant
airport)
20
Expected patronage LeuvenBrussels (2)
21
Conclusion expected patronage

• In general rather moderate patronage for Light
  Rail (max. 200 travellers/km)
• Route into Brussels does better than airport

22
Cost aspects

• Costs of construction 300-400 mio euro
• Cost-coverage 15-25
• ? On the short run moderate political support
  for a regional tramway

 
 
23
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

24
Regio-express Leuven-Brussels
25
Regio-express Boom-Brussels
26
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

27
Westrode connection with Light Rail
28
Added value of European co-operation

• 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

29
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!