Coventry VLR

[AlastairFraser]

I'm really struggling to see the benefits over running a couple of electric double decker buses on the same planned route.

Cost,flexibility and availability of drivers. If it can be automated from a control room, it can be run with less fixed staff costs, and it can help reduce the shortage of bus drivers by redeploying them to other areas where VLR/light/heavy rail is not justified.

 

[Energy]

Cost,flexibility and availability of drivers. If it can be automated from a control room, it can be run with less fixed staff costs, and it can help reduce the shortage of bus drivers by redeploying them to other areas where VLR/light/heavy rail is not justified.

But the easy part of automating the bus is following a line, the difficult bit is interacting with the public. The VLR still has to do the latter.

 

[AlastairFraser]

But the easy part of automating the bus is following a line, the difficult bit is interacting with the public. The VLR still has to do the latter.

That's why I suggested driving via CCTV from a control room, rather than full automation.

 

[Russel]

Cost,flexibility and availability of drivers. If it can be automated from a control room, it can be run with less fixed staff costs, and it can help reduce the shortage of bus drivers by redeploying them to other areas where VLR/light/heavy rail is not justified.

Highly unlikely...

You're saying a fixed light rail system is cheaper and more flexible than a couple of double decker buses?

Less fixed staff costs? Are you sure? Each tram will almost certainly have a member of staff onboard, even the DLR which is automated and ran on a segregated network still has a member of staff onboard...

Maybe in theory VLR has it's advantages, but not in reality.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Highly unlikely...

You're saying a fixed light rail system is cheaper and more flexible than a couple of double decker buses?

Less fixed staff costs? Are you sure? Each tram will almost certainly have a member of staff onboard, even the DLR which is automated and ran on a segregated network still has a member of staff onboard...

Maybe in theory VLR has it's advantages, but not in reality.

It's not the buses themselves, but the costs associated with them.
It does hinge on whether they will be able to control remotely or not, and I think there are examples like OrlyVAL where there is no staff on the ground at all.

 

[Russel]

It's not the buses themselves, but the costs associated with them.
It does hinge on whether they will be able to control remotely or not, and I think there are examples like OrlyVAL where there is no staff on the ground at all.

If a bus route was to be used as an alternative to this, it would likely to Stagecoach or National Express, both of whom already have established operations and depots, so the associated costs would be minimal compared to building the VLR system...

Orlyval looks to be a segregated system, so isn't comparable when talking about staffing...