A 12 car crush loaded train can hold upto 1200 in the highest of peaks in London. (400 per 4 car or 300 per 3 car, so not much more than a tram with 100 per car)
In the North our commuter EMUs don't have First Class so the capacity is higher. We can get 280 seated on a 3 car 323, so including maximum standing capacity using a train that's 69m long it will take considerably more than 300 passengers.
200 on a tram is the absolute maximum with passengers falling out every time the tram doors open.
Now Old Trafford gets a 12min direct Bury-Altrincham service which is formed of double units in the day (so it can at weekends) so you get 20 trams here.
No Metrolink claimed they would be doubled up once the M5000s were introduced, in reality during the day there's usually 4 single formed trams per hour and one double formed tram.
Now add say 3 more trams, even singles and you get a total of 28 trams an hour giving a moving capacity of 5600 in crush loading conditions.
To achieve that in rail terms you need 19 units or 10x 6 car trains. Not to mention you then have to find somewhere to put these additional 10 trains as well.
See above point. 7 x 6 car trains can provide the same capacity as 28 trams but we're talking about around 16 trams per hour absolute maximum currently, which 4 pairs of 323s can provide.
Also note 200 on a M5000 means around 75% of passengers standing, 400 on a 323 means 30% of passengers standing, so a 323 provides a more comfortable riding experience for the majority of passengers.
I'll also refer you to the link posted in post 16 of this thread, which shows that EMUs did once used to run on the Altrincham line during peak times at a higher frequency than trams now run.
So basically an EMU vs tram actually shows a more level passenger carrying capacity than you state plus the trams added bonus of being able to connect easier with people's onwards connections, be it bus, train or tram.
Really? If you arrive at Old Trafford and want to make an onward journey to Northwich you have no idea what's the last departure you can use to make a connection at Altrincham as Metrolink doesn't run to a public timetable, trams turn up approximately every 6/12 minutes but in reality it could be double that time gap and if it is double that time gap there's a high chance of two trams running very close together meaning one will terminate short.
If, on the other hand you catch the 323 from Old Trafford heavy rail station and want to travel onwards to Bolton from Deansgate/Oxford Rd you know whether you're going to make the connection or not.
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2. M5000s won't operate in multiple while Mossley Street remains open.
Actually your wrong. M5000 can operate in multiples now as long as they avoid Mosley Street.
No I'm right. You read it wrongly.