Underground rail system will 'transform' Cambridge - travel group
It's estimated the system could cost around £1.7 billion to build
A transport group believes an underground rail system is one way of taking "substantial" action to ease congestion in Cambridge.
Reports suggest the Cambridge Growth Company (CGC) is considering building tunnels as part of plans to create a new mass rapid transit (MRT) system in the city.
"The growth pressure's very high," Dr Colin Harris, director at Cambridge Connect, said.
"We've seen new towns develop at Northstowe and Waterbeach, thousands of new homes, and we really can't go on pretending we can cope without addressing it in a substantial way."
If Cambridge was to have an underground rail system, it would become the UK's fifth city to do so following London, Liverpool, Newcastle and Glasgow.
It comes as the CGC and the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority (CPCA) are working on plans to introduce MRT in Cambridge.
£1.7bn cost
Cambridge Connect - which claims delivering an MRT system like an underground network could cost around £1.7 billion.
It's also proposed an underground line stretching from Cambridge central rail station to the west of the city as part of phase one of the scheme.
"It would be transformative for Cambridge and would strengthen its potential for growing the economy and the position of the UK, so I think that investment is entirely justified," Dr Harris said.
"We have a severe congestion problem at peak times, but if we're going to make a serious difference, we really need to develop a transport alternative that is for people to make the decision to change to going on public transport."
The Government has already announced a development corporation for Cambridge as well as aims to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of this Parliament.
No decision made
The CGC said it's looking into different MRT options "to support growth in the area, as well as contributing towards the government’s wider ambitions and commitments to an infrastructure-first approach to development and growth to unlock the area’s full economic potential.
"We are taking an evidence-led approach to consider what an MRT solution may be for Greater Cambridge, therefore all options are being considered at this point," a CGC spokesperson said.
"Technical reports produced so far provide a comprehensive understanding of previous studies, proposals and background information to help inform the strategic outline business case (SOBC), but in no way either endorses or suggests a future approach."
The CGC added the cost of an MRT system is not clear as "we haven't specified a proposed solution or set of solutions."
While the county's mayor Paul Bristow backs the idea of a light rail system for Cambridge.
A CPCA spokesperson said no decision on which MRT option is best has yet been made.
"We would not speculate on individual technical details ahead of that work concluding," the spokesperson said.
"We expect to say more when the SOBC reports, and this will feed into the Combined Authority’s wider work on the Greater Cambridge transport strategy, which is due for approval later this year.”
The CGC have been asked for comment.