This web site has been updated with a section on a cheap extension to Liverpool John Lennon airport across fields, also serving Speke and Hale village. The section: "City Expansion Renders Tram Proposal Redundant" may be of interest as the city has moved on substantially since the misconceived tram concept, with two proposals under planning similar to London's Docklands wither side of the wide river.



http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/watercity...xtensions.html

I hope you find it of interest. Here is an added section:

City Expansion Renders Tram Proposal Redundant

The Merseyside region has been in the process of regeneration for a number of years. Since the tram network was conceived, Liverpool has progressed enormously. Events have overtaken the tram network before it has even been built, rendering the project a most certain expensive white elephant unable to cope with future growth.

Two Large Docklands Developments

Two large construction projects, similar to London's Docklands, Liverpool Waters and Wirral Waters, have been proposed and are in the planning process. The tram network does not take these projects into account.

For London's Docklands to be successfully a new, mainly elevated, rapid-transit metro network was built, the Docklands Light Railway. It services a regenerated district, giving rapid-transit connections to the rest of London and the airports. It has over 30 stations, about half the number of Merseyrail. This rapid-transit metro was viewed as essential for the success of the project attracting investors to Docklands. The metro ensured the success of the London Docklands transforming the redundant docks into a world financial centre. To ensure the success of Liverpool Waters and Wirral Waters, a similar network, or an extension to Merseyrail, would be needed.
Rapid Growth At John Lennon Airport

The airport has seen rapid growth in recent years. The increasing volume of passengers require a direct in-terminal rail station, with Merseyrail access. Rapid-transit from the city centre to the airport, especially the business quarter is essential. Having rail access at the station from Manchester, Warrington, Chester and North Wales would give the airport a far wider appeal promoting airport and city growth.

Date: Liverpool: Manchester: Ratio
Dec 2009: 358,000: 1,086,000: 1:3
Dec 2004: 244,000: 1,330,000: 1:5.5
Dec 1999: 124,000: 938,000: 1:7.5
Passenger figures for Liverpool and Manchester airports

In ten years the ratio of passengers handled at the airport has risen from near 1 to 8 to 1 to 3 in comparison to Manchester Airport.
Two Large Stadia Are To Be Built

By coincidence, the two major football clubs in the city, Everton FC and Liverpool FC are simultaneously planning new stadia. Liverpool FC have a planned stadium at Stanley Park, adjacent to the freight only Canada Dock Branch Line, which can accommodate Merseyrail passenger trains serving the districts it runs through and the new stadium. Everton FC have not finalised a site for their stadium, however the City Council sensibly are suggesting sites next to Merseyrail metro lines. Rapid-transit metro is an essential precursor for such large stadia, reducing impact on the surrounding residents and road traffic congestion. 30,000 to 40,000 fans per hour can be shifted using the Merseyrail metro rapid-transit network with connections to all Merseyside and mainline stations. A tram system could never hope to shift the volume of people that a rapid-transit metro network can, being wholly unsuitable for such a task. A tram network could never move passengers at essential rapid speeds having a relatively poor throughput.

Major Points Need Rapid-Transit To Ensure Economic Growth
  • The transport priority in Liverpool and Merseyside is rapid-transit connections between:
  • Liverpool Waters
  • Wirral Waters
  • Liverpool City Centre Business District
  • Liverpool City Centre Shopping District
  • Liverpool John Lennon Airport
  • Liverpool Lime Street Mainline Station
  • Everton FC
  • Liverpool FC

Extending the Merseyrail metro to these key points and districts will ensure success of the two prime projects and economic growth within Merseyside. The image of the city will be greatly enhanced and viewed as go-ahead. The two stadia alone will attract many thousands of visitors, British and foreign, to the city each year projecting a highly positive image if a metro takes them directly to the stadium.

Electrification Renders Much of Tram Network Redundant

The announced electrification on the Liverpool to Manchester line, Liverpool to Wigan line and the Canada Dock Branch Line in 2009 entails that St. Helens and maybe Wigan will be on the Merseyrail electric network, City Line. This renders much of the tram routes that were to serve the east of the city and beyond, largely redundant.