Liberal Democrats on anti-tram platform

Lib Dems in Cleveland ward (and probably elsewhere) are making opposition to the West London tram the mainstay of their campaign in the forthcoming local elections. Their reasons for rejecting the scheme have often appeared, and Ealing FoE has countered them.

• It will reduce transport capacity on the Uxbridge Road through Ealing

Private car capacity will be reduced but public transport capacity increased – a net increase in passenger numbers. That's the point.

• It is not properly integrated with local facilities like Ealing Hospital and Ealing Broadway stations

Integration is recognised as a problem, but the plans as they stand are not set in stone. Ealing FoE supports efforts to develop the scheme to provide better integration

• It will divert traffic onto residential streets causing increased pollution

Traffic modelling has shown that while a few roads will see increased traffic with the tram, the majority will see a decrease. A percentage of car users will switch to public transport and others will avoid the area altogether, dispersing traffic over the wider West London network. The scenario for the future without the tram shows increased traffic on the Uxbridge Road with consequent increases in rat running on residential roads

• The tram uses more energy per passenger mile than modern buses run on alternative fuels

This makes it looks as though all modern buses currently run on low energy alternatives, which is not the case. The tram is capable of being run on renewable sources. Anything that runs on rails is more energy efficient than anything that runs on rubber tyres.