renegademaster
Member
I dont understand why they dont just set the machines to a default payment of £2 a a beep when it goes through successfully, like what London, Birmingham and Manchester do, any other ticket you have to ask for
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Where else in the UK could tramways/light rail be installed?
- Thread starter quailking14
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RailUK Forums
It does come down to the fact that a fair amount of short journeys are still under £2 and it would make those that need them end up paying more than prior to the cap coming in last year. As i say i would definetly welcome just being able to scan a local Oyster equivalent card and get on than stating what part of a town i need to go to, especially if i need to repeat the name of the stop to the driver.
Still, there has been times where the slow boarding has came in handy, especially when i am running late for the bus
.railfan99
Established Member
As a Melbourne, Australia resident I won't say our tram network is 'best in class' as c.80 per cent of tracks are shared with motor vehicles and other road users (though it's become the largest worldwide after Moscow reduced its route kilometres), meaning slow running times, and stops can sometimes be as close as 200 metres from the previous one, a result of history and failure to close some stops.
It's noticeable in my city that when tram track renewal works occur and trams are replaced by buses that deviate around works, patronage immediately hugely declines, even where there's no nearby railway station with suburban trains as an alternative.
My guess is we have higher car ownership per capita than any British city but even so, trams are used by many. Fare evasion is a problem but that's off topic.
daodao
Established Member
@railfan99
Melbourne is unique in being the only city in the Anglosphere (and probably the wider world) of over 1 million that has not developed a metro system (as distinct from a suburban rail network) and has retained its tram system essentially intact. Other large cities of over 1 million that retained a large tram system have generally developed metros that have replaced some of their busiest tram lines.
There are only a handful of cities in Great Britain that don't already have some form of metro/light rail/suburban rail network, and where a new light rail/tram route/network might be appropriate. I mentioned a few places (including Leeds) in post 56 of this thread; Bristol is another city where there might be sufficient demand, but it is difficult to envisage how to build a useful route/network there.
Melbourne is unique in being the only city in the Anglosphere (and probably the wider world) of over 1 million that has not developed a metro system (as distinct from a suburban rail network) and has retained its tram system essentially intact. Other large cities of over 1 million that retained a large tram system have generally developed metros that have replaced some of their busiest tram lines.
There are only a handful of cities in Great Britain that don't already have some form of metro/light rail/suburban rail network, and where a new light rail/tram route/network might be appropriate. I mentioned a few places (including Leeds) in post 56 of this thread; Bristol is another city where there might be sufficient demand, but it is difficult to envisage how to build a useful route/network there.
railfan99
Established Member
Agree. One of the slowest tram routes in a 'developed' nation I've encountered was in Toronto, Canada: super congested.
In England, I found Nottingham good, even when travelling inbound during a weekday morning peak, but from memory much was on reserved track. Perhaps when shops have opened, the street running is slower.
For someone living in South Tyneside and all the issues with Metro at the moment I have always favoured some kind of tram system running on the West side of Newcastle, maybe linking in the Metrocentre on the Gateshead side, the tram would link up to an interchange with Metro access, kind of like Heworth currently is, then a separate tram system turning Pelaw into an interchange with the tram line running on the current old leamside alignment to Washington with slight on street working but going no further.
I am also an Aberdonian and always thought that some kind of underground or metro/tram system would be ideal, one line from Dyce/Airport to somewhere like Balnagask/Altens/Cove Bay and an East to West line going from the Beach to somewhere like Mastrick via Hazelhead both lines would interchange at Guild Street for onward travel by train or bus, Aberdeen is big enough that Tram/Metro working would and should work.
And Medway, what can I say about the Medway Towns, OK I was last there 20 years ago but there were so many places crying out for transport links, Gillingham Business Park was one especially and so was the Medway Valley Leisure Park, 2 railway lines either side of the Diggerland site Albeit one is HS2 but there is no station on the Medway Valley Line and when I was there, no bus service, I used to work in the Bingo hall that used to be there and it was a nightmare if you didn't have a car, it always seemed busy but it could have been busier.
The route I would run, would go from Medway Valley Leisure Park, run along possibly beside the current Medway Valley Line through Strood via the station, onto the edge of the city estate, through the tunnel round St Marys Island via the Outlet Centre then along Pier road,to The Asda like previously discussed on this thread along the old Gillingham Dockyard alignment to Gillingham station or potentially on to Yokosuka Way.
In all honesty, doing any system involving crossing the river to encompass Rochester would involve another bridge or tunnel, I like the idea of splitting the lines between Delce Road and City Way, another option may possibly be a loop from Maidstone Road at the Airport end at The Tideway and then along Arethusa Road to link to City Way or even better, running up the Rochester Maidstone Road (B2097) along the M2 side of the airport, onto the roundabout and then down the Chatham Maidstone Road (A229) then City Way, You could have made more of a loop down to the esplanade if the Borstal road Junction from Priestfields wasn't so tight, and Shorts Way has a restriction which would probably not be welcomed by a tram line.
I am also an Aberdonian and always thought that some kind of underground or metro/tram system would be ideal, one line from Dyce/Airport to somewhere like Balnagask/Altens/Cove Bay and an East to West line going from the Beach to somewhere like Mastrick via Hazelhead both lines would interchange at Guild Street for onward travel by train or bus, Aberdeen is big enough that Tram/Metro working would and should work.
And Medway, what can I say about the Medway Towns, OK I was last there 20 years ago but there were so many places crying out for transport links, Gillingham Business Park was one especially and so was the Medway Valley Leisure Park, 2 railway lines either side of the Diggerland site Albeit one is HS2 but there is no station on the Medway Valley Line and when I was there, no bus service, I used to work in the Bingo hall that used to be there and it was a nightmare if you didn't have a car, it always seemed busy but it could have been busier.
The route I would run, would go from Medway Valley Leisure Park, run along possibly beside the current Medway Valley Line through Strood via the station, onto the edge of the city estate, through the tunnel round St Marys Island via the Outlet Centre then along Pier road,to The Asda like previously discussed on this thread along the old Gillingham Dockyard alignment to Gillingham station or potentially on to Yokosuka Way.
In all honesty, doing any system involving crossing the river to encompass Rochester would involve another bridge or tunnel, I like the idea of splitting the lines between Delce Road and City Way, another option may possibly be a loop from Maidstone Road at the Airport end at The Tideway and then along Arethusa Road to link to City Way or even better, running up the Rochester Maidstone Road (B2097) along the M2 side of the airport, onto the roundabout and then down the Chatham Maidstone Road (A229) then City Way, You could have made more of a loop down to the esplanade if the Borstal road Junction from Priestfields wasn't so tight, and Shorts Way has a restriction which would probably not be welcomed by a tram line.
d9009alycidon
Member
Can't see any kind of underground being built in Aberdeen given that most of the city is built on solid granite.
melon68
Member
I think modern tunnelling techniques can bore rail tunnels through granite, in any case would Stockholm have a metro constructed into similar bedrock as Aberdeen? I'm sure there are other examples around the world of hard rock being no obstacle
York, it might not be the biggest place around but it has major destination points on the outskirts which many people go namely the Designer Village, Monks Cross and Grimston Bar / Universities.
Maybe something like below, which allows as much off street running as possible with a future extension on the red line towards Askham Bar from the train station. Serves the busiest points
Maybe something like below, which allows as much off street running as possible with a future extension on the red line towards Askham Bar from the train station. Serves the busiest points
Snow1964
Established Member
Seems Gloucestershire are considering a mass transit system, either guided buses or light rail tram. Linking Tewksbury, Gloucester, Stroud and Cheltenham.
The current rail service in the area tends to be 30+ year old diesel units
www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk
The current rail service in the area tends to be 30+ year old diesel units
M5 junction 9 revamp a step closer as council considers mass rapid transit
Light rail, guided buses or trams are among the options which could be considered by Gloucestershire County Council who are working to improve the traffic flow on the A46 at Ashchurch
Cross City
Member
Seems Gloucestershire are considering a mass transit system, either guided buses or light rail tram. Linking Tewksbury, Gloucester, Stroud and Cheltenham.
The current rail service in the area tends to be 30+ year old diesel units
M5 junction 9 revamp a step closer as council considers mass rapid transit
Light rail, guided buses or trams are among the options which could be considered by Gloucestershire County Council who are working to improve the traffic flow on the A46 at Ashchurch
I used to work in Teddington just off this junction and it is absolute carnage a lot of the time, as is getting to and from Cheltenham from Tewkesbury.
Not sure if light rail is the answer that far out of the main urban area but something needs to be put in place.
A Quedgeley-Gloucester-Staverton-GCHQ-Cheltenham-Racecourse-GE Aviation-Bishops Cleeve tram would be good but I imagine there are far more areas in need of transportation help than here.
Sorry, this is a late reply, but what does "scanning a barcode" refer to here? Where I am, the pre-£2 cap equivalent of asking for a single would have been asking for the specific ticket you required.
When somebody purchases a return, day or week ticket a barcode is printed on it, which placing it under the ticket machine reader should register it as a valid ticket. Much quicker than the process of asking for another single.
No worries, Basically before the cap, as said by LUYMun it was a barcode that was scanned to accept that you are returning on your ticket and it was a lot quicker than constantly asking for a single bus ticket. There are still some people that still buy weekly tickets or day tickets, however, bus drivers do always recommend you get the single tickets as they are the cheapest currently.
I have found that its quicker to board a bus during the cap if you have £2 in change ready than card payment.
On the topic of this thread, whilst this was dealt with on another thread at the time. Canterbury did express interest in a tramway network, albeit I can't see where it would be implemented within the city. In the Southeast, Canterbury is one of the 3 places you would approach by train over driving because the traffic is always so bad in the area, (London and Brighton being the other 2).
Canterbury tram
"A tram system and other potential solutions to traffic woes in Canterbury are set to be researched by council bosses. Authority leader Ben Fitter-Harding says the city’s appeal is at risk of falling behind that of other places unless plans to rethink its clogged-up road network are dreamt up."...
www.railforums.co.uk
'Tram system could solve city's traffic woes'
A council leader says 'no idea is off the table' as he bids to come up with solutions to solve traffic gridlock - including a possible tram system.
The City has tried implementing a park-and-ride bus scheme, however it has had mixed successes. Personally, I would like to see some of the periphery train stations be used as a P&R instead and an agreement with Southeastern to lower fares so that fewer cars are going into the city - but this is unlikely to happen.