I've only been on the London & Edinburgh trams, but I assume that at least a few others use kmph as well. What's the reasoning for this, as surely it would make sense to be in mph as they share roads (and thus theoretically speed limits) with cars?
But surely it's not that difficult to switch the dials to mph - CAF make many British trains that have no problem using mph, despite railway track in Spain being in kmph.Can't speak for any other companies but at Edinburgh Trams they are made by CAF in Spain and in Spain the roads are all in kph.
Might it not be the case that as new systems they have to by law?I've only been on the London & Edinburgh trams, but I assume that at least a few others use kmph as well. What's the reasoning for this, as surely it would make sense to be in mph as they share roads (and thus theoretically speed limits) with cars?
That sounds like it could be the reason, although especially with the extension to Newhaven, quite a bit is sharing with traffic (or at least side-by-side with traffic, which should have the same speed limit anyways)Possibly don't feel it's necessary. It probably costs to change it. As far as I'm aware the Edinburgh trams were purchased at the end of that models life cycle, so it is already more difficult to order new parts. This was perhaps considered.
In Edinburgh the speed limit is only shared on a very small amount of the route with regular traffic.
I assume that that could be the case, but my question is why? - the UK has a very low chance of switching to metric now, so still having kmph in law is just adding complexity to an already complex measurement system.Might it not be the case that as new systems they have to by law?
Is that the case? I know the Tories have been captured by the pro-Brexit*, pro-metric martyr faction. But the vast majority of the world (*very little of which is in the EU or ever was) uses the metric system; the UK shares an island with a state that counts distances and speed limits in kilometres; increasingly, local distances on signposts intended for walkers and cyclists are marked in metric. There are very many reasons why we should have bitten the bullet many years ago and converted everything. It is now very messy but there is no good reason why we shouldn't complete the process.the UK has a very low chance of switching to metric now,
The UK has already switched to the metric system, with only limited exceptions.That sounds like it could be the reason, although especially with the extension to Newhaven, quite a bit is sharing with traffic (or at least side-by-side with traffic, which should have the same speed limit anyways)
I assume that that could be the case, but my question is why? - the UK has a very low chance of switching to metric now, so still having kmph in law is just adding complexity to an already complex measurement system.
Those exceptions include measuring height, long distances, weight of people, volumes of certain liquids and (crucially to this issue) speeds.The UK has already switched to the metric system, with only limited exceptions.
Hopefully we will switch - and I suppose an argument could be made that this is an attempt to encourage this, but having one system using kmph and one using mph on the exact same street strikes me as a really odd choice (and could potentially pose a safety risk). Also this means that buses usually overtake trams, as (at least in Edinburgh) trams run at up to 30kmph on streets, but busses can run a little bit faster at 20mph. (this really isn't an actual issue, just a bugbear of mine)Is that the case? I know the Tories have been captured by the pro-Brexit*, pro-metric martyr faction. But the vast majority of the world (*very little of which is in the EU or ever was) uses the metric system; the UK shares an island with a state that counts distances and speed limits in kilometres; increasingly, local distances on signposts intended for walkers and cyclists are marked in metric. There are very many reasons why we should have bitten the bullet many years ago and converted everything. It is now very messy but there is no good reason why we shouldn't complete the process.
A trip to a medical facility will reveal 1 and 3 are metric. Distances, only really roads and even then it's only certain signs , Certain liquids, again only in certain very limited circumstances. Speeds : not all speeds.Those exceptions include measuring height, long distances, weight of people, volumes of certain liquids and (crucially to this issue) speeds.
Sheffield, like Manchester uses mph.Also, on a separate note, what system does the Sheffield Supertram use, and if the Tyne and Wear metro uses kmph what happens when it shares track with mainline trains?
Is that the case? I know the Tories have been captured by the pro-Brexit*, pro-metric martyr faction. But the vast majority of the world (*very little of which is in the EU or ever was) uses the metric system; the UK shares an island with a state that counts distances and speed limits in kilometres; increasingly, local distances on signposts intended for walkers and cyclists are marked in metric. There are very many reasons why we should have bitten the bullet many years ago and converted everything. It is now very messy but there is no good reason why we shouldn't complete the process.
What good reasons are there to change? Apart from the fact that people are used to miles, making the switch would be very costly. We seem to be at a point in this country where there’s barely money for essential stuff, so we certainly don’t need to be wasting money changing something that works perfectly well.
The reasons for radical and irreversible change are compelling and unarguable. We should exclusively use SI and metric units.What good reasons are there to change? Apart from the fact that people are used to miles, making the switch would be very costly. We seem to be at a point in this country where there’s barely money for essential stuff, so we certainly don’t need to be wasting money changing something that works perfectly well.
If the speed limit for the tram is the same as the car, when they see a normal 30 sign for cars, would they go 30 km/h (which would be 20 mph, 1.6 times slower than road traffic) or 50 km/h (which would be close to 30 mph)?
That’s the main reason why the road network retained miles when weights and measures were changed. Tram networks are different as they employ people with specialist training (and as pointed out elsewhere have dedicated speed limit signs etc) so these considerations do not apply.What good reasons are there to change? Apart from the fact that people are used to miles, making the switch would be very costly. We seem to be at a point in this country where there’s barely money for essential stuff, so we certainly don’t need to be wasting money changing something that works perfectly well.
History was we were becoming metric country, so new projects are metric. That is why distance markers on motorways are in km (and 100m interval poles), those from London always start at traditional zero milepost at Charing Cross (so motorway starts nearer 20-30)That’s the main reason why the road network retained miles when weights and measures were changed. Tram networks are different as they employ people with specialist training (and as pointed out elsewhere have dedicated speed limit signs etc) so these considerations do not apply.
The UK already uses metric. It's already switched.- the UK has a very low chance of switching to metric now,
Why is that a problem? 20mph=32km/h≈30km/h=3×10km/hEven leads to stupidity like London buses where the Intelligent Speed Assist is in 10km/h increments so can't deal with 20mph limits.
Fortunately the UK's metric phobic dinosaur generation is on the wane, and the population in general is now becoming largely metricated. That's not a snipe at older people, I'm in my mid seventies, throughout my imperial measure was taught with metric measure mention as a side issue, but when the UK started taking metrication seriously, which was around our conversion to decimal currency, I found it quite simple. Counting in decimal numbers has been the norm since the 150s and metric measurement since 1790. Metric denial in the UK is an aspect of the Not Invented Here syndome, which in many areas has held the nation back.The UK already uses metric. It's already switched.
The UK is a combined system.
You buy fuel for a car in metric, but measure distance of the car in imperial. The mapping of the country is divided into metric blocks, but the road signs in imperial. You're not allowed to drink alcoholic drinks whilst driving which are sold in imperial units, but you are a soft drink sold in a metric container.
Without going off topic, due to poor calibration some buses are limited to 30km/h or nearer 17-18mph in 20mph zones so cause others to do bad dangerous overtaking.Why is that a problem? 20mph=32km/h≈30km/h=3×10km/h
They don't cause other drivers to break the law, - they might give them an excuse in their own minds where their attitude to safety is inadequate.Without going off topic, due to poor calibration some buses are limited to 30km/h or nearer 17-18mph in 20mph zones so cause others to do bad dangerous overtaking.
The Cambrian line uses metric speeds (but imperial distances).sharing some track with the -imperial apart from HS1 - national rail network.
True, I was at junior school 1972-1976 and we had new metric rulers, and some new metric metre sticks and trundle wheels (but not enough so the old yard sticks were still stacked, but not supposed to be used.Fortunately the UK's metric phobic dinosaur generation is on the wane, and the population in general is now becoming largely metricated. That's not a snipe at older people, I'm in my mid seventies, throughout my imperial measure was taught with metric measure mention as a side issue, but when the UK started taking metrication seriously, which was around our conversion to decimal currency,
The SI unit of speed is m/s not km/h. The conversion factor is 3.6....The reasons for radical and irreversible change are compelling and unarguable. We should exclusively use SI and metric units.