Within the European project « Sintropher », this paper focuses on a comparative analysis between two tramway systems in Nottingham (UK) and Valenciennes (FRA). The aim is to understand how these tram-based systems were successfully integrated in the urban areas. Firstly, we describe the national contexts concerning assessments of urban public transport policies. Secondly, we analyse these tram projects, and especially their territorial dynamics. Thirdly, we have a look at urban transformations that occurred around their terminal stations in Hucknall and Denain.

This report takes place through the frameworks of the European project “Sintropher”, acronym of “Sustainable Integrated Tram-based Transport Options for Peripheral European Regions”. The focus of Sintropher is to promote development of new or improved tram services in regions of Northwest Europe “which are disadvantaged by reason of being geographically peripheral”. The four work axes (the “work packages”) relate to technical and legal challenges (WP1), to economic feasibility of tram systems2 (WP2), to interoperability of transport hubs (WP3) and to innovative marketing initiatives (WP4). It puts the emphasis on sustainable and economic railway systems which optimize the use of existing railway infrastructures, by applying innovating technologies. These research axes, coordinated by the University College of London (UCL), are about thoughts of concepts of “Metropolis Transit” (Cervero, 1998) or “Transit Oriented Development” (Calthorpe, 1993) within “New Urbanism”. However, these c...

Page 1. Carlo Santulli T860/Project Report R1749219 T860 Environmental Decision Making: a system approach - Project Report Carlo Santulli R1749219 NOTTINGHAM EXPRESS TRANSIT LINE 3: A TRAMLINE FOR BEESTON AND CHILWELL. OPPORTUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. Date: 8/10/2003 Number of words: 4450 1 Page 2. Carlo Santulli T860/Project Report R1749219 1. Summary 2. Introduction 3. Research Data Collection 4.

Tram-train systems combine the best features of streetcars with regional rail. These systems make direct connections between town centers and surrounding regions possible by physically linking existing regional heavy rail networks with urban tram networks. The tram-train approach offers many advantages by using existing infrastructure to improve regional transit. However, the use of two dissimilar networks and the mixing of heavy rail and tram operations increase complexity and often require compromise solutions.

A survey of EUropean urban transport systems confirms that trams and light rails have an important role in providing in urban mobility.In india where 50 cities with population 2million plus have 25 cities/towns having metros in operation,construction or planning.this leaves over 75 cities which are having no organized rail based city transport and are in great distress due to inefficient, inadequate,unsafe and environmentally poluuting transport modes.The paper sugges going in for modern trams and light rail for such cities in the second and third levels of population density.EUropean union already has 976 km of new LRT/Tram under construction and 2200km of LRT/Tram is under planning. Compare to this metro network under construction is 792km and underplanning is 793 km. This means LRT and Tram network in EUrope will increase three fold compare to metros in next 10 years.Devloping nations loke India must plan for modern trams which cost nearly of 1/3 cost of the heavy metros.