FUTURISTIC OVERHEAD WIRE-FREE HYDROGEN TRAM FOR THE UK - WILL BATH AND BRISTOL BE THE FIRST?

Bath Area Trams Association BATA is in detailed discussions with USA transportation system manufacturer TIG/m and consultants TenBroeke Engineering for this project. TIG/m can supply, install and operate a complete tram system, i.e. both the track and the trams, that is entirely free of overhead wires and can ascend all the hills and negotiate Bath’s narrow streets.

Tenbroeke believes given favourable feasibility study outcomes it can arrange private funding. 5 years ago BATA produced a detailed dossier that has persuaded BANES and WECA to look closer at trams and light rail just as 8 other major cities have done – Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Sheffield etc.

The company, TIG/m LLC, has installed such tram systems around the world and the intention assuming positive feasibility study outcomes and detailed independent engineering evaluations, is for TIG/m, to carry out a full turnkey design, install and build and then operate the system; thus the financial risk would not be with the people of Bath. 11 lines have been surveyed by BATA and a study by WS Atkins found that at least 4 of them were likely to be viable. Similar new tram plans have been produced by TFGB Transport Forum for Greater Bristol as have 8 other UK cities.

This “turnkey” approach avoids the extensive costs and timescales of the normal complex design/tender/build tram procurements process normally used in the UK dependant on UK government loans. Furthermore, the overhead wires in conventional trams add a significant cost in the wires themselves.

David Andrews chair of BATA said that the wire-free tram could be ideal for Bath where some heritage groups have naturally questioned the suitability of overhead wires; because the tram is considerably lighter than a conventional tram the 12 inch deep concrete on which the tracks are laid will protect the vulnerable Bath vaults from any further damage from heavy road vehicles. He does however point out that overhead wires are normal and acceptable in many heritage cities such as near Rome's Colosseum or attached to Vienna’s Grand Opera House. The hydrogen fuel means the vehicles emit zero pollution within Bath and do not create deadly rubber tyre dust micro-particles.

David Andrews finished by stating that we face exciting times within the transport world with the realisation that Trams form a great back-bone to any integrated transport plan including buses and we are very pleased to see that our close liaison with both regional authority WECA - West of England Combined Authority and BANES – Bath & NE Somerset Council is paying off.