LiRa-2 Final Conference 15 September 2005 Case Study: Wolverhampton City Council & Centro David Orton/Chris Chatfield Wolverhampton City Council/Centro Museum of Science and Industry Manchester, UK

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities1 Solihull Coventry Sandwell Walsall Wolverhampton Dudley Birmingham Edinburgh Manchester Cardiff London Figure 1 West Midlands Conurbation Birmingham Wolverhampton National / regional context

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities2 Wolverhampton City Centre Railway Station Bus Station Metro Terminus Wolverhampton Interchange Project

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities3

4 Issues / Objectives 1Multi modal integration 2Facilities for public transport users 3Image 4City Centre traffic management 5Environmental pollution 6Regeneration 7Midland Metro

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities5 Issue 1: Multi modal integration

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities6 Issue 2: Facilities for public transport users

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities7 Issue 2: Facilities for public transport users (2)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities8 Issue 7 - Midland Metro

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities9 Midland Metro Line 1 Open for 6 years Patronage 5.2 million and rising 8/12 minute frequency Popular with users but: Inadequate penetration into shopping core Poor integration with bus and rail

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities10 Metro Phase 1 Extensions Birmingham City Centre Wednesbury to Brierley Hill

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities11 Metro Phase 2 Extensions Birmingham East-West Route to serve Airport and NEC Birmingham Eastside spur Birmingham University link with City Centre 5Ws Route Wolverhampton – Walsall – Wednesfield – Willenhall – Wednesbury –To be linked to Line 1 in a way that addresses current issues

Wolverhampton Interchange Project In Search of the Seamless Journey The Key Link in Chain Mobility

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities13 WIP – 2 Projects for 1 Hard Elements (Physical Domain) –Access and parking –A new rail station passenger terminal (To complement £11m investment in additional 10 car platform and new footbridge) –A redeveloped bus station –Metro Soft elements (Conceptual Domain) –State of the art public transport information system (LiRa 2 Case Study)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities14 Access and Parking New access road to the Railway Station Extensively remodeled parking facilities High quality pedestrian, cycle and public transport links, inc. widened bridge

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities15 Access & Parking All necessary consents and permissions have been obtained Funding is in place - up to £17.5m Expected start on site – Autumn 2005 Projected completion – Spring 2009

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities16 Railway Station 2 parallel options being pursued:- –Do minimum - £3.5m - funded –Redevelopment - £20.0m - not yet funded Decision on which option is to be implemented must be made by March 2006

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities17 To run movie clip, position cursor within image and left-click. To move to next clip position cursor in white area and left-click. Station - Redevelopment

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities18 To run movie clip, position cursor within image and left-click. To move to next clip position cursor in white area and left-click. Station – Redevelopment (2)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities19 Metro - 5ws Line Alignment now being determined Public consultation – winter 2005 Could be operational in 2011/12

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities20 LiRa 2 Case Study Objectives To research all appropriate sources and prepare detailed, implementation ready proposals for an travel information system to complement the physical measures of the Wolverhampton Interchange Project To incorporate European wide best practice into the proposals

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities21 Case Study Work Plan Consultant appointed –Atkins Transport Systems Stage 1 –review of best practice Stage 2 –Determination of the information requirements of users and operators Stage 3 –Design and development stage Stage 4 –Outputs and effectiveness test

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities22 Stage 1 Site Visits In July 2004, members of our Working Group undertook site visits to: –Gothenburg, Sweden –Helsinki, Finland –Tampere, Finland –Newcastle, UK –Denistron Ferrograph factory, Newcastle, UK –Chorley, Lancashire, UK –Manchester Airport Ground Transport Interchange, UK Also, during the life of the project:- Visits to LiRa partner cities

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities23 Stage 2 User Requirements Site Audits –Bus Station –Rail Station –Metro Stop By –Elderly person –Visually impaired Person –Deaf person –Transport Planner Focus Groups –Bus users –Rail users –Metro users –Coach users –Infrequent users –Disabled –Rail Passenger Committee

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities24 Stage 3 Development Incorporating: –Developing physical domain features –European wide best practice –User requirements based on data from site audits and focus groups –Technical advice from market leaders in equipment manufacture Requirement: –State of the art –Future ready, adaptable and expandable Platform: –Virtual reality model

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities25 Stage 4 Outputs Outputs: –Concept design for a public transport information system for the Wolverhampton Interchange Based around 3 information halls –Virtual Reality Model of the Interchange with the information system on board Go anywhere in real time Effectiveness: –Test of selected journey scenarios within the VR Model

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities26 Information Concept Bus/ Coach/ Tram Car/ Tram Rail/ Tram 3 Information Halls

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities27 Virtual Reality Model

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities28 Virtual Reality Model (2)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities29 Virtual Reality Model (3)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities30 Virtual Reality Model (4)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities31 The European Dimension LiRa 2 has enabled conceptual domain issues to be considered at the same time as those in the physical domain Best practice reviews have included visits to continental European cities We have greatly valued the input from LiRa colleagues to our project LiRa 2 has enabled an exchange of information on a range of light rail issues

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities32 Our Vision for the WIP A multi facetted regeneration and integrated transport project incorporating world class facilities including: –Much improved highway and transportation infrastructure –A new rail station passenger terminal building –An additional 10-car platform –A redeveloped bus station –A state of the art public information system

Our thanks to LiRa for helping to make the vision a reality