A student has shared their vision for how Liverpool’s tram and metro network could look if it was on a par with some of Europe’s major cities.
Todd Lithgow, 22, soon to be graduating with a planning degree from the University of Liverpool, has produced the map after looking at data detailing the metro and tram networks in France’s main cities. Applying the data to Liverpool, he claims the city would have around 50km of both metro and tramways. if our network was to match the French ones.
The calculation is based on taking the average metro and tram infrastructure per capita of the top 10 French cities and then displaying this in the context of Liverpool’s population. The map shows three tram networks running across Liverpool and also over to Wirral, with a number of metro train lines running towards the east of the city.
READ MORE: Here's why Merseyside doesn't have a tram network
Stations have been given a blend of Liverpool and French names, with areas like Norris Green becoming 'Norris Vert', Sefton Park becoming 'Parc Sefton' and the Tobacco Warehouse in the North Docks becoming 'Entrepot de Tobac'. The proposed tram line would run from areas like Liverpool John Lennon Airport Towards Clubmoor, with another tram line connecting Gillmoss with the city centre and Bramley Moore Dock.
Proposed metros would run from the south and east of the city, through Liverpool city centre with one line connecting with Birkenhead in Wirral. Todd told the ECHO the idea came from looking at the data and wanting to find an appealing way of illustrating how Liverpool compares to France's main cities for transport.
He said: “I was just going to post it on social media as a spread sheet or tweet it but I thought what is a nicer way to display this and maybe not make it in a really serious way and not make it depressing, because in a way it is. I thought I'd make a map and put the French names in. It brings up the point that we are deprived from a transport point of view.”
Liverpool used to have a tram network but this was removed more than 60 years ago. Liverpool Corporation Tramways operated the city's extensive electric tram network from 1898 before its closure in 1957.
Proposals to establish a Merseytram network were put forward in 2001. It was envisaged that the tram system would loop around Liverpool city centre before heading off in three different directions - including to the city's airport.
The project won government backing in 2002 but was scrapped for good nine years later after a number of rows, delays and funding issues. Fresh plans for a light rail system operating across the city centre and areas like Paddington Village have been explored in recent years.
Todd said that his design follows the tram way proposals of where the lines would have run across the city. He notes how the map would go some way to addressing the reliance on buses in the east of the city where densely populated areas like Wavertree, Croxteth and Norris Green are not connected to the Merseyrail network.
Todd added: "In the UK there is a London bias and neglect in the north [when it comes to transport]. Although Manchester has a fairly successful tram network.
"Nottingham, where I’m from also has a tram network, but Liverpool has been left out in the cold. Even with Merseyrail it misses large parts of the city.
“To make [the map] happen it needs more investment, but other places have done it, including our immediate neighbour up the road in Manchester - they have made it a reality. But In Liverpool things are getting better. The new trains are a massive improvement.”
Todd also believes that the introduction of articulated ‘bendy’ buses would be a big boost to transport in the city along with more tap and go technology. Todd added: “They are not as good as a tram but they are not far off.”
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has been pressing ahead with its 'transport revolution' after receiving more a £700m transport settlement from Government in 2021. New class 777 trains have been introduced to parts of the Merseyrail network along with new hydrogen powered buses.
A bus franchising consultation is also underway with improvements being made to the Liverpool city region’s active travel network.
