Light Rail and Buses

[SS4]

Three quarters of a mile? Wouldn't it just be easier to walk?

That's what I'd have thought. It can't take more than ten minutes to do that surely?

often, yes. but not so practical walking both ways before i go to work. car is more convenient.

How long does it take you from locking your front door to stepping in the door at your destination? I can't imagine it being much quicker to go 3/4 of a mile by car. Not to mention the wear and tear which I understand to be worse when starting the car from cold (perhaps a driver could confirm/correct me?)

If your work is more than 3/4 of a mile away please ignore this part.

Bus fare are usually flat fares so for you could probably get a lot further than 3/4 of a mile for the price of a bus ticket. In the West Midlands it's about £1.70 for a short hop which is a rip off considering it is £1.90 for any distance on a single journey and £4 for a multi operator day ticket (nbus). I understand the West Midlands is cheap compared to places which are not London but my point is bus tickets have a largely flat fare.

Still, I don't think anything will change your mind on buses. If you really don't want to see bus threads then you can search the other transport forum* for what you're looking for or try your luck on google (I couldn't manage it myself) or even use the thread subscription feature if you're interested in a couple of topics.

* http://www.railforums.co.uk/search.php?f=49

 

[WestCoast]

me talking about a seperate light rail section.

I see your point about Light Rail, because this is supposedly a rail forum, but there doesn't seem to be all that much interest to warrant a whole sub-forum dedicated to the topic. There are a lot of negative opinions about Metrolink in particular and the thread about the expansion turned into a debate about whether it was right to convert from heavy rail. If you're interested in the Metrolink expansion, SkyScraperCity is the best forum.

That sub-forum also has recently had ongoing topics about hovercrafts, cable cars and large threads about airlines and aircraft.

Lothian is the best in the UK, with the possible exception of TfL buses. However they do follow some poor British standard practice such as no free interchange (although the day ticket is quite cheap) and the widespread use of single glazed buses.

Single glazed buses? I'm more pro-continental than most on here and generally agree with you, but that isn't that big of a deal. The buses in Bremen (where I lived for 3 years) were nothing special, quite spartan infact with interiors worse than Lothian. Oh, and give me a double-decker over an artic anyday! The single fare for one-off users wasn't cheap either...

 

[90019]

Not to mention the wear and tear which I understand to be worse when starting the car from cold (perhaps a driver could confirm/correct me?)

Repeatedly using your car without giving the engine a chance to warm up isn't that good for it, and I believe will see some internal parts wearing out faster.

I'm pushing it a little with my commute, which is only 3 miles, and means my car is only just warming up, but when I have a shift starting at 5am, or one finishing at 12.30am, using other forms of transport is impractical.

 

[WestRiding]

Good job work is 27 miles away then in Sheffield. Wear and tear on a car sort of falls inot insignificance, given that i have a high mileage car anyway. Its only 3 weeks old and has 1340 on the clock.

 

[90019]

Its only 3 weeks old and has 1340 on the clock.

Good for it.

 

[WestRiding]

I see your point about Light Rail, because this is supposedly a rail forum, but there doesn't seem to be all that much interest to warrant a whole sub-forum dedicated to the topic. There are a lot of negative opinions about Metrolink in particular and the thread about the expansion turned into a debate about whether it was right to convert from heavy rail. If you're interested in the Metrolink expansion, SkyScraperCity is the best forum.

That sub-forum also has recently had ongoing topics about hovercrafts, cable cars and large threads about airlines and aircraft.

I am interested in Manchester but not as much as Sheffield where i work. Hence why i think the development of tram train, in the city where i work is quite exciting, given that i work in the signal box that will control it too at Rotherham. But i do find it frustrating how little info there is on it, even within the rail industry. And most threads deteriorate into petty arguments, like people challenging spelling, trying to wind people up.

 

[90019]

Will you shut the f**k up with your smart ar*e remarks.

If you're going to willy wave about having a new car, then no.

 

[WestCoast]

And most threads deteriorate into petty arguments, like people challenging spelling, trying to wind people up.

I think there's less of that on this forum than others, but there is sometimes a tendency for threads to descend into the same old debates time and time again. Perhaps also petty 'issues' (IMHO) like the informal use of 'train station' over 'railway station'. As previously mentioned, the Metrolink expansion threads end up debating the whole existence or service issues!

 

[WestRiding]

If you're going to willy wave about having a new car, then no.

Because it shows a high mileage car. If i just said oh its got 86000 miles on the clock, that would be good if it was 10 years old. When i got rid of the last car it was 4 years old with 89000 on the clock. The age bit, and the mileage go hand in hand when talking about mileage done in a car. simple stuff really. I f you sell a car the buyer will ask its age and mileage. Sorry to offend you. And anyone else i have offended for talking about the mileage on a car.

 

[90019]

Try 'X miles per week/month', comes across much less 'look at me!' than saying you've only had it 3 weeks.

 

[WestRiding]

Try 'X miles per week/month', comes across much less 'look at me!' than saying you've only had it 3 weeks.

Who could care less, loads of people have new cars. Its only a KA for christ sake, cheap to run etc. I live in a crappy terrace house in the dump that is Dewsbury. Im just a normal working bloke and hardley showing off with the look at me thing.

 

[radamfi]

Single glazed buses? I'm more pro-continental than most on here and generally agree with you, but that isn't that big of a deal. The buses in Bremen (where I lived for 3 years) were nothing special, quite spartan infact with interiors worse than Lothian. Oh, and give me a double-decker over an artic anyday! The single fare for one-off users wasn't cheap either...

I think double glazing is important because it prevents the windows steaming up when it is cold or raining. Double glazing has been standard on trains for decades, with the exception of Pacers.

It is funny you should mention Bremen as I was thinking about the Bremen-Nord bus network while I was writing the post as it was my most recent continental 'bus bash'. I was particularly impressed at how the various routes in Bremen-Nord met up at each of the railway stations at the same time, meaning you could switch between the routes easily. I did notice that the single fare wasn't cheap but I suppose most people would have a 4 pack or season ticket.

 

[WestRiding]

No more posts from me in this thread. Surely i cant be the only one who has understood what i am trying to say. I didnt realise people got upset by me quoting the age of my car and its mileage. 'look at me' my back side.

 

[WestCoast]

No more posts from me in this thread. Surely i cant be the only one who has understood what i am trying to say. .

I understood completely your point, if London Underground can have a sub-forum then I really don't see why Light Rail couldn't.

 

[radamfi]

If you're interested in the Metrolink expansion, SkyScraperCity is the best forum.

I would also highly recommend that forum. There are 1045 pages for you to catch up on:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=866944&page=1045

 

[Max]

This thread seems trailed off into a slightly unrelated discussion to be honest. The forum staff are always open to ideas, and if there is a significant demand for a light rail section we will always consider it. In fact, we made changes to the forum sections just a few months ago. If you have any strong views, get in touch!