Bishop's Stortford Light Rail?!

[Ivo]

Having seen the thread about the Algiers Metro, I decided to look on Wikipedia [that most reliable of sources] for a list of tramway etc systems, and to my great surprise there was mention of a "Bishop's Stortford Ultra Light Rail" system under planning. Even if you allow for Stansted, this sounds like nothing more than an April Fool - but it isn't exactly April is it? Has anyone else ever heard of such a thing? Even the town's article has no mention of it, so surely such a thing does not exist?

Link (scroll down to United Kingdom)

 

[pemma]

It's listed as a proposed future system on Wikipedia. There is information about it here: http://www.bsulr.org.uk/

 

[Mojo]

It's Ultra Light Rail, not Light Rail.

Its promoters Sustraco claim that the cost of installation is very low, as it doesn't require electricity or the relocation of utilities under the tracks.

 

[jopsuk]

The picture of the recycling wagon vehicle has a familiar outline- are they proposing using the Parry People Mover technology (track and units)?

 

[pemma]

Looking at the size of the town it's a fairly small town so having a new light rail scheme seems fairly ambitious. However, similar to what I said in another post, many smaller towns in Europe have their own tram system opposed to being part of a system belonging to a city 10 miles away like with Manchester Metrolink.

 

[WatcherZero]

Its a TDI isnt it?

Battery powered road vehicle which follows beacons embedded in the road. Other versions follow guide rails with the main weight supported by rubber tires on the normal road surface. Its cheaper in that your building normal road surface just with something embedded to guide the vehicle, you dont have to build proper foundations and rails that can support the vehicles entire weight. The downside is you burn through tires like crazy and wear grooves in the road surface (since they always follow exactly the same line) meaning the road has to be repaired much more often.

 

[Mojo]

Its a TDI isnt it?

No, it isn't one of those. It runs on two rails.

 

[pemma]

No, it isn't one of those. It runs on two rails.

Yes and it shows track which looks similar to what's used in the Salford Quays area on Metrolink.

 

[HSTEd]

I assume its some kind of PPM type thing with extremely low axle weights leading to extremely light rail.

 

[Flywaver]

I was born and raised in Bishops Stortford. I am too totally mythed by this idea. I do believe a link to Harlow taking in Stansted Airport as a terminus and it would work. Proper trams though...
This is the site

http://www.bsulr.org.uk/Welcome.html

 

[jopsuk]

If this works, this is the image that makes me suspect that Parry people Movers are proposed:

 

[pemma]

If this works, this is the image that makes me suspect that Parry people Movers are proposed:

That diagram makes it look like a vehicle used to collect rubbish for recycling.

 

[jopsuk]

Yes- it's from the "green" page, where they propose using the line for recycling bin collection (including from stops) outside of passenger service hours. But those cabs lookvery similar to a PPM.

 

[WatcherZero]

Dresden, hourly from VW plant to city centre

Vienna

Zurich has tram bin collections similar to above and Amsterdam did deliveries to restaurants and shops in the city centre, went bust because the banks tried to push it too far too fast demanding a huge rollout then the financial crisis hit.