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Department of Design, Development, Environment and Materials Faculty of Maths, Computing and Technology
An Assessment of the Cost and Environmental Performance of Light Rail and an Equivalent Bus-Based System
A thesis submitted to the Open University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy By Paul Hodgson BEng (Hons) MSc CEng MIET MILT June 2011
 
Abstract
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Abstract
With a shift in UK transport policy away from ‘grand projets’ and new light rail schemes specifically, there is an opportunity to develop bus-based systems in lieu of light rail. Bus-based light rapid transit appears to be less expensive to build and operate than tram systems but there remain questions of whether it really can approach the performance level of a tram system and what is the environmental performance of comparable systems? This thesis addresses these issues, particularly relating to an urban situation of a transit system to attract discretionary car users. A comparative assessment model has been undertaken of implementation, operational costs and environmental impacts of a comparable tram and high quality guided-bus system. The UK situation is ‘modelled by drawing upon information from elsewhere in Europe and North America. The design of the bus-based transit system delivers equivalent performance to trams in capacity and passenger experience. This ‘equivalence’ model shows that the capital costs of the bus-based system are two-thirds those of tram, which is less than is often claimed, suggesting that, in practice, guided-bus systems are built to a lower specification that light rail systems. Operational costs do not significantly differ. Using hybrid-engine bus vehicles, even CO
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 emissions are similar, although NO
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 from bus-based transit remains higher than for trams. Although the cost differences for equivalent systems are less than is often claimed, there are substantial benefits in the flexible development of transit systems. With it less vulnerable to variations from forecast ridership numbers, transit systems can be developed in fundable stages and grow the business case for incremental upgrading. However, it is concluded that the ‘value for money’ case for bus-based light rapid transit should not be at the expense of quality and transport planning impact.

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