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Project background

The East Lancashire Rapid Transit (ELRT) project aimed to improve integration of public transport within the economic region of East Lancashire. A key focus of the project was connecting strategic development and employment sites that supported the future regeneration of East Lancashire’s towns. The priority corridor for the ELRT scheme was identified as the Darwen - Blackburn - Accrington bus corridor (including routes between Blackburn and Accrington via Rishton, Great Harwood and Oswaldtwistle) linking with the strategic east-west and north-south railway lines.

The client

Strategic Lines were contracted to the East Lancashire Partnership (ELP) - now the Lancashire Economic Partnership (an organisation formed to promote economic growth and prosperity throughout Lancashire). As initial scheme promoters and developers, ELP required help to review and develop appropriate procurement and funding models that would support the objectives of the scheme.

Our role

Strategic Lines’ role was to provide strategic procurement advice to the ELP team that:

Considered the policies and aspirations of the political stakeholders
That would work within the public transport context of East Lancashire and the National Rail Network
That would leverage private sector skills and potentially investment
That would allocate project risk appropriately.

Approach

The assignment was carried out over a 6 months period in four phases:

Summary review of the early pre-feasibility study and the financial and commercial dynamics of the project.
Analysis and development of principal structural options and models - considering current market practices and templates.
Consultation with key stakeholders and market players.
Review with team and preparation of summary report.

Status

The project was approved by the NWRA (North West Regional Assembly) as one of the regional projects to take forward. It featured in the Local Transport Plan 2006-2010, the Lancashire Economic Strategy and Action Plan and the Central Lancashire City Region Development Programme. An outline Business Case and Cost Benefit analysis was carried out at detailed feasibility stage and demonstrated a strong case. Discussions have taken place with the private sector including operators, and with the DfT on the best way forward to procure and protect the scheme.

Key project dates