Re: They said it couldn't be done.

Mizter T wrote:
The greatly improved and expanded bus services in London have
certainly attracted a large number of punters in recent years, though
I'm not sure what the modal shift has been from the car.

5% according to the former Mayor - in comparison with a UK tram average of 20%. Dublin's tram has been a real success with 45% (source: PTEG).

People do say
London is a special case. but I don't see it as necessarily being that
different from other large conurbations.

In my opinion it is, mainly because it's backed up by above average motoring costs (parking fees & Congestion Charge) and also the largest urban rail network in the country and integrated ticketing making it easier to get the bus to your local tube, tram or rail station and then doing the main part of your journey by rail based transit.

I think I understand where you're coming from David - buses are by no
means the only answer, and the DfT is deluded in thinking they are.
New light rail systems - i.e. trams - should absolutely be taken
forwards. (Perhaps the success of London's bus network has actually
affected ministers thinking on this in favouring the bus - perhaps
building the now shelved Cross River Tram in London might help to
change official thinking on this!) But I think high-quality bus
services can and should be part of the mix as well.

I think the real place that buses come into their own is providing short-distance routes where rail (light or heavy) would not be feasible, and for providing interchanges with rail systems (light or heavy).

Bear in mind that those involved in various regeneration schemes, from the Docklands to modern day Thames Estuary all say that buses serve regeneration areas and not aid them. There are real links between rail & economic development but little can be said for buses.

Per passenger km, electric trams are actually cheaper than buses anyway, thanks to cheaper fuel, longer vehicle life, greater modal shift & lower staffing levels per passenger. It could be even cheaper if we got on with a large scale building of tram schemes with a mass order of vehicles rather than a few small numbers here & there. I have a copy of Transport 2010 (The 10 Year Plan) in front of me - whatever happened to the promised "25 new light rail lines?"
.

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