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Clearing the Air – Trams for Bath

Clearing the Air – Trams for Bath
Prof Lewis Lesley
BRLSI 1st April 2015

·         Air pollution kills 29,000 people per year in the UK
Proportion of greenhouse gas emissions:
·         Transport 20%
·         Energy 35%
60 Billion trips made in total in Britain per year
·         64% by car
·         12% by public transport
·         8 tram systems in UK carrying 0.3% of total trips made
Whole year’s pollution quota exceeded by transport sector in first 15 days of the year!
Tram solution:
8 times less energy required than to use a bus and is electrified meaning can be powered by renewable, low-carbon electricity sources.
Shallowest system would be most suitable & cost-effective
·         Easiest & quickest to install
·         Most resilient to damage by road traffic (buses etc)
Bath trams operated from 1904 – 1939
Looking at historical precedents for inspiration for developmental models of successful tram systems:

·         Imperial Tramways build 20 tram systems in the UK from 1905-1910

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