Supertram Extentions (Read 501 times)

[tox0114]

Should the government have turned down to supertram extentions, and what are your views on the extentions, would you have liked them to have happened, or not liked them to have happened or are not really too bothered?

[lboyle]

I would have loved to have seen the tram extensions go ahead, but in the end their was only public support for the Ranmoor to Parkgate route, even though this would have been the busiest route it was not justified, and after spending millions on the plans which could have been spent on improving the trams and buses in South Yorkshire, the government just turned it down, although I'm sure if their was an outcry like their was in Manchester then we may have seen some of the extensions taking place, after all they want us to get using public transport but when projects get handed to them they turn them down, but instead insist on widening the M1 to 4 lanes each way!!

[manclad]

lboyle said:

I would have loved to have seen the tram extensions go ahead, but in the end their was only public support for the Ranmoor to Parkgate route, even though this would have been the busiest route it was not justified, and after spending millions on the plans which could have been spent on improving the trams and buses in South Yorkshire, the government just turned it down, although I'm sure if their was an outcry like their was in Manchester then we may have seen some of the extensions taking place, after all they want us to get using public transport but when projects get handed to them they turn them down, but instead insist on widening the M1 to 4 lanes each way!!

Nobody said that all road building/widening should stop. The widening is still needed along side investment in public transport.

It would have been good to see the expansion of Supertram, however either a good enough case wasn't put forward or simply the expansion cost would have outweighed the benefit. True, perhaps if an outcry from both the public and corporations (as in Manchester) then maybe the exapansion plans may have been revived but maybe the fact that there wasn't should speak volumes in itself.
Another thing that Sheffield/South Yorkshire could have done was to raise it's own cash (as Manchester has done) and then see what the Government could have offered them. This may have led to a scaled back expansion.

[lboyle]

True, but if you have an adequate public transport network, then road widening should not be needed.

It would have been good for the Supertram to have been extended and the LIB DEMS are still calling for the Bus scheme to be scrapped in favour of the Supertram Extensions to Rotherham which they say would benefit more people and cause less disruption (Not digging up one of Sheffield's busiest roads the Parkway!)

I still feel that if people were in favour of this scheme that we would have got the dosh to fund it.

[manclad]

lboyle said:

True, but if you have an adequate public transport network, then road widening should not be needed.

It would have been good for the Supertram to have been extended and the LIB DEMS are still calling for the Bus scheme to be scrapped in favour of the Supertram Extensions to Rotherham which they say would benefit more people and cause less disruption (Not digging up one of Sheffield's busiest roads the Parkway!)

I still feel that if people were in favour of this scheme that we would have got the dosh to fund it.

You are missing the whole point. A good transport strategy is not simply about choosing one or the other. Good public transport must be backed up by good road planning aswell. You must remember that the M1 and other motorways are as essential and important to the regions economy as what public transport is. You can't move a lorry full of bread or 10 pallets of consumer goods on the Midland Mainline now can you.

[dougie]

manclad said:

You can't move a lorry full of bread or 10 pallets of consumer goods on the Midland Mainline now can you.

You could on a freight train though...

[mattw]

dougie said:

manclad said:

You can't move a lorry full of bread or 10 pallets of consumer goods on the Midland Mainline now can you.

You could on a freight train though...

not right to the store though.

unless they used road trains ...

[busman3]

Remember up until the 1980s you could move consumer goods by passanger train it was common in fact the first batch of the modern rail units the 142 (I think ) the leyland national ones had a front comparment with tip up seats so they could be used for mail and parcels unfortunatley the traffic went on to road together with red star parcels.

[manclad]

busman3 said:

Remember up until the 1980s you could move consumer goods by passanger train it was common in fact the first batch of the modern rail units the 142 (I think ) the leyland national ones had a front comparment with tip up seats so they could be used for mail and parcels unfortunatley the traffic went on to road together with red star parcels.

The lorries transporting such goods are almost as big as a 142.
As Matt said, you still need to transport via road from the rail freight depot.

People need to realise that to have a first class transport system, we need to invest in all areas....including roads.
Our country needs and relys upon a good road network as much as it needs a good public transport system.

[22438]

manclad said:

busman3 said:

Remember up until the 1980s you could move consumer goods by passanger train it was common in fact the first batch of the modern rail units the 142 (I think ) the leyland national ones had a front comparment with tip up seats so they could be used for mail and parcels unfortunatley the traffic went on to road together with red star parcels.

The lorries transporting such goods are almost as big as a 142.
As Matt said, you still need to transport via road from the rail freight depot.

People need to realise that to have a first class transport system, we need to invest in all areas....including roads.
Our country needs and relys upon a good road network as much as it needs a good public transport system.

And just to point out the obvious, you can't have buses without roads....

[manclad]

cjm said:

manclad said:

The lorries transporting such goods are almost as big as a 142.
As Matt said, you still need to transport via road from the rail freight depot.

People need to realise that to have a first class transport system, we need to invest in all areas....including roads.
Our country needs and relys upon a good road network as much as it needs a good public transport system.

And just to point out the obvious, you can't have buses without roads....

Of course.