The Cambridge Light Rail network would enable faster and more efficient access to the historic City. This will benefit tourists by providing them with a more rewarding and enjoyable experience.
Cambridge Light Rail will enable visitors to maximise their time in the City, and connect with friends, family and business associates, rather than spending time in traffic on the coach or on a bus. This will also result in benefits to businesses, where tourists will be able to visit and spend more time.
The Cambridge Light Rail network would enable the Cambridge Coach Station to be relocated to the periphery of the City, at the a key stop on the Isaac Newton Line, and coach passengers could travel into the city by Light Rail. The most suitable location would appear to be the Girton Interchange on the M11 since this junction enables connections with major transport arteries extending in all directions on the road network. There is also orphaned land in this location – created by road improvements to the A14 – that could accommodate the coach park with minimal environmental impact.
By placing major transport infrastructure underground in the city core, reducing the number of buses, coaches and private vehicles within the historic City core, and improving air quality, this will result in major benefits to visitors as the entire City centre becomes a much more pleasant and enjoyable place to visit. This will enhance the positive image of Cambridge, and strengthen its reputation as one of the most outstanding historic cities in the world to visit. While this enhancement might itself serve to attract more tourists, at least we would then have the essential capacity and efficiency on the transport network to handle the numbers.
