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Fantasy light rail/metro plans

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Drsatan

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I've noticed that there's been a lot of discussion about tram or metro plans for various places, so I thought we could consolidate those in one thread.

I've got more time on my hands now I've done my finals, so I've spent about 20 minutes creating a tram network for Southampton. Sorry about the poor quality but I ended up using Paint to draw the lines with, since I'm still getting used to GIMP. My knowledge of Southampton on the east bank of the river Itchen isn't great so feel free to correct me.

I've attached a map of these proposed tram lines to this post, but allow me to explain where they go in greater detail here:

Line 1 (Red line). Starts at Southampton airport, and largely follows Unlink bus U1 to Highfield campus and along London road. It then passes the civic centre, and follows Southampton High Street until reaching the Red Funnel terminal, whereupon it follows the A33 and along Canute road before crossing the Itchen bridge. Then it follows the path of First Southampton bus route 3 before terminating at Thornhill. A branch of Line 1 starts at the Bassett Arms and follows the route of First Southampton route 5 before joining the other branch on the A33.

Line 2 (Orange line). Starts at Thornhill and follows Bluestar route 18 along Northam Bridge, before following Civic Centre Road and the Western Esplanade where a stop would be placed outside the ticket office on Platform 4 at Southampton Central. It would then follow the A33 and cross the River Test using the existing bridge, before diverging into two branches:
  • One branch would follow Commercial Road before terminating in Totton town centre
  • The other would follow the A35 all the way to Lyndhurst, where it would terminate near the Temple Lodge hotel

Most trams on Line 2 would terminate in Totton town centre, with 1 in 4 carrying on to Lyndhurst

Line 3 (Blue Line) would start at the Red Funnel terminal, before heading along Southampton High Street and following First Southampton route 3 to Southampton General Hospital and the Lords Hill Centre.

If you're wondering why I want to run trams to Lyndhurst, it's because Lyndhurst is a gateway to the New Forest, and due to lack of public transport provision there can be some massive traffic jams. Running a tramway to Lyndhurst would encourage most day trippers to travel by public transport.
 

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MK Tom

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I've attached a map of the ''TraM:K'' network proposed for Milton Keynes by Urban Eden and various others. The two line system includes running along the centre of Midsummer Boulevard and re-using part of the former Wolverton to Newport Pagnell railway.
 

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Badger

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Thought this was quite relevant, not my fantasy but that of WMPTE:

rapidTransitMap.png


Not sure if a larger version exists. Purple is rapid transport. Pink is existing rapid transport. Green is heavy rail.
 

LE Greys

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A place that does occur is Aberdeen, although that might need major engineering. Use sections of the Deeside Line to Banchory. Braemar would be better, but would only be busy in the summer with tourists, so that's more a preservation job. The line to Cruden Bay could be extended to Peterhead without too much difficulty, while Oldmeldrum and Fraserburgh are reachable as well. Approaching Aberdeen, the Buchan Line would veer away from the old route at Dyce station, and follow Dyce Drive around the north of the airport to reach the terminal. It would then run to Bucksburn, and begin street running down the A96, then the Great Northern Road, cross the railway again at Kittybrewster, follow West North Street until it made a junction with a branch running down King Street at the Arts Centre, then run the entire length of Union Street (possibly going round on a loop via the roundabout and Castle Steet). It would go left at Holburn Junction, then run via Bridge of Dee and Robert Gordon University to Inchgarth, where it would finally join the Deeside Line. It might be worth building the intermediate section to Deeside Junction, potentially allowing heavy rail access if need be (the Royal Train could use it, as could tours). The King Street branch would run right past Aberdeen University and Seaton to Bridge of Don and the AECC, before coming to a temporary end at Murcar industrial estate. Heading south from Bridge of Dee to Cove or Torrey is also an option, as is going the other way at Holburn Junction towards Hazelhead or heading directly east from Castle Steet down Beach Boulevard and doing a loop there.
 

341o2

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I've noticed that there's been a lot of discussion about tram or metro plans for various places, so I thought we could consolidate those in one thread.

I've got more time on my hands now I've done my finals, so I've spent about 20 minutes creating a tram network for Southampton. Sorry about the poor quality but I ended up using Paint to draw the lines with, since I'm still getting used to GIMP. My knowledge of Southampton on the east bank of the river Itchen isn't great so feel free to correct me.

I've attached a map of these proposed tram lines to this post, but allow me to explain where they go in greater detail here:

Line 1 (Red line). Starts at Southampton airport, and largely follows Unlink bus U1 to Highfield campus and along London road. It then passes the civic centre, and follows Southampton High Street until reaching the Red Funnel terminal, whereupon it follows the A33 and along Canute road before crossing the Itchen bridge. Then it follows the path of First Southampton bus route 3 before terminating at Thornhill. A branch of Line 1 starts at the Bassett Arms and follows the route of First Southampton route 5 before joining the other branch on the A33.

Line 2 (Orange line). Starts at Thornhill and follows Bluestar route 18 along Northam Bridge, before following Civic Centre Road and the Western Esplanade where a stop would be placed outside the ticket office on Platform 4 at Southampton Central. It would then follow the A33 and cross the River Test using the existing bridge, before diverging into two branches:
  • One branch would follow Commercial Road before terminating in Totton town centre
  • The other would follow the A35 all the way to Lyndhurst, where it would terminate near the Temple Lodge hotel

Most trams on Line 2 would terminate in Totton town centre, with 1 in 4 carrying on to Lyndhurst

Line 3 (Blue Line) would start at the Red Funnel terminal, before heading along Southampton High Street and following First Southampton route 3 to Southampton General Hospital and the Lords Hill Centre.

If you're wondering why I want to run trams to Lyndhurst, it's because Lyndhurst is a gateway to the New Forest, and due to lack of public transport provision there can be some massive traffic jams. Running a tramway to Lyndhurst would encourage most day trippers to travel by public transport.

Interesting. The main problem with Lyndhurst is that it is a bottleneck due to all the motorway traffic speeding into the Forest on the A337 off the M27 - and encountering traffic lights with eastbound traffic on the A35 which also has to merge with northbound A337 traffic. Yes, it would be good as the Blue Star service (ex Wilts & Dorset, although I sometimes see W&D buses on the route) has been cut back from every 30 mins to 60 mins from Rushington (Totton) to Lymington.

If it were ever constructed there might be the issue that Ashurst - Lyndhurst is unrestricted, the road was narrowed at considerable expense to put in a cyclepath which sees little use, but doubtless if this was to be converted into a tramway, there would be howls of protest from the cycling lobby.

Another trackbed on the Forest, Brockenhurst - Ringwood has been suggested that it could be reopened. Last year, a new route was added to the open top service aimed at tourists
 

dvboy

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Thought this was quite relevant, not my fantasy but that of WMPTE:

rapidTransitMap.png


Not sure if a larger version exists. Purple is rapid transport. Pink is existing rapid transport. Green is heavy rail.

Sadly Centro's plan leaves a lot of the west and south of Wolverhampton still reliant on buses.
 

Badger

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^ If the Wombourne branch line didn't leave the Centro area, and wasn't such a loved walking/cycle route, I'd like to see it reopened as a railway or light rail. it was never profitable when it opened, but much has been built alongside it now - Wombourne itself has grown to be more of a town than a large village, and Penn is also significantly larger than it was; Tettenhall and Compton could have stations and also the Northern tip of 'reans.

Pendeford should also have a heavy station at Pendeford Avenue, IMO. There's space for it.
 
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LE Greys

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To flesh out the Aberdeen idea a bit more.

  1. (Peterhead, Boddam, Longhaven, Bullers O'Buchan, Cruden Bay, Hatton, Pitburg, Auchmacoy,) Ellon, Esselmont, Logierieve, Udny, Newmachar, Parkhill, Dyce Station, Aberdeen Airport Terminal, Bucksburn, Woodside, Kittybrewster, Mounthooly Roundabout, Castle Street (possibly onwards)
  2. (Danestone or Murcar,) Bridge of Don, King Street, Union Street, Bridge of Dee, RGU-Garthdee, Deeside Line (partly replaces bus routes 1 and 2)
  3. Castle Street, Union Street, Queen's Cross, Fountainhill Road, Rosemount Place, Union Terrace, Castle Street (circular)
  4. Beach Loop, Beach Boulevard, Castle Street, Union Street, Queen's Road, Hazelhead
  5. Castle Street, Union Street, Union Terrace, Rosemount Place, Westburn Drive, Hilton Drive, Woodside, Joins Route 1 (operational flexibility)
  6. Number 3 circle backwards
  7. Scatterburn, Woodside, Joins Route 1, extends to Beach Loop
  8. Beach Loop, Castle Street, Union Street, Bridge of Dee, RGU-Garthdee, Deeside Line

I'm not quite sure how to incorporate the station. There's a major hill to climb (by tram standards) whatever way I do it. There is a retail park at the beach, another at Bridge of Dee and a large Tesco's at Dubford, all of which get a lot of use
 

pemma

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Liverpool Albert Dock to Liverpool Airport and Birkenhead to Wrexham have also been mooted.
 

eps200

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There is a rather detailed fantasy plan for Mersey rail here, almost entirely based on electrification and reopening old lines. The guy who wrote it doesn't seem to fully understand the light/ heavy rail distinction, not that I do. I may make a revised version of this at some point during the summer when I have nout to do.
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/watercity/Merseyrail-Extensions.html

It would be interesting to see this picked apart by people who know more

The main points are
  • Electrify the boarder lands line and integrate it with some new stations
  • Reroute city line services into a second city centre loop formed from disused tunnels and some cut and cover. Nice side effect would be freeing up paths and platforms into lime street.
  • fix the Halton curves allowing another route to Chester.
  • Actually connect to the airport, would also be of use to NR services.
  • Fully electrify to Preston, relieving congestion on the WCML as Preston Liverpool stuff now comes this way.
  • Finish the outer loops that got canned in the 70s
  • Commission the currently freight only Canada dock branch, very handy if the two football clubs locate on the two sites along the line.
  • Finish the electrification form Ellesmere port to helsby, only worth it if lots of other stuff is done first though
The final map would look like this.
Merseyrail-Wishlist.jpg
 

Mutant Lemming

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How about connecting the tramway at Blackpool South and have Blackpool Transport takeover the Kirkham-Blackpool South service ? People could change at Kirkham for a through service to the seafront, prom and to Fleetwood.
 

bluenoxid

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Oh no. Don't suggest stuff like that.

I had a metro idea for Newcastle. Extend Forth Bridge branch to opposite the Metro Centre where a proposed pedestrian bridge would connect both sides of the Tyne. Trains would then run from there through Newcastle to the Metro at Benton and then up to Ashington on the freight lines.

However, I would just suggest using the line to the Metrocentre and cutting the shuttles.
 

anthony263

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I wouldnt mind seing a light rail network around swansea

Line 1:

Sandfields Estate - Swansea Docks/SA1 - City Centre - Sea front/Mumbles Road (For the university & Singleton Hospital) - Blackpill - Oystermouth - Mumbles Pier.

This one should be a good money maker in the summer with all the tourists as it follows the route of the old Mumbles railway for a lot of the way.

Line 2:

City Centre - Dunvant - Gowerton - Gorseinon - Grovesend Parkway (Conenction with Swansea district Line) follows the course of the old heart of wales line which came down from Gowerton to the old Swansea central station.

Line 3:

Oystermouth - City Centre - Llandore P&R/Liberty Stadium - Morriston - Morriston Hospital, basically similar to the existing Swansea metro service although it will also take over from the Llandore Park & Ride bus service.

Line 4:

City Centre - Swansea Docks - Amazon - Neath Riverside (easy acess to Neath College) - Glyneath - Hirwaun - Aberdare (connections with valley lines services to Pontypridd & Cardiff.

Line 4 will be tram-train
 

VTPreston_Tez

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How about connecting the tramway at Blackpool South and have Blackpool Transport takeover the Kirkham-Blackpool South service ? People could change at Kirkham for a through service to the seafront, prom and to Fleetwood.

More than likely too slow. You'd need faster trams available to do this and double tracking for the line to work at its best, then there's development and all that larkie which makes the only idea viable the double-tracking and that isn't happening any time soon.

anthony263 said:
I wouldnt mind seing a light rail network around swansea

Line 1:

Sandfields Estate - Swansea Docks/SA1 - City Centre - Sea front/Mumbles Road (For the university & Singleton Hospital) - Blackpill - Oystermouth - Mumbles Pier.

This one should be a good money maker in the summer with all the tourists as it follows the route of the old Mumbles railway for a lot of the way.

Line 2:

City Centre - Dunvant - Gowerton - Gorseinon - Grovesend Parkway (Conenction with Swansea district Line) follows the course of the old heart of wales line which came down from Gowerton to the old Swansea central station.

Line 3:

Oystermouth - City Centre - Llandore P&R/Liberty Stadium - Morriston - Morriston Hospital, basically similar to the existing Swansea metro service although it will also take over from the Llandore Park & Ride bus service.

Line 4:

City Centre - Swansea Docks - Amazon - Neath Riverside (easy acess to Neath College) - Glyneath - Hirwaun - Aberdare (connections with valley lines services to Pontypridd & Cardiff.

Line 4 will be tram-train

A very good idea for sure, however I believe that for Swansea maybe a tram to take over the P&R and a coastline tram like Blackpool but nothing as in depth as this. Keep it as bus operation and get a couple of buses when they retire from First and their Weymouth runs.
 

eps200

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Swansea is an awkward one a big part of the problem is low density low population and poor buses.

trams seem the way to go too small for local rail cant really object to those route.
A nicer link that goes centre uni mumbles would do well if you could some how get past brynmil being so bloody awkward.

Not worth a metro but bis wise trying to go from Brynmil to fforestfach is horrible an orbital bus route would help connectivity lots.
 

anthony263

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Swansea is an awkward one a big part of the problem is low density low population and poor buses.

trams seem the way to go too small for local rail cant really object to those route.
A nicer link that goes centre uni mumbles would do well if you could some how get past brynmil being so bloody awkward.

Not worth a metro but bis wise trying to go from Brynmil to fforestfach is horrible an orbital bus route would help connectivity lots.


Bus services 31 & 43 in Swansea used to be 1 orbital route however they were split into sperate routes however I did suggest a few months back about putting them back to one route something which Greenback said might be interesting
 

SwindonPkwy

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I have thought long and hard about this one but can think of nowhere better for a modest (fantasy) tramlink than Swindon. Starting in the North (Redhouse?) the line would head West and join/follow the Kemble line into the town with stops at Cheney Manor and the Outlet Village. After a stop adjacent to Swindon Station, it would route through Fleming Way to Old Town and on to Wichelstowe following, in part, the old Midland Railway line.

Of course it will never happen because Swindon Council did not have the foresight to at least design protect for light rail within the developments to the North and South of the town.
 
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LE Greys

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I have thought long and hard about this one but can think of nowhere better for a modest (fantasy) tramlink than Swindon. Starting in the North (Redhouse?) the line would head West and join/follow the Kemble line into the town with stops at Cheney Manor and the Outlet Village. After a stop adjacent to Swindon Station, it would route through Fleming Way to Old Town and on to Wichelstowe following, in part, the old Midland Railway line.

Of course it will never happen because Swindon Council did not have the foresight to at least design protect for light rail within the developments to the North and South of the town.

I don't think they ever imagined that the GWR (later BREL) would go away. When it did, focus had switched to cars.
 
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