Plans progress for ?800m tram project connecting Kent and Essex
A major plan for a high-speed tram connecting Kent and south Essex is starting to make progress and is set to cost around £800million. KenEx is scheme set to include a tramway connecting Grays with Kent via a tunnel under the River Thames.
The initial part of the project is set to be completed by 2028. A further plan for the project could see the line extended to Basildon and Canvey at a cost of £400million.
It will be a comprehensive tramway of about 11 miles in total. An outline business case has been accepted by the Department for Transport and a full business case being finalised is expected to be submitted later this year.
Managing director of KentEx, Gordon Pratt, said: “We are very pleased that the core proposal between Kent and Essex has passed the Outline Business Case stage. This year we are moving forward with the Full Business Case and are very much looking forward to providing a step change in connectivity for residents in North Kent.
Designs show plans to build a tunnel under the River Thames (Image: KenEx)
“As well as being an efficient and environmentally sound form of transport It has been proven that tramways can take traffic off local roads and improve journey times for motorists. A win-win all round for Kent.”
Transport Spokeswoman for the House of Lords, Baroness Randerson, said: “This is a highly congested area already and it’s going to get worse with all the development planned. This exciting new project is really the golden solution to that problem.”
The Dartford Crossing currently connects the two South East counties, but the M25, A282 and local roads are often backlogged with lines of traffic. The proposals for the new tram network could help remove traffic from the busy roads, while also improving the air quality in the region.
A total of 11 miles of tramtrack will be laid connecting Essex and Kent (Image: KenEx)
Bluewater Shopping Centre is one of the sites earmarked as part of the plans, while Darent Hospital and Ebbsfleet Garden City are also included. Meanwhile, Ebbsfleet International, Ebbsfleet Stadium, Northfleet and Gravesend could also be set to have a station.
On the other side of the river, trams would arrive at Grays where passengers can then choose to travel in two directions. If they opt to go west, Purfleet-on-Thames and Chafford Lakeside are set to be part of the network.
However, the vast majority of potential Essex stations are to the east of Grays, with Tilbury, Chadwell St Mary and Southfields all on the map. Stanford Le Hope, DP World London Gateway, Thames Enterprise Park, Canvey Island, Corringham, Basildon Hospital and Basildon are also set to get their own stations as part of the project.
Local councils and businesses are said to be supporting the ambitious project, with tram travel seen as a suitable solution to local needs. Immersed tunnel specialists COWI has already visited the site, and said: “We consider that the proposal has great merit and is certainly feasible.”
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References
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