Official Midland Metro Thread - Page 9

djay · July 25th, 2011, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markmcd1976

And link Brum's three main stations.

ideally it should create interchanges at more of the conurbations stations if we want to build a sustainable transport network

twilight_2008 · July 28th, 2011, 02:22 PM

I'm not sure whats happening with the extension regarding Brierley Hill, Merry Hill and Dudley, some sources state it goes to Brierley Hill but it was reported earlier this year that the business plan had been submitted to Network rail to re-open the South Staffordshire Line between Stourbridge and Walsall via Dudley and Wednesbury for trams, so I'm a little confused.

twilight_2008 · July 28th, 2011, 02:24 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_S...ine#The_future
http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2...aunch-in-2014/
http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/new...e_right_lines/

Qoasis777 · July 31st, 2011, 12:51 PM

I wonder whether this technology could be used as a more cost effective step towards future metro routes?

http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/products.htm

There is one in use on a short stretch of track in stourbridge apparently and has been very succesful.

I was not aware of this technology but its seems very innovative, no need to overhead power cables etc and they do have a model which has a capacity of 170 people.

Thoughts people? Why stick to expensive old technology when something new might do a better job?

daumal · July 31st, 2011, 01:06 PM

As I understand it the current plan is that the South Staffs line from Stourbridge to Walsall would be opened for freight trains. The section between Brierley Hill and Wednesbury will initially also run Metro services if funding can be found.

The section between Wednesbury and Walsall is also hoped to eventually run Metro services as the '5Ws' route (from Wolverhampton to Walsall and then down to Wednesbury and the main line to Birmingham) but this seems to have dropped down the priority list so is probably much further away.

adamdalziel · July 31st, 2011, 03:03 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lm2a...e_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-QYh...e_gdata_player

Lot cheaper to install, uses normal buses with additional guide-wheels and very smooth apparently.

daz · July 31st, 2011, 04:37 PM

Hardly a new idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xHYD...eature=related

Soul_13 · July 31st, 2011, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamdalziel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lm2a...e_gdata_player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-QYh...e_gdata_player

Lot cheaper to install, uses normal buses with additional guide-wheels and very smooth apparently.

Still a bus. I've seen trolleybuses in many EU cities, hardly an innovation just a cheap inferior alternative to tram.

adamdalziel · July 31st, 2011, 09:04 PM

Just thinking if it's cheaper than laying tram lines wouldn't it be a short-term compromise to get things moving (no pun intended) then you can replace with trams as and when finances permit. I think this is kinda what they're going to do with the rapid transit system.

Guided 'tram' with tyres:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bL-8...e_gdata_player

Typhoon2000 · August 1st, 2011, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soul_13

Still a bus. I've seen trolleybuses in many EU cities, hardly an innovation just a cheap inferior alternative to tram.

How is it inferior?

LNGCats · August 1st, 2011, 05:38 PM

People don't use buses, no matter how good they are in anything like the numbers that they move to rai based schemes.
It is for that reason cities often upgrade trolley buses to trams when funding allows.

pirlo_21 · August 1st, 2011, 08:20 PM

why do they want the next line to go to the airport when u can catch the train from the centre which takes six minutes to get there?

even this intial line is poor , all 3 stations are within walking distance

LNGCats · August 1st, 2011, 08:29 PM

Perhaps most journeys on light rail are not from terminus to terminus?

simbastyles · August 1st, 2011, 08:39 PM

I agree though for the same they could improve links down the Bristol Road, something that is needed more with the new houses that will be built at Longbridge.

Qoasis777 · August 1st, 2011, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pirlo_21

why do they want the next line to go to the airport when u can catch the train from the centre which takes six minutes to get there?

even this intial line is poor , all 3 stations are within walking distance

As are many of the metrolink stations.

As are many tube stations in London.

For the umpteenth time this extension is not really about getting a tram from New St to say Bull St. Its about bringing the Metro to the city streets to: -

a) Increase visibiliy which will increase usage
b) Provide a fast easy link to Snow Hill (think visitors who dont know the city)
c) Allow for future extensions

And as for the comment about the city to airport link - think of the stops in between. Think of the car journeys removed from the roads...

You need to see the bigger picture of this extension and just how crucial it is for the future.

pirlo_21 · August 1st, 2011, 09:35 PM

stops in between? its missing the football ground and the part of Coventry rd that could do with it the most

£130 million is a lot for "viability"

lol snow hill is not far away!!

if they want the extension then they should be building another line ie bristol rd, the low usage of this line will kill off the rest

sefton66 · August 1st, 2011, 10:03 PM

not really, im sure most people coming in will stay on to go to New St or atleast Corporation St rather than walk down from snowhill, especially in the rain which is most of the year!

Qoasis777 · August 1st, 2011, 10:13 PM

Pirlo - please tell me how this proposed extension from the centro website misses the football ground? There is a stop called "St Andrews"!

http://www.centro.org.uk/nmsruntime/...=1827&sID=4977

You say Snow hill is not that far away and you are correct but if you dont know the city this link would be a god send! You are only looking at it through the eyes of someone who knows the city!

Also as Sefton says this will increase usage of the line not kill it as it runs through the city rather than being hidden away under snow hill.

I'm all for differing opinions but please explain how you think this line linking the city's two main train stations running straight through the central shopping and business areas will kill the Metro???!!!!

Qoasis777 · August 1st, 2011, 10:17 PM

oh and I presume you mean 130mill for visibility? I'm not talking about visibiity from a vain "look at our lovely metro" kind of way!

Increased visibility will lead to increased usage - if you step out of New ST and see a tram waiting which could take you to our world famous Jewellery Quarter you might get on it and have a look.

If you have to walk to snow hill (find it first if new to brum) then find the metro tucked under the station you may not bother exploring that area of the city.

Can you see what I mean Pirlo or not?

Nessyjord · August 1st, 2011, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pirlo_21

£130 million is a lot for "viability"

£130 million is for more than the line...new fleet of trams, maintenance depot and the extension. Why are you so quick to criticise? It's yet another step in the right direction

July 31st, 2011, 09:04 PM	#169
adamdalziel Adam Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 563 Likes (Received): 4	Just thinking if it's cheaper than laying tram lines wouldn't it be a short-term compromise to get things moving (no pun intended) then you can replace with trams as and when finances permit. I think this is kinda what they're going to do with the rapid transit system. Guided 'tram' with tyres: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bL-8...e_gdata_player Last edited by adamdalziel; July 31st, 2011 at 10:58 PM.

August 1st, 2011, 08:20 PM	#172
pirlo_21 Scaramouche, Scaramouche, Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Birmingham Posts: 2,084 Likes (Received): 17	why do they want the next line to go to the airport when u can catch the train from the centre which takes six minutes to get there? even this intial line is poor , all 3 stations are within walking distance __________________ We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm - George Orwell http://babbage.cs.qc.edu/courses/cs341/IEEE-754.html

August 1st, 2011, 08:39 PM	#174
simbastyles simbastyles Join Date: May 2009 Location: Barcelona/Birmingham Posts: 333 Likes (Received): 0	I agree though for the same they could improve links down the Bristol Road, something that is needed more with the new houses that will be built at Longbridge. __________________ "Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities - because it is the quality which guarantees all others." Joseph Chamberlain

August 1st, 2011, 09:35 PM	#176
pirlo_21 Scaramouche, Scaramouche, Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Birmingham Posts: 2,084 Likes (Received): 17	stops in between? its missing the football ground and the part of Coventry rd that could do with it the most £130 million is a lot for "viability" lol snow hill is not far away!! if they want the extension then they should be building another line ie bristol rd, the low usage of this line will kill off the rest __________________ We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm - George Orwell http://babbage.cs.qc.edu/courses/cs341/IEEE-754.html

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July 28th, 2011, 02:22 PM	#162
twilight_2008 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Stourbridge, West Midlands Posts: 1,325 Likes (Received): 0	I'm not sure whats happening with the extension regarding Brierley Hill, Merry Hill and Dudley, some sources state it goes to Brierley Hill but it was reported earlier this year that the business plan had been submitted to Network rail to re-open the South Staffordshire Line between Stourbridge and Walsall via Dudley and Wednesbury for trams, so I'm a little confused.

July 28th, 2011, 02:24 PM	#163
twilight_2008 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Stourbridge, West Midlands Posts: 1,325 Likes (Received): 0	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_S...ine#The_future http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2...aunch-in-2014/ http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/new...e_right_lines/

July 31st, 2011, 12:51 PM	#164
Qoasis777 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 622 Likes (Received): 10	I wonder whether this technology could be used as a more cost effective step towards future metro routes? http://www.parrypeoplemovers.com/products.htm There is one in use on a short stretch of track in stourbridge apparently and has been very succesful. I was not aware of this technology but its seems very innovative, no need to overhead power cables etc and they do have a model which has a capacity of 170 people. Thoughts people? Why stick to expensive old technology when something new might do a better job?

July 31st, 2011, 01:06 PM	#165
daumal Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 318 Likes (Received): 5	As I understand it the current plan is that the South Staffs line from Stourbridge to Walsall would be opened for freight trains. The section between Brierley Hill and Wednesbury will initially also run Metro services if funding can be found. The section between Wednesbury and Walsall is also hoped to eventually run Metro services as the '5Ws' route (from Wolverhampton to Walsall and then down to Wednesbury and the main line to Birmingham) but this seems to have dropped down the priority list so is probably much further away.

July 31st, 2011, 03:03 PM	#166
adamdalziel Adam Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 563 Likes (Received): 4	http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lm2a...e_gdata_player http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-QYh...e_gdata_player Lot cheaper to install, uses normal buses with additional guide-wheels and very smooth apparently.

July 31st, 2011, 04:37 PM	#167
daz Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 134 Likes (Received): 0	Hardly a new idea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xHYD...eature=related

August 1st, 2011, 05:38 PM	#171
LNGCats Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 11,157 Likes (Received): 126	People don't use buses, no matter how good they are in anything like the numbers that they move to rai based schemes. It is for that reason cities often upgrade trolley buses to trams when funding allows.

August 1st, 2011, 08:29 PM	#173
LNGCats Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 11,157 Likes (Received): 126	Perhaps most journeys on light rail are not from terminus to terminus?

August 1st, 2011, 10:03 PM	#177
sefton66 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Birmingham Posts: 6,490 Likes (Received): 60	not really, im sure most people coming in will stay on to go to New St or atleast Corporation St rather than walk down from snowhill, especially in the rain which is most of the year!

August 1st, 2011, 10:13 PM	#178
Qoasis777 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 622 Likes (Received): 10	Pirlo - please tell me how this proposed extension from the centro website misses the football ground? There is a stop called "St Andrews"! http://www.centro.org.uk/nmsruntime/...=1827&sID=4977 You say Snow hill is not that far away and you are correct but if you dont know the city this link would be a god send! You are only looking at it through the eyes of someone who knows the city! Also as Sefton says this will increase usage of the line not kill it as it runs through the city rather than being hidden away under snow hill. I'm all for differing opinions but please explain how you think this line linking the city's two main train stations running straight through the central shopping and business areas will kill the Metro???!!!!

August 1st, 2011, 10:17 PM	#179
Qoasis777 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 622 Likes (Received): 10	oh and I presume you mean 130mill for visibility? I'm not talking about visibiity from a vain "look at our lovely metro" kind of way! Increased visibility will lead to increased usage - if you step out of New ST and see a tram waiting which could take you to our world famous Jewellery Quarter you might get on it and have a look. If you have to walk to snow hill (find it first if new to brum) then find the metro tucked under the station you may not bother exploring that area of the city. Can you see what I mean Pirlo or not?