TramForward has welcomed Transport Minister Norman Baker’s commitment to trams during his interview on BBC Radio 4’s Face the Facts on Monday.
The Minister emphasised the popularity and green credentials of tram systems and was confident that the construction costs of tramways can be brought down.
He cited lack of standardisation and the excessive cost of moving utilities amongst the factors being currently addressed by a Department of Transport review.
TramForward says they ‘eagerly await’ the publication of this report in the near future.
The Minister also mentioned the Government’s commitment to localism in the context of future tram schemes and it is to be hoped that it will indeed be possible in the future for cities to have more control over the planning and financing of their transport infrastructure.
Can Norman Baker now be expected to back the Liverpool tram scheme aborted by Alastrair Darling?