Environment, Planning and Transport Committee (March 2000 - April 2003)

Policy review of Public Transport in Wales

VISIT TO AMSTERDAM

Friday, 9th February, Briefing Note by Committee’s AdviserBackgroundAmsterdam is an exemplar of a continental city, with fully integrated modes of transport, and a publically supported system, built up over many decades. It has a balanced transport policy, including two modes rarely seen or developed in the UK, namely, cycling and canal based waterbuses.The main purpose of this visit is to examine and scrutinise the ease of interchange between modes, what facilities bring this about, and how interchange is facilitated by interticketting arrangements, zonal fare structures, passenger information and other on street support measures. Members can judge the applicability of what is examined to Welsh practice.What exists in Amsterdam?All recognised modes, in an urban context, can be seen in Amsterdam, from walking, cycling, canal travel, metro, street running trams, street running buses, suburban surface rail, inter urban rail, along with many expected (and some unexpected) interchange support and enabling facilities.Walking is a mode positively designed for in Amsterdam, and Members will be able to compare and contrast with the Welsh norm of "tolerating" pedestrians in what seems to be a car dominated world! There may be a chance, if time permits, to examine purpose designed housing areas around the centre of Amsterdam, where the car can gain access, but under severely constrained circumstances, with pedestrians having rights to road surface usage, over the car. ("Woonerven"). I will wish to advise Committee, later in the process, about moves towards more sympathetic "streets for people" in the UK.Cycling is vastly popular in Holland, compared to the UK, and Members will see the penetration of Central Amsterdam by cyclists, the facilities to accommodate them, and the generous amount of publically available cycle parking areas provided by the Authority. The front of the Central Railway Station is, literally, a sea of parked bicycles!The main inner city street mode is the tram, with express, longer distance and linking services by conventional buses. Members will note a variation in Amsterdam buses from what is usually seen in Welsh towns and cities in terms of innovation (articulated buses for densely used routes), coach type services aimed at longer distance commuter and business travel, smaller buses for urban centres and suburban movements. The bus and tram services are operated as a co-ordinated whole, particularly evident in the central area and within the ring road.Post war, and up to the late 70’s, great emphasis was put on completing a high quality urban ring road, which then enabled more draconian measures relative to private car use suppression within the ring road in general and, to a very great extent, within the central business district. Within the CBD, very little new construction has been permitted, although renovation, reconstruction and enhancement has taken place to a marked degree. Most of the charming, narrow shopping streets are pedestrianised, and vehicle penetration, even for deliveries, is strictly controlled.On street facilities for passengers, in terms of quantity, quality, passenger information and passenger safety, are impressive. Members will be able to see and experience "normal" bus shelters, and also terminal and route interchange facilities including, in some prime locations, warm and convenient waiting places.A unique characteristic of Amsterdam is the use of waterbuses on the many waterways in the City. Much of this is clearly tourist orientated, but there are "scheduled" services much used by locals and commuters also.Amsterdam has an underground metro network, which is closely co-ordinated with surface transport. Metro stations and their egress/entry facilities are carefully designed to tie in with bus and tram stops to ease and enable intermodal transfer. Each major stop has cycle parking facilities, passenger information, and, in the case of the largest / most popular stops, automatic all-mode ticket vending machines.Surface rail is the other mode, much used by commuters in particular. Members will be able to examine the facilities provided at the Central Station in Amsterdam which greatly facilitate seamless movement between transport modes. Convenient links to Schipol Airport and high population density suburbs are available, running alongside commodious intercity trains. A Dutch characteristic is to have double deck trains, with low inter-bogie floors, on the densely used routes. Members may well be struck by the high standards of convenience, comfort and cleanliness on these trains and rail platforms and stations.The key to seamless exchange between modes in Amsterdam , is the practice of common interticketting between modes. Single journey tickets, which could involve three or four separate modes are available. Passenger self help, in terms of automatic ticket machines, operate at a high level in Holland, and in Amsterdam in particular. It is hoped that Members will have a specific presentation on this aspect of travel by operators representatives on the visit. Possible Member Questions and Lines of Inquiry

• • What are the arrangements between operators of the various modes?
  • What measures in the last ten years have most attracted / encouraged ridership?
  • What level of subsidy operates per mode?
  • Who pays? Government? Local Government?
  • Is there a financial link between trade and transport?
  • What is the proportion of peak travel taken by public transport into/out of Amsterdam?
  • Do you propose to better that?
  • Your proposals for PT investment over the next 2, 5 and 10 years?
  • Splits between modes and between running ways and passenger facilities?
  • How is the interchange between different operators managed e.g. between municipality buses and State Rail?
  • What proportion of ticket sales are bought on the vehicle, by day, by week, by month, by season?
  • What proportion via automatic machines direct by the public?
  • What incentives offered to encourage multi purchase, or to longer tern (season ticket) commitments?

I am sure there will be many others prompted by debate and what Members witness, but hopefully the above will help. What Next?I hope to work with Members to produce a Member Rapporteur report back to Committee on their impressions and findings, for this and each trip. Denys MorganAdviser to CommitteeWednesday, 24 January 2001