Rapid Transit Systems Mr. Stephen O'Brien To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made towards the target of creating 25 new rapid transit lines in major cities and conurbations by 2010 as stated in his Department's Transport 10 Year Plan of 2000; how many new rapid transit lines were created in each year since 2000; and by what percentage light rail passenger journeys have increased since 2000. Paul Clark The Ten Year Plan published in July 2000 set out indicative figures for the number of light rail schemes that might be delivered by 2010. This was neither a target nor a commitment for the Government. The following light rail lines have been opened since 2000: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |Name of scheme |Number of new lines| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2000|Croydon Tramlink |3 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2000|Manchester Metrolink -Eccles extension |1 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2002|Tyne and Wear Metro -Sunderland extension |1 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2004|Nottingham Express Transit |1 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |2005|Docklands Light Railway - London City Airport extension|1 | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The following schemes are in preparation; ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |Name of scheme |Stage reached |Number of new lines| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |Docklands Light Railway -Extension to Woolwich Arsenal |Under construction, due to be completed in 2009. |1 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |Manchester Metrolink -Extensions to Rochdale, Oldham, Chorlton and Droylsden |Under construction, project due to be completed in 2012. |4 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |Nottingham Express Transit -Extensions to Clifton and Chilwell |Granted Programme Entry. If Full Approval is granted the lines could be completed by 2013. |2 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |Manchester Metrolink -Extensions to Ashton, East Didbsury and Manchester Airport |Granted Programme Entry as part of Greater Manchester's Transport Innovation Fund bid. |3 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |Manchester Metrolink -Extensions to Trafford, Oldham town centre, Rochdale town centre, and Second city crossing scheme|Schemes which currently have no approval status that Greater Manchester are also progressing as part of their Transport Innovation Fund bid.|4 | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Light rail passenger journeys in England increased by 90 per cent. between 1999-2000 and from 98 million to 186 million passenger journeys in 2007-08.