1. Final Conference 15 September 2005 Feasibility study Light Rail-operation in Vlaams-Brabant Kris Lambrechts Province of Vlaams-Brabant Museum of Science and Industry Manchester, UK

2. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities1 1Background 2Approach 3Results Contents

3. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities2 Background: Geographical setting

4. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities3 RegioNet Brabant-Brussel

5. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities4 Heizel Tervuren Boom Leuven Light Rail on two axes of the RegioNet?

6. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities5 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. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities6 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) Approach: consultative structure

8. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities7 Structure of the study Stage 1: Orientation phase Stage 2: Quick-scan possible routes Stage 3: Feasibility study Stage 4: Action plan

9. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities8 Stage 2: quick Scan First selection of: Regional concentrations of activities Possible technologies Possible routes

10. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities9 Residential area Major employment areas Major regional spots (leasure, trade,...) Regional concentrations of activities

11. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities10 Concentration of activities in Brussels

12. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities11 Technological issue Eliminated: light train, metro Further investigated Regional tramway or Stadtbahn –Karlsruhe-model) Fall back-scenario': express bus

13. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities12 Karlsruhe-model

14. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities13 Favourable route concepts

15. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities14 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. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities15 Trip-time-factor-methodology Results

17. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities16 Expected patronage Boom–Brussels (variant airport)

18. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities17 Expected patronage Boom – Brussels (2)

19. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities18 Expected patronage Leuven–Brussels (variant airport)

20. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities19 Expected patronage Leuven–Brussels (2)

21. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities20 Conclusion expected patronage In general: rather moderate patronage for Light Rail (max. 200 travellers/km) Route into Brussels does better than airport

22. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities21 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. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities22 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. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities23 Regio-express Leuven-Brussels

25. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities24 Regio-express Boom-Brussels

26. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities25 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. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities26 Westrode: connection with Light Rail

28. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities27 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 Added value of European co-operation

29. LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities28 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!