Bristol Supertram

Bristol Supertram

Artist impression of Bristol Supertram in Redcliffe, Bristol
Overview
Locale	Bristol and South Gloucestershire
Transit type	Light rail
Number of lines	1
Number of stations	16
Operation
Began operation	Cancelled in 2004
Technical
System length	10.4 mi (16.7 km)
Track gauge	Standard gauge

[ ] Bristol Supertam Line One
Aztec West(M5 Park and Ride) Patchway Brook Savages Wood Great Meadow Parkway North(M4 Park and Ride) Bristol Parkway University of the West of England (UWE) MoD Abbey Wood Bonnington Walk Ashley Down M32 motorway Stapleton Road Lawrence Hill Bristol Temple Meads St Mary Redcliffe River Avon Prince Street Quay Street Union Street

Bristol Supertram was a proposed light rail system for the Bristol and South Gloucestershire regions of England. In 2001, the project was given backing from the government to build a line that would link the city centre with the North Bristol region, but the project was cancelled in 2004.

The Bristol Supertram project was launched in March 2001 with an announcement from the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, John Prescott. The initial cost of £194 million was to be provided by a public–private partnership (PPP), which would include 20% funding from the private sector. The remaining funds were to come from the government and the local authorities of Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Bristol was one of 25 cities and conurbations that had been selected for light rail development by the New Labour government. This was part of a government white paper and a 10-year plan to improve public transport in the UK.

Opinion polls in Bristol have consistently shown that the issues of inadequate public transport and traffic congestion are two of the biggest local concerns. Public interest in a light rail system had been raised with a demonstration service by Bristol Electric Railbus Ltd (BER). This service operated a Parry People Movers railcar along the first 0.5-mile of the Bristol Harbour Railway, where it carried more than 50,000 passengers between 1998 and 2000.

The first stage of the project was the construction of a route called Line One, which was planned to run from Bristol city centre to Almondsbury. The 10-mile journey would be completed in 30 minutes and make 16 stops.