Smarter Cambridge Transport's response to the Greater Cambridge Partnership's Making Connections consultation
Category - Rail
Response to Foxton Travel Hub consultation 2021
The Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has pushed on with this so-called “travel hub” scheme at Foxton without proper consideration of the fundamentals.
Objection to TWA Order Application for Cambridge South station
Why Smarter Cambridge Transport strongly objects to the TWAO application as presented on four critical, distinct grounds.
Smarter Cambridge TransportUnchanged design for Cambridge South station is still not fit for purpose
It is irresponsible of Network Rail to be applying for Parliamentary approval using modelling that so clearly fails a common-sense test.
Making the best of the latest proposals for East West Rail
We need to work together to ensure the area that EWR runs through gets as much benefit – and as little downside – as possible.
Time to suspend peak-time rail fares?
If they don’t travel five days a week, many part-time commuters will simply not return to trains and buses if they are able to drive instead.
Improved plans for Cambridge station
Unfortunately, although there are outstanding issues with the new development, these are unlikely to see it blocked a second time.
Are people right to oppose the ‘preferred’ route for East West Rail?
The need for a new east-west railway is beyond doubt. The southern approach currently being designed has a distinct advantage.
Response to Eastern Access consultation
Smarter Cambridge Transport’s comments and additional ideas for improving access to Cambridge by cycle, bus and train from the east.
Response to Cambridge South station second consultation
The initial proposals from newtork Rail for the Cambridge South station are wholly inadequate and are based on flawed data.
Too much busway, too little station
Two more public consultations recently launched illustrate just how out-of-step with the times transport authorities are.
What is the future for rail franchising?
Will the government choose TfL-style franchising as its preferred model to ensure continuity of services whilst keeping operations in the private sector?
Response to Cambridge South station consultation
Our objectives for Network Rail to consider when designing Cambridge South station and its access infrastructure.
An environmentally responsible East-West Rail
It's important that we don't overlook the range of opportunities it provides to improve the environment, connectivity and public health.
Cambridge South station: a step closer, but is it ambitious enough?
Until the new station opens, we need further improvements to the bus link from Cambridge station
Trains instead of planes – a viable choice for European destinations?
For trips not involving a sleeper - as far as Biaritz, Perpignan, Monaco, Berlin or Milan - advance fares are comparable with flying with checked-in bags.
Roll-on access to trains and stations is a benefit to everyone
Greater Anglia's new trains' most innovative feature is level boarding from the platform. Why isn’t it universal on our railways?
Light rail: Cambridge shouldn’t be scared of proven technology
In this case, the popular option is also the right one.
Railway plans for Cambridgeshire lack vision and ambition
Assertions in Network Rail’s assessment of rail needs for the next 25 years beggar belief.
East West Rail: Final nail in the coffin for the Cambourne busway?
There is an obvious conflict with the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s flagship project, the Cambourne–Cambridge Busway.
Our Cambridge South West Park & Ride consultation response
Why Smarter Cambridge Transport does not support any of the proposed options for expansion of Trumpington P&R or building a second site at Hauxton.
Station Square final phase: fiasco or redemption?
There is one last chance to make this space right. People need to lobby Brookgate now.
Response to Cambridge South East Transport Study (A1307) Consultation 2018
The full response to the consultation: why Smarter Cambridge Transport supports most of the short-term measures proposed (some with modifications), but does not support any of the three long-term strategies proposed.
Haverhill Rail: the Missing A1307 Option
A conservative extrapolation from the St Ives busway to the Haverhill railway provides a forecast of about 4.5m trips/year. So why isn’t reopening the railway still under consideration?
A bridge over Foxton level crossing
There's a plan to re-route the A10 via a bridge or underpass and close the level crossing at Foxton. Unfortunately, as with Skanska's proposal for Whittlesford, the scope is too narrow.
Whittlesford station: the neglected gateway
Whittlesford has a neglected station with poor access. Upgraded to 'Parkway' status in 2007, it still lacks basic facilities like toilets or a bridge between the platforms suitable for people with limited mobility.
Put the railway at the centre of things
How Cambridge North, the future south station, and the main station can form the backbone of a ‘Cambridge Overground’ metro within five years.
Response to SPD for land north of Cherry Hinton
With these additions to the SPD this development could radically transform the connectivity and quality of life in Cherry Hinton, Teversham and Fulbourn.
Do I have to take a taxi from the station?
If we want to make Cambridge railway station less car dependent, what more could we do to promote walking, cycling and bus travel? Many visitors arriving at the station take a taxi simply because other options are...
Time for a railway station at Fulbourn Hospital
One of the great frustrations with transport planning in the UK is that it is easier, quicker and often cheaper for a local authority to build a new road than it is for the same local authority, Network Rail and train...
Invest in rail, not dualling the A10
The argument for dualling the A10 from Ely is that it requires more capacity to cope with population growth; that slow commute times put fewer jobs within commuting distance and reduce economic productivity (though, for...
Reducing Traffic Congestion and Pollution in Urban Areas
Ideas for reducing congestion and pollution in urban areas, developed in the context of the Greater Cambridge area, typical of many UK towns and cities.
Who will ensure that excellent design is at the heart of new developments?
The recently formed National Infrastructure Commission has published its report on the Cambridge–Milton Keynes–Oxford corridor. It identifies a chronic shortage of housing as the greatest risk to growth. Unsurprisingly...
A Metro for Cambridge
There has been great interest in the light rail scheme proposed by Cambridge Connect. It’s obvious why: rail services are easy to understand, reliable, safe, comfortable and usually come with high quality stations...
Rebooting the City Deal
Smarter Cambridge Transport held its first public event, Rebooting The City Deal, on Friday 14 October at Wolfson College, attended by around 250 people. Our thanks to Antony Carpen for videoing the event. Here are the...
Greater Cambridge City Deal: A New Approach
Areas of concern [Updated 23 August 2016: expanded section on access and parking permits] Here in summary are ten concerns that residents, businesses and observers have voiced about the City Deal: The City Deal is...
Travel Hubs
A ‘travel hub’ refers to a bus, tram or train station with more facilities than a bus stop, and with the dominant modes of access being walking and cycling.
Localism and the strategic transport network
There is an urgent need for localism to include Highways England and the rail industry. The inability of local authorities to include strategic highways and railways in their short and medium term transport planning is...
Rail and its untapped potential
Thanks to Railfuture East Anglia for their assistance in preparing this paper. The potential of rail Cambridge’s railway network already has a significant role in bringing people into the city, with an annual footfall...