A new Metro system has been talked about for decades but never gets off the ground, however, I believe that Bristol, and the surrounding areas, could have one of the best-connected networks in the country. But we need to act now. We already have a good base network, already being used, but with a few tweaks and by using modern tram trains, it would be a great starting point, and it would be comparatively low cost, at least, compared to an underground, which, I don’t think is really needed. Phase one, could be done within 18 months. The infrastructure is already there. Phase two, which includes reinstating the Portishead line and extending northwest with the reinstatement of the Henbury loop, should not take long either. Also included with Phase two, is the creation of the Red line (Airport to Southmead Hospital). This is probably the most important line on the network. Not only because it will connect many people to the Airport and Southmead Hospital, but it will also connect the City Centre. It won’t just be of benefit to people working in the city, or local people for shopping and eating in town etc, but it will create a connection between Temple Meads and the City Centre, allowing businesspeople easier access to the city, but also the bus Station for other connections, as well as giving them access to the local train and tram network.  In fact, because most of the infrastructure is already there, the work could be carried out at the same time as phase one and the lines could open either at the same time, or at least, a short time after. Phase three will create the yellow line, connecting the northwest of the city to the south of the city, including access to the airport via a different route, giving people from the south east of the city, an option to travel to the airport directly and without the need to go into Bristol itself, easing possible congestion. Phase four will then connect east Bristol to the network. As I said before, the eastern side of the city is the most difficult part of the network, mainly due to the high-density housing, especially through Lawrence Hill, Redfield and St George. The Eastern Loop (Lime line), connects much of this side of Bristol and it should be a fairly straight forward to create along the existing road network, M32, Ring Road, Bath Road) etc. The Purple line should be fairly straightforward south of the city but a little more difficult to implement to the east of the city. But there are several options. One is to close the road to other vehicles, except buses. Another option is to make the road one way for traffic and have a single tram line, except for wider parts of the road, where a waiting/passing section of line could be added. Or even have one tram line on one road (A420) and one tram line on another (Whitehall Rd, Speedwell Road for example) and making both roads one way.

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I will say it again, buses are not the answer. Getting cars and other vehicles off the road is the answer. We MUST create a system which benefits everybody, allowing freedom to explore every corner of our city and its surroundings, in an economical, stress free and methodical way. Creating the Metro system doesn’t need to be a daunting task, especially when it is broken down into several phases. It doesn’t need to cost ten billion pounds. This system also allows for easy expansion of the network, as and when it is needed, it covers a larger area than the underground, giving more access for its users, and creates a flexible system for users to move across the city, without needing to come into the city first, which is the whole point of the Metro.   

I am not a Civil Surveyor, a Civil Engineer or a tram/train expert, and I am not an accountant. I cannot give anybody a costing for this project. This would need to be carried out by experts in this field. Alstom, as an example, will not only manufacture the tram trains, but they can also design the system, create the correct costings, build the network and provide maintenance of the network (as Stadler are in Newcastle and Wales). But, as a Bristolian, who is seeing the city falling behind other cities in the UK, not just with the Metro, but with traffic issues, tourism, business etc, it is obvious to me, and everybody I talk to, that this is needed to regenerate the city before its too late. We have an opportunity to create something very special, to put Bristol on the map for the right reasons, to move the city forward, and at the same time, building a zero-carbon city, that may even be copied by other cities around the UK and the world. But we must act NOW.