Latest moves to gauge feedback on Liverpool trackless tram proposals

The process to create a trackless tram system to link Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter with the city centre, and even on to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, is progressing.

Stakeholders in the Knowledge Quarter are preparing the consultation phase of the proposed scheme which will include gauging feedback on the idea and then consulting with the Liverpool Combined Authority with a view to making the scheme a reality.

Initially known as the Lime Line, this initiative was launched by Mayor Joe Anderson at MIPIM UK in London in 2017.

Following this stakeholders completed an in-depth demand study, carried out with consultants WSP, which concluded that, as the university’s Masterplans, new health campus and Paddington Village developments continue to progress, there could be in excess of 1,000 extra trips, to and from the city centre, per hour required during peak times.

The Paddington Line has been designed to provide ‘last mile’ connectivity, joining Knowledge Quarter Liverpool to the places people commute to and travel in from, but with the scope to work across the entire city region.

Using a carbon neutral, rapid transit, trackless tram system, the Paddington Line would ultimately build on the success of the city council, its Knowledge Quarter Mayoral Development Zone partners and the Metro Mayor’s City Region Combined Authority funding at Paddington Village.

Knowledge Quarter Liverpool’s proposal document for the scheme says: “The Paddington Line is KQ Liverpool’s proposal to provide a direct, green, connection from the increasingly vast and strategically important Paddington Village site to the waterfront, the airport and through Lime Street Station, Central Station and, potentially, Edge Hill Station to the airport and wider city region.”

Explaining the thinking behind the Paddington Line, it says: “In its simplest form, it is a frequent public transport link with a dedicated highway along Brownlow Hill between the city and KQ Liverpool, operating and evolving to meet demand, with integrated ticketing and the potential to become another Liverpool icon, in the same way as Metrolink or the underground are synonymous with Manchester and London.”

In order to take the Paddington Line from proposal to reality, in partnership with the city and city region, Knowledge Quarter Liverpool is now looking to gather feedback and obtain letters of support from key stakeholders, prior to meeting with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport Committee to further explore the potential delivery and funding options.