Latest news with #trams
Telegraph
05-07-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Tram nostalgia won't solve our transport problems
Last Thursday, Chris Curtis, Labour MP for Milton Keynes North asked the Transport Secretary what her department is doing to bring down the cost of building new tram systems. Curtis pointed out, using research by think-tank, Britain ReMade, that 'every French city with a population of over 150,000 has a mass rapid transport system,' while here in Britain similar sized towns have to make do with dull old buses and taxis. West Yorkshire, where I live, is the biggest urban area in Europe without a tram or metro system. There are plans to rectify this by spending £2.1 billion of government money on a tram system connecting Leeds to Bradford city centre and to link Leeds' main hospital to a large out-of-town shopping centre near Leeds United's football ground. Even if the cost of building the lines is halved, that's still over a billion pounds to build less than 20 miles of tramway. Should we be asking if this is the best way to spend the limited cash we have for transport infrastructure? If building tramways is so troubled and difficult, why do we persist with the idea that having trams on our city streets is such a good idea? The proposals for Leeds don't provide any benefit for 90 per cent of West Yorkshire's travellers and our obsession with trams misses the fact that, in most places, the distribution of people and jobs simply isn't suited to fixed rail mass transit systems. Trams, like other fixed rail systems, are an old technology. Leeds and Bradford built trams in the 1880s, discovered they had become loss-making and shut them down in the 1950s to prioritise cheaper, more flexible buses (and the private car). Since then waves of nostalgia have washed over our cities resulting in trams being seen as the only possible solution to urban transport challenges. The truth is, however, that building a tram network is an act of corporate indulgence, a sort of municipal 'keeping up with the Joneses'. Instead of moving to a new generation of transport, we are stuck with an expensive and inflexible 19th century technology. And people don't use trams much. Across the UK, just 8 per cent of journeys were made on public transport and tram systems amounted to just 3 per cent of those public transport trips. Even when we look at Manchester, with its substantial tram network, the share of journeys for this system amounts to less than 5 per cent. Manchester's trams also lose a lot of money, £39 million in 2023/24. If we get the 'tram building revolution' that Chris Curtis calls for, we will be spending billions on loss-making systems that, even optimistically, will amount for less than 10 per cent of passenger journeys. All while the roads where over 90 per cent of journeys take place are starved of both investment and maintenance. If we are serious about transport investment then we should concentrate on investments that the private sector is prepared to finance like air travel, taxi systems, roads and work from home initiatives as well as ending the long term underfunding of roads maintenance. It may be the case that, as Centre for Cities tells us, urban density would make mass transit less loss-making but right now few of England's towns are big enough or dense enough to justify tram systems. Perhaps a brave mayor will tell the government their city doesn't need a tram and would rather finance experiments in autonomous vehicles, air taxis, better road signalling technology and app-based systems like North Yorkshire's YorBus rather than a tram system that doesn't solve urban transport problems and costs a fortune.
News.com.au
26-06-2025
- General
- News.com.au
‘Why?': Public transport commuters baffled by common act
A seemingly simple act on public transport has left Melbourne commuters puzzled, sparking a debate online about why many choose to stand rather than sit on a tram, even when plenty of seats are available. A user posted a photo on Reddit of an empty tram seat, surrounded by standing passengers, with the caption: 'People who prefer to stand than take a free seat on public transport, why?' The original poster elaborated: 'Hear me out, I know people like to stand up and be ready to go, but when the tram is clearly full and people are struggling to get on, what's the reason for not sitting? 'Even when the tram isn't full, why not sit while in a moving vehicle?' They also mentioned witnessing a woman 'smash her head' on the tram floor after falling backwards from a sudden stop. 'She was bleeding, and at her age, lucky to be alive,' they said. 'Maybe we are all complacent until we see someone bleeding'. Reasons for standing The post quickly went viral, attracting hundreds of comments from Melburnians offering various reasons for their preference to stand. Many said it helps avoid getting trapped as the tram fills up and makes it easier to hop off at busy stops. 'I've always thought people stand to avoid getting stuck and unable to get off,' said one commenter, with another adding, 'Agree, especially if it's a short stop and you're getting on before a rush of people'. Others said it was sometimes 'awkward' to navigate crowded aisles to reach a seat, so they just don't bother. And for some, standing was just a welcome break from sitting at a desk all day. 'I sit down in my office all day, so I prefer to stand,' said one, while another echoed: 'I sit enough'. Seat size plays a role The size of public transport seats was another point raised. 'I'm a 6'1 man and the seats are made for tiny munchkin people,' said one. 'Even if I'm lucky and the person across from me has short legs, we'll still knock knees. So I have to sit with my feet crammed under the seat if I don't want to play footsie,' complained a fed-up commuter. 'There is no socially appropriate way to sit in those seats,' chimed in someone else. 'Either your feet block the aisle or you're knee to crotch with someone else'. 'There's no such thing as personal space in those seats,' agreed a third. Meanwhile, some people said for them, it was more about hygiene. 'Hear me out … people are gross,' said one. 'I've seen enough disgusting hygiene on public transport to know I want to be nowhere near those seats'. Others just didn't want to ruin their nice clothes by sitting down on a potentially dirty seat. And some felt sitting for just a few stops wasn't worth it. 'I'm often not going far,' said one commuter. 'If I sit down, I'll probably just have to get up for someone who needs it more,' added another. A different person mentioned they didn't see the issue with standing in the first place, as it's not physically taxing. Safety considerations contacted Transport for Victoria for a comment, who directed us to their safety page. It states: 'Because our trams often share roads with other traffic, unexpected stops can occur. Always sit whenever possible and hold on to a pole, handle or strap if you're standing'. The transport authority also advises commuters to adopt a 'feet apart, strong stance' when standing to prevent falling over.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
New Skoda trams launched in Frankfurt (Oder)
Skoda Group's new 46T trams have entered service in the city of Frankfurt (Oder) in Germany, following the granting of official authorisation for passenger operation. Stadtverkehrsgesellschaft Frankfurt (Oder) is initiating the phase-out of its older KT4 tram fleet with the introduction of the Skoda 46T models. Eight Skoda 46T vehicles have already arrived in the city, with two additional trams expected shortly. The final three are nearing completion. These trams represent a new era for the city, which has relied on trams for more than 125 years. The delivery of the trams is part of a joint agreement involving Frankfurt (Oder), Cottbus, and Brandenburg an der Havel. Skoda Group has provided a customised vehicle platform to suit the unique requirements of each city's network. While the design of the trams remains consistent, adaptations have been made to ensure they are fit for the distinct operational conditions of each city. In Cottbus, six Skoda 47T trams have been delivered, with authorisation for passenger use currently underway, and a seventh tram is close to completion. Following an option exercised in 2022 by Cottbusverkehr, 15 additional vehicles are on order, with seven already in the early stages of production. Brandenburg an der Havel has received two trams, with two more in the final stages of assembly. These vehicles, like those delivered to Frankfurt and Cottbus, offer enhanced accessibility, passenger comfort, and energy-efficient operation. Over the coming months, all three cities anticipate the gradual integration of the new trams into service as deliveries continue and necessary approvals are obtained. Skoda Group West & North Region president Jan Christoph Harder said: 'This contract brought together three cities with different technical requirements but a shared vision for modern, accessible transport. Meeting all those needs with one platform wasn't easy, but it's exactly the kind of challenge we're here to solve.' Additionally, Skoda has placed an order for ABB's Pro Series Traction Battery packs for the battery-electric multiple units (BEMUs) that Skoda is manufacturing for České Dráhy, the state-owned railway company of Czechia. The contract secured in the final quarter of 2024 represents the inaugural procurement of ABB's traction solutions by the Skoda Group. "New Skoda trams launched in Frankfurt (Oder)" was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Metrolink disruption as points failure means trams not calling at key stop
Metrolink services are facing disruption meaning that some trams will not be calling at a key stop. Tram services towards Manchester will not be calling at MediaCityUK 'until further notice', Transport for Greater Manchester says. The disruption, which has been caused by a points failure, has been affecting services since the start of this morning (June 14). READ MORE: 'I see mums who can't afford to feed their children - how can they afford this?' READ MORE: A rapist on the run, the 'racial prejudice' that saw the case collapse and a jury room bust-up - what can now be revealed about the Rochdale grooming trial Passengers travelling on the line from Eccles to Ashton-Under-Lyne have been told to use Harbour City or Broadway instead. In a post on X, the Bee Network wrote: "Due to a points fault, tram services towards Manchester will not call at MediaCityUK. "Please use Harbour City or Broadway to complete your journey. "We apologise for any inconvenience caused." Elsewhere on the network, there will be changes to services operating on several lines due to events such as Parklife taking place. --- Day in day out, our reporters in the Manchester Evening News newsroom bring you remarkable stories from all aspects of Mancunian life. However, with the pace of life these days, the frenetic news agenda and social media algorithms, you might not be getting a chance to read it. That's why every week our Features and Perspectives editor Rob Williams brings you Unmissable, highlighting the best of what we do - bringing it to you directly from us. Make sure you don't miss out, and see what else we have to offer, by clicking here and signing up for MEN Daily News. And be sure to join our politics writer Jo Timan every Sunday for his essential commentary on what matters most to you in Greater Manchester each week in our newsletter Due North. You can also sign up for that here. You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to see everything we offer, including everything from breaking news to Coronation Street. If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our news desk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you'll be the first to hear about it. And finally, if there is a story you think our journalists should be looking into, we want to hear from you. Email us on newsdesk@ or give us a ring on 0161 211 2920.
BBC News
10-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Aberdeen rapid transit scheme costs could hit £323m
A proposed new tram-style bus system for Aberdeen could cost as much as £323m, according to a new is hoped Aberdeen Rapid Transit (ART) would run on two routes linking key destinations in and around the projected price of the project has more than doubled since initial investigations in 2021 - due to increased cost pressures, including a huge rise in construction on Aberdeen's net zero, environment and transport committee voted to move forward with engagement on the scheme and officers will report back on progress next year. It had been initially anticipated the project would cost £150m to implement. Now four options have been outlined by transport partnership Nestrans ranging from £167m to £323m. The lower cost option would require less new infrastructure, while the highest cost option would see the project in a fuller form including more construction and integrated cycling provision. Funding for the project remains unclear but sources such as a Scottish government transport scheme, local authority funding, and cash through the Aberdeen City Region Deal have been identified as options. The council said it was investigating where it could get the money from, including from the UK government. It is hoped ART could use tram-style vehicles which would travel along designated corridors, similar to Belfast's Glider buses. It is expected 36 of these electric vehicles would need to be purchased at an anticipated cost of about £ were raised during Tuesday's committee meeting about the value for money of the plans. Independent councillor Alex Nicoll said based on data in the report which suggested the scheme would bring in an extra 8,900 public transport users in the city, the project could cost more than £36,000 per extra passenger. He added: "We are speaking about £3.4m being committed by the council so far, without even a shovel in the ground. "We need to think about what we can actually deliver here, this council cannot afford it and it is that simple."However, project lead Kirsty Chalmers insisted bringing ART in would be good value for money. She said: "One of the reasons we are looking into this is the better value of it, instead of implementing light rail for example. "The ART project covers a number of regionally-important destinations and it is about creating choice and it is about it integrating with the bus and rail networks as well."
