It is more the lengthly and painful saga of the trams (hence the
ing and 
ing from locals on the thread...)
Beware Edinburgh tram lines
- Thread starter fudgedog
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
It is more the lengthly and painful saga of the trams (hence the
ing and ing from locals on the thread...)It is more the lengthly and painful saga of the trams (hence the
ing and ing from locals on the thread...)
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
Like Fimm says its more the length of the saga
I know, it's so lengthy, he (she?) said it three times!
I've heard all about the tram saga. Presumably though, if the cyclist was a visitor, he wouldn't know about it. But then if I was cycling in a strange city, on one of the busiest roads, I'd tend to ride more cautiously...
(Although I know it's possible to go over on tramlines at low speed. However the injury is likely to be less severe).
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
There's a theory if you go faster injuries are actually less severe, as you slide, but if you go to fast its worse! They were maybe trying to find the critical speed 
The tram scheme up there is a farce, especially compared to Blackpool and the Manchester Metrolink extensions.
I came off my mtb when I was a teen in Manchester many moons ago, very easy to do if not concentrating. I got quite lucky with how I fell as i didnt have a helmet on.
Same journey I found a grid on the wrong way round and came off again....its a wonder I am cycling now!
I came off my mtb when I was a teen in Manchester many moons ago, very easy to do if not concentrating. I got quite lucky with how I fell as i didnt have a helmet on.
Same journey I found a grid on the wrong way round and came off again....its a wonder I am cycling now!
Willie Erskine
Über Member
- Location
- Erskine
Edinburgh Trams? Why?
There seems to be a fixation on these things, as though they will address transport/congestion/global warming/etc. How could they? They're a train on the road. While they might have a designated route, they will get stuck whenever they come into conflict with other traffic, if only for a short time. Oh aye, and they only go where the tracks go. Mind you, in Edinburgh, that's currently nowhere! A designated bus lane would have made so much more sense. No need for all that diversion work on services that they didn't know about.
Folk whining about the cost and blaming the contractor. Why would a contractor take on a project with so many unknowns and uncertainty. A contract is all about risk. Edinburgh cooncil could have taken none of the risk and they would have got a price that reflected that. They didn't want that so tried to take some of the risk and got a re-measurable contract, in part, so they end up with a higher cost. If I wanted an extension to my house but didn't tell the contractor how big I wanted it, how much would it cost?
And dont get me started on the Cooncil knowing nothing about trams so deciding they would start a company up to run the contract, TIE. Then fill that company with council employees who, with respect, no nothing about trams or road building, and after umpteen years have to sack their own company and pay money to Turner & Townsend to complete it. Good luck to them on that.
Right, rant over, wasting our money annoys me so I can't help it!
There seems to be a fixation on these things, as though they will address transport/congestion/global warming/etc. How could they? They're a train on the road. While they might have a designated route, they will get stuck whenever they come into conflict with other traffic, if only for a short time. Oh aye, and they only go where the tracks go. Mind you, in Edinburgh, that's currently nowhere! A designated bus lane would have made so much more sense. No need for all that diversion work on services that they didn't know about.
Folk whining about the cost and blaming the contractor. Why would a contractor take on a project with so many unknowns and uncertainty. A contract is all about risk. Edinburgh cooncil could have taken none of the risk and they would have got a price that reflected that. They didn't want that so tried to take some of the risk and got a re-measurable contract, in part, so they end up with a higher cost. If I wanted an extension to my house but didn't tell the contractor how big I wanted it, how much would it cost?
And dont get me started on the Cooncil knowing nothing about trams so deciding they would start a company up to run the contract, TIE. Then fill that company with council employees who, with respect, no nothing about trams or road building, and after umpteen years have to sack their own company and pay money to Turner & Townsend to complete it. Good luck to them on that.
Right, rant over, wasting our money annoys me so I can't help it!
Nice rant.
I have yet to talk to anyone who has been in favour of them in all the years we have been building them.
About 3 or 4 years ago I was at the cyclist breakfast in the council square and a representative from TIE was present. I asked what cycling specific risk assesments had been carried out given that we were sharing road space and I was concerned about the danger from the tracks. He brushed it off with some comment about all the usual & required assessments for railways had been done. Like railways are the same as trams!!!
I know, it's so lengthy, he (she?) said it three times!
...
Oops, sorry. I was just trying to edit my post...
(She, by the way. Not that it matters.)
yup. That's where the average atheist learns to pray.
I'm in favour of trams in principle. The fact the Edinburgh council have mismanaged it doesn't mean the basic idea is bad.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
You've met me Touche and I'm in favour of the principle of trams, it just the delivery that has been ersed up
The French can build complete networks in 6months, we can't even build 
snorri
Legendary Member
- Location
- East coast, up a bit.
I'm in favour too although I made a joke about it.
It's a national embarrassment.
It's a national embarrassment.
rualexander
Legendary Member
And now they're not even going to run any trams on the tracks on Princes St, but are still going to repair them (even though they've never been used, they are falling apart at the edges).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-14648510
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-14648510
Matt_Sheffield
New Member
Tram lines :-( I don't ride along this road anymore because of this.
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmaylPEqvJQ
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmaylPEqvJQ