Re: Ayup - Tram trains - Is West Yorkshire the best place to test the concept

On Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:01:20 -0700 (PDT), Mwmbwls
<robertg.robinson@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Two interesting letters in the May 2008 edition of Rail Professional.

Eric Stuart points out that only Manchester has an Interurban system
similar to the Tram Train concept whilst Mr Armstrong, the former
General Secretary of the PWI points out the difficulties of running
Tram Trains on the Sheffield Supertram network. Is West and South
Yorkshire the best place to start - wouldn't the Wigan-Salford
Crescent corridor with a chord to join Metrolink at Salford Docks be a
better test of the concept?

[snip]

I think the concept of tram-trains is excellent. However I do not
understand why the DfT have chosen the line they have - it just seems
daft to me. Alan Williams has made a range of comments in his latest MR
column and I agree with his basic conclusion that the trial will show
very little benefit because it's on the wrong line and does not test the
tram to train element of the concept.

I'm bemused as to why we have to do a trial anyway - surely the concept
is proven in a range of circumstances in Europe? Can't we simply decide
we would like to copy their idea and then get on with developing
appropriate business cases for schemes that the government wishes to
progress. Oh hang on - that rather assumes they do actually wish to
progress such schemes in the first place. Silly me - forget I even
entertained the idea.

--
Paul C

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