Tram celebration spurs rallying call for new link

14 Sep 2007 

MERSEYSIDES travel supremo Neil Scales said last night a tram system was needed more than ever to cope with an expected influx of thousands of people into Liverpool city centre.

He was speaking as tram enthusiasts prepared to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Liverpool’s last tram, which ran in 1957.

The parliamentary act paving the way for a new tram system will not run out until 2010, and the area has until then to resurrect its tram project.

Mr Scales said last night: “The situation has dramatically changed in the short time since the collapse of the Merseytram scheme.

“There is now a possibility that Everton may move to Kirkby and, at the same time, we have Grosvenor’s Paradise Street Project nearing completion.

“There are 90,000 people living within walking distance of the Line One route and a tram link would greatly reduce traffic coming into the city.

“It would also mean that visitors to the riverfront would not have to cross six lanes of traffic along the Strand. The waterfront is increasingly busy with the new cruise terminal, Princes Dock developments, the new museum and Mann Island schemes as well as the arena and the Albert Dock.

“I have always lived in hope that we may be able to get the scheme going, and the fact that the numbers have changed gives us a stronger case. It would be an amazing asset for the city, which will be the only major European city without a tram link.

“The change in government may make a difference to us because the city centre is booming, and we need to look at public transport.” Article by Larry Neild, Liverpool Daily Post

Index