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Probe into use of tram-trains

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Published Date: 29 February 2008
CITY leaders have agreed to look at the possibility of using specialist tram-trains on a future South Sub commuter service.
The vehicles, popular in Germany, have an undercarriage which can operate on both tram and train tracks.

The main advantage of the tram-trains is that they would overcome capacity issues at Waverley Station – which is hampering plans for reopening the South Sub rail service.

Meadows and Morningside councillor Paul Godzik, who put the idea to transport committee convener Phil Wheeler, said: "It is clear from Network Rail's submission to the Scottish Parliament's petitions committee that capacity at certain points on the route is the key barrier to this proposal proceeding.

"Tram-trains could be a possible solution and I hope they will be investigated thoroughly."





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1

Andrew,

Cumbernauld 29/02/2008 12:35:41
So tram-trains (ie Light Rail Vehicles) have an 'undercarriage which can operate on both tram and train tracks' - ie WHEELS ON RAILS!!
Maybe they could retract these and fly us to and from the airport?!? We wouldn't need the tram line at all!!
2

Andrew,

CUMBERNAULD 29/02/2008 12:38:35
PS
This is the 29th of February NOT the 1st of APRIL!!!!
3

Irn-Bruce,

Edinburgh 29/02/2008 13:09:13
Or....

Use terminating loops (proposals by CRAG and others, that have been around for ages), that won't put any additional strain on the western end of Waverley <-> Haymarket section (where the bottleneck is).


Get North Berwick trains, which run through to Haymarket already, to keep going, round the sub, to Newcraighall.

And/or get certain Fife Circle and/or Airdrie/Bathgate services to NOT run into Waverley directly, but run round the sub and arrive into Waverley from the east.

I believe the assumption that people want to/from the City Centre all the time is invalid. People want to go between where they work and where they live, neith of which, increasingly these days, are the city centre.

Anyone on the Airdie/Bathgate line who does want to go direct to Haymarket/Waverley could interchange onto trams at Edinburgh Park (given integrated ticketing).
4

Think Tank,

29/02/2008 13:13:06
I've been arguing for this on this site for AGES.

This is EXACTLY the right approach. Bring the South Sub into Edinburgh Transport Ltd's integrated ticketing network of buses and trams by making it Tram Line 4.

Having eRail or some other private company running the service will be as pointless as stepping on a Scotrail service to get from Waverley to Haymarket....it has to be integrated so that you could buy a future daysaver that covers the south sub, tram lines through the city centre and buses out to remote parts.

It's all about integration and this is exactly what's needed in Edinburgh.

5

calum,

29/02/2008 14:30:27
#3 They'd need to electrify the South Sub to allow your proposals to happen and if they won't do it north of Edinburgh or any other area they're hardly likely to do it for the South Sub. Besides, our expert in Edinburgh Transport matters, the former drill teacher and barmaid frae Hamilton, Margo Macdonald would apporove!!
6

Andrew,

29/02/2008 17:01:32
Wiring up the Sub' is SO logical (WHY ARE WE WAITING?) as it's 'surrounded' by 25kv overhead electrification (*or soon will be) on all sides. Eastwards to North Berwick via the ECML, west to *Bathgate/Airdrie, south to Newcraighall/Millerhill, north to Haymarket thro'
Waverley and thence eastwards again (via the aforemetioned ELECTRIFIED LINE to Newcraighall/
Millerhill)!! Trains could happily "SOUTH CIRCULATE" all day!!

 

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