NARROW MINDED TRADE UNIONS HAVE HELPED DESTROY RAILWAYS WITH THEIR TUNNEL VISION

I do support the Corbyn Project and do so like the man himself, although I am so disappointed by the trade unions in fully supporting the destruction of so many (about 100 Kms) of urban railway lines in the Black Country and Brum.  Especially the Burton on Trent to Bristol via Brierley Hill Mainline Railway, of course!  All the trade unions just love HS2 and tram projects for the work they give to their members and potential new ones.  Any deeper problems, as I have uncovered, just wash over them in blissful ignorance and complacency.    Tim

PS

By the way, I am now asking certain friends, if they feel able, to forward my reasons for saying HS2 and trams are highly over-stated, in fact, fraudulent claims, to their MP and their three councillors.  AIM: In the interests of reading the other side of the argument and in getting an alternative point of view.

Railway lines, roads given for tram extensions as HS2 is built!

Another mode of transport to make for more changes between bus, train and tram, more delays. Far worse, on a principal mainline railway from Burton to Bristol via Brierley Hill and from Derby to Devon via Dudley. 4 Dudley railway lines now destroyed. Plenty on the E side of Brum!

To Stuart Everton:- After all these years, the major business and commuter cycle route, the 22 Kms Black Country Cycle-Walk Mudway is still not finished, Stuart. When are we going to be able to use it on its entire length without wellies, boots or mountain bikes? Is this part of your job brief?

The UK's last 120 Kms mainline railway can now only be a train-tram-train mainline from Burton to Bristol via Brierley Hill and Derby to Devon via Dudley. Missed something? You certainly don't miss out on changes, delays, a slower journey compared with 150 yrs ago for 100 yrs.

£3.5 m for each tram - must be more, now!

 Hi David

Each tram is £2.5 m with the overhead wires; £3.5 m for the trams using onboard batteries!  Those figures go back two or three years, too.  They are made in Spain, I believe.

The steel tram lines have to be replaced every 15 to 20 years.  When that had to be done for Metro One, four or five businesses on the A41 at Priestfield did so little business that they had to close for good, I understand.

The £15 billion to 2040 for the 150 miles of trams, the 8 lines and 380 tram stops would include the cost of the trams but, as with HS2 costs rising massively, the £15 billion is underpriced, I would guess and depends on how much is underground.

Last decade, at least four or five years ago, Sprint diesel buses running to and from Quinton were to be £12 m, if I remember correctly.  At that time, diesel double-decker buses were £250,000 each, I believe.  That was to be the first Sprint line.  Now, the first one is Walsall to Solihull via Brum city centre at, possibly £300m, including the electric buses.  Let me know if you find something out before me, please.

This newspaper report, below was 3 years ago when there was no mention of electric Sprint.  They were all very flash, diesel buses.

 Plans for a £279 million Sprint network have be...

 

I do love trams.  They glide along the rails and are so smooth and swish and really smart.  But, when we are facing the reality of finite fossil fuels and the uncomfortable reality of climate breakdown/instability/danger, I'm prepared to lose out on my love for trams in order to postpone ecocide.  Trams replacing only some buses and some trains are too high a price to pay, I think.  Leeds and Bristol are also wanting a tram network, I've read from UK Tram Ltd (HQ at TfWM/WMCA HQ!)

FFPT for Bristol? 26.2.21

 Dear Tim,

 

Thank you for your question on my Facebook Live Q&A and for your follow up email.

 

I appreciate you taking the time to share your views. We have made improving connectivity through public transport in Bristol a priority, after years of successive administrations failing to deliver the transformation of our transport network that is needed. This includes improving priority for buses, cyclists and pedestrians across our city and bringing forward plans for a sustainable mass transit system that will connect people to people, people to jobs, and people to opportunity.

 

We do this, however, in a context of limited powers. Since the deregulation of bus services in the 1980s, local authorities do not have powers to compel bus services to reduce fares or to franchise bus services locally. Nevertheless we continue to expand provision to public transport for residents of all ages across the city, and to ensure this is affordable for all.

 

Kind regards

 

 

Marvin Rees

Mayor of Bristol