Modern and multi-modal - Facebook and Twitter

Tramways must be built because it is "a modern form of public transport" (Cllr Qadar Zada) and is "multi-modal transport", says Mayor Andy Street.

Modern because in the modern age, trams are taking over from buses and trains at the most colossal expense.  Multi-modal means that an additional delay is caused by having to change from bus or train onto the tram.  More waiting and a slower journey.  Therefore, it puts people off from using public transport.

Far better to use the £15 billion to 2040 for extending FFPT from the elderly to everyone and, to give us electric buses directly onto the road without the rails having to be laid first.  Give us bus priority roads.

Space for the "bus on rails" trams at the bus station means more congestion for the buses that go directly on the roads without having all the fuss and expense of digging up the roads for the "bus on rails" tram. Replace diesel buses with electric buses!

YOU SAY:  The Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension will boost public transport in the Black Country, providing much-needed links to the existing heavy and light rail networks.

I SAY: Use the half a billion to boost existing public transport with such a large percentage drop of people using it.  Boost it by extending Fare-Free Public Transport to everybody.  As a reward for doing the right thing in leaving the car at home and as compensation for the slightly higher risk of getting Covid.

Dave Harries

I know wht you mean 

Tim

 but surely, irrespective of the noise (which I presume is what you are referring to) a freight train is no bad thing, whichever way it goes, when you consider how many lorry journeys are taken off the roads by one freight train?

With commuter trains finally going back on the Kings Norton, Kings Heath, Moseley line, freight on that line may be needed on the 120 Kms railway. Nothing to do with noise, Dave! Perhaps, freight can go on at night with trams during the day? But still a misuse and underuse of an important mainline railway. The test track is another complication for rail freight operators but they have never done anything to stop the trams!

Carl M Cox 17 tram stops over 11 Kms makes for a compulsory tram stop every 650 m. How does that compare with buses that only stop when requested? On Metro One tramway, the average speed is 20 mph when I've been on it. 13 miles in 40 mins = 20 mph. Certainly quicker than the bus but, why did you all lose about 100 Kms of railway lines to homes, shops, offices, roads and trams since the 1970s? Just put the trains back before anymore railway lines are destroyed - as you are doing, in fact!

Thanks for this, Carl. But why not save all those deadly greenhouse gases and have electric buses with pneumatic tyres directly on roads? Phase-out diesel buses. Use the money saved to put freight/commuter trains back on all 120 Kms and there would still be money left to extend Fare-Free Public Transport (FFPT) to your age group, too! I've had it for 13 years I'm so ancient. And FFPT is done in about 100 towns and cities around the world, according to Bob Whitehead who has researched it.

Jackie, Dudley Leisure Centre is the second newest leisure centre in Dudley borough. It is a shocking waste of finite fossil fuels and spews out yet more deadly greenhouse gases to move it all of a 1 Km walk to Flood St tram stop. I am worried about future of you young people! 15.1.21