Delivery of East West Rail between Oxford, Bletchley and Cambridge provides a unique opportunity for the transport system in the wider south east. It will be transformative for the travel options of many people both within and outside of the region. But for connectivity to be planned in a way that is fit for the future, it must be planned for all users from their door to door.
In her keynote presentation at TRANSPORT Smart Class, London & South East England 2023, Naomi Green – Managing Director of England’s Economic Heartland (EEH) – set out how one of England’s seven Sub National Transport Bodies is using data and opportunities enabled through the future of mobility to plan and deliver a genuine user-focused transport system that maximises the potential of East West Rail and public transport priorities in the Heartland.
Summary of presentation highlights:
- Sub-national transport bodies overview;
- East West Rail – A long history in brief;
- East West Rail – The economic story;
- East West Rail – Business ecosystem;
- “15 minute neighbourhood?”;
- Planning Transport Systems for People – Selected geography top 10 personas;
- Future Mobility:
- The Varsity Way (123 mile cycling route linking Oxford and Cambridge) – Transport Strategy priority; Potential to become an active travel spine across the region; Connectivity to East West Rail stations; Funding required to look in more detail at route alignment e.g. in Marston Vale;
- Other Examples of Sustainable Transport-Enabled Regeneration…
- Stratford Station, London – Visualisation of the low-carbon urban mobility hub, ‘GoStratford’, which will serve as a test bed for an upscaled, community-focused shared mobility offering in the completed development; Brompton Bike Hire hub (offering affordable and accessible bike hire) already installed and plans submitted to expand the offering to include electric car club vehicles, electric vehicle charging provision and cargo bikes; New transport management and access app being developed with Brompton, Mobillio and Enterprise to manage hire from the hub, count journey’s carbon and offer discounts via mobility points, encouraging residents to choose active travel options;
- Eynsham Park and Ride, Oxfordshire – Public transport components (Railway station, Bus services inc. rapid transit routes, National coach connections); Non-public transport components (Bike share services, Car club bay, High quality pedestrian and cycle routes, Micro-mobility offer, Car parking prioritised for disabled users, Taxi services); Transport related components (EV charging facilities with on-site renewable energy generation; Digital pillar/app/QR code with transport info, ticketing, way finding, walking and cycle distances to local services; Freight consolidation & transfer/package delivery facilities; Cycle parking and secure cycle storage; Bike tyre pumps and repair stations; Hydrogen fueling capabilities); Community assets (Indoor/covered waiting area with potential for renewable energy generation; Improved public realm inc. green spaces/community art/pavement repairs/safer road crossings; WiFi/phone charging and allocating space for 5G base units and integration with full fibre; Potential for remote working etc)
If you satisfy our regular delegate qualification criteria but were unable to join us in London on October 17th for the live in-person event at Greencoat Place, CLICK HERE and complete the short “Download form” (located at the bottom of the post) to receive a unique link enabling free access to the presentation video recordings and slides (including the film footage and slides from Naomi’s keynote).
Those qualifying to receive the rich presentation content from this event include commissioning, procurement, trialling, partnering and policy leads, senior influencers, strategic decision makers and planners from local authorities (e.g. city, borough, metropolitan, district and county councils); public transport operators; regional transport partnerships, sub-regional transport bodies, combined authorities, integrated transport authorities and passenger transport executives; highways authorities and road operators; government and supporting national transport agencies; fleet operators, parking operators, prime contractors etc.
