The King and Queen take a tram trip

[fandroid]

It might be in France (Bordeaux) , but the top royals have actually ridden on a modern tram. France has led the way in restoration of modern tram systems. Let's hope that this bit of recognition rubs off on the government, who all seem to favour helicopters.


The attachment below is an extract from a Times article published on 22 September

 

[Mag_seven]

Let's hope that this bit of recognition rubs off on the government.

It won't.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Has France really "led the way" with modern trams? They've done quite a few of those silly rubber-tyred Translohr (and similar) things. How many conventional systems have they installed in the last 30-35 years? The UK has opened six and upgraded the one remaining legacy system.

 

[James Finch]

Has France really "led the way" with modern trams? They've done quite a few of those silly rubber-tyred Translohr (and similar) things. How many conventional systems have they installed in the last 30-35 years? The UK has opened six and upgraded the one remaining legacy system.

Paris has 8 regular tram lines (if you count T3a and T3b as separate lines), 3 tram-train routes (one more opening this year), and only 2 Translohr lines. This totals 12 for Paris alone.

In regards to Translohr systems, Nancy's closed this year for replacement by trolley buses, and Caen's reopened in 2019, having been converted to regular trams (which it calls "light rail" for some stupid reason...)

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Paris has 8 regular tram lines (if you count T3a and T3b as separate lines), 3 tram-train routes (one more opening this year), and only 2 Translohr lines. This totals 12 for Paris alone.

In regards to Translohr systems, Nancy's closed this year for replacement by trolley buses, and Caen's reopened in 2019, having been converted to regular trams (which it calls "light rail" for some stupid reason...)

Well if we're counting individual lines rather than systems, the UK total will be higher too. Sheffield alone would qualify as four (three tram lines plus one tram-train line). If we're doing a comparison we have to compare like with like.

There's no doubt that we could and should do better, but there's no point in over-inflating what France has just to make ourselves look bad.

 

[daodao]

Well if we're counting individual lines rather than systems, the UK total will be higher too. Sheffield alone would qualify as four (three tram lines plus one tram-train line). If we're doing a comparison we have to compare like with like.

There's no doubt that we could and should do better, but there's no point in over-inflating what France has just to make ourselves look bad.

27 French cities/towns currently have conventional tramways, plus 1 remaining Trans-Lohr system in Clermont Ferrand. Most, like Bordeaux, have multiple lines. That is from a starting position of 3 residual networks in 1980.

UrbanRail.Net > France - Metros & Trams

www.urbanrail.net

There are only 6 English tramway systems (heritage lines excluded). Only Manchester has a significant network, but expansion has come to a halt.

It's chalk and cheese when comparing modern tramway/light rail development in England and France.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Has France really "led the way" with modern trams? They've done quite a few of those silly rubber-tyred Translohr (and similar) things. How many conventional systems have they installed in the last 30-35 years? The UK has opened six and upgraded the one remaining legacy system.

Plenty...
Montpellier, Orleans, Toulouse, Strasbourg and others as well as Bordeaux.
Bordeaux has just extended tram line B to the airport, and it has no wires in the central section, using a ground pickup below the track.
The same Alstom system is used in central Orleans (avoiding wires past the cathedral) , and also in Sydney (new lines L2/L3, with no wires in the CBD).

 

[507 001]

It won't.

That’s the spirit!

——————————————————————

It must be remembered that the late Queen Elizabeth did indeed take a trip on Metrolink when she officially opened it in 1992.

 

[Lemmy282]

And the Princess Royal rode on one when she opened the Sheffield system.

 

[deltic]

When prince of Wales Charles travelled on Croydon tramlink

 

[Taunton]

France, like the UK, threw away all their traditional tramway systems, at much the same time. Sure, they have in more recent times brought a good number of new ones back. Different to neighbour Belgium, who kept quite a number throughout, and the more east you go across Europe the more there are.

 

[Busaholic]

Plenty...
Montpellier, Orleans, Toulouse, Strasbourg and others as well as Bordeaux.
Bordeaux has just extended tram line B to the airport, and it has no wires in the central section, using a ground pickup below the track.
The same Alstom system is used in central Orleans (avoiding wires past the cathedral) , and also in Sydney (new lines L2/L3, with no wires in the CBD).

Caen, Rouen, Le Mans, Nantes, Brest, Nice etc etc

Nice also incorporates wire-free operation, as does Seville in Spain past the Cathedral, and probably at least a dozen throughout the world now.

 

[WatcherZero]

In November 2021 Charles rode the T&W metro, riding the same LRT vehicle that carried the Queen when she opened the network 40 years earlier (4020).

 

[edwin_m]

In regards to Translohr systems, Nancy's closed this year for replacement by trolley buses, and Caen's reopened in 2019, having been converted to regular trams (which it calls "light rail" for some stupid reason...)

Point of information, Nancy and Caen were the similar but incompatible Bombardier TVR (GLT in English), not Translohr.

 

[zwk500]

Charles has a long history of interest in railways and the associated engineering. He's had steam traction on the Royal train when Prince of Wales and I believe has had footplate rides as well. However given the British Monarchy's strict position as being politically neutral, the government would not be able to take any advice (officially) even if it were so proffered.
However the idea that public policy would suddenly do a rapid about face because Charles went on a bit of a jolly is ludicrous. It's a real shame light rail isn't given higher priority but a royal fancy will have nothing to do with it.

 

[ExRes]

It might be in France (Bordeaux) , but the top royals have actually ridden on a modern tram. France has led the way in restoration of modern tram systems. Let's hope that this bit of recognition rubs off on the government, who all seem to favour helicopters.

I'm struggling a bit here trying to work out the relationship between tram rides and helicopter rides

 

[renegademaster]

They rode the Croydon trams when it opened too, lots of photos up on Google. Including one of a Tram flying the royal standard.

 

[StephenHunter]

Charles has a long history of interest in railways and the associated engineering. He's had steam traction on the Royal train when Prince of Wales and I believe has had footplate rides as well. However given the British Monarchy's strict position as being politically neutral, the government would not be able to take any advice (officially) even if it were so proffered.
However the idea that public policy would suddenly do a rapid about face because Charles went on a bit of a jolly is ludicrous. It's a real shame light rail isn't given higher priority but a royal fancy will have nothing to do with it.

One wonders what will happen to the Royal Train - the rolling stock is getting quite old now. The Dutch have just gotten rid of theirs entirely.

 

[WatcherZero]

I'm struggling a bit here trying to work out the relationship between tram rides and helicopter rides

Sunak goes everywhere by helicopter, he doesnt like taking the train, commercial air or even cars if he can help it.

 

[zwk500]

One wonders what will happen to the Royal Train - the rolling stock is getting quite old now. The Dutch have just gotten rid of theirs entirely.

Indeed, although that's a bit beyond the scope of the thread. I don't think they'd replace it with a purple painted tram!