(Boltar) wrote in message . com...
(Neil Williams) wrote in message ...
IMO, the best solution for the Oldham Loop, for example, is not trams,
but 25kV overhead line and new, high-acceleration heavy rail EMUs to
form a German-style S-Bahn. The trams have their place, but it is not
in taking over a perfectly good heavy rail system, increasing fares
and slowing journeys. It is also not (in the case of Eccles) in
operating routes that are substantially faster by bus!

We seem to have a very strange attitude to city mass transport in this
country. In most other western countries (and the old USSR) a city the size
of manchester would have had its own proper underground system, never mind
some cut price tram system. The fact that it doesn't and neither do huge
connabations such as Birmingham is frankly laughable. Somehow Newcastle
managed to get one when the bean counters weren't concentrating for a moment
back in the 70s but other than that , the tinpot system in glasgow and of
course LU, this country is a joke for heavy mass transit in cities. No doubt
the usual cost excuses would be wheeled out if this was brought up with the
D.O.T but if they can afford to build a new lines in Uzbekistan:

http://www.urbanrail.net/as/tosh/tashkent.htm

for example I'm damn sure we can too.

While I broadly agree with your sentiments, it ought to be pointed out
that land prices in Uzbekistan are not readily comparable to those in
any British city. I would guess that the balance of state power vs
private landowners' rights is probably more in favour of the state
there, too (Sufficiently delicately phrased, I hope ).

--
Larry Lard
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