On 25/04/2010 08:47, Bearded wrote:
I know it's OT, but suspect some here will be interested in news of the
Belgian coast tram, De Kusttram.

The longest tramway in the world at 67km - and yes it's a real tram,
steel rails, overhead power - celebrated its 125th birthday last weekend.

We did the whole length both ways north from Ooostende to Knokke and
back, then south to De Panne /Andinkerke.

If you think that some our privatised operator names are a mouthful,
with the addition of F.. or A... take note of this organisation: the
Vlaamse Vervoermaatchappij - De Lijn. Needless to say, it's just known
as de tram.

Stock is generally not ultra-modern, but a few years back was updated
with the installation of a low-floor centre car, and I think there are
some new low-floor cars, although we didn't see one.

The most interesting thing about the stock, though, is that it has only
one driving position, so at the termini - and some intermediate stops,
the track loops round in a circle rather than changing ends.

Track is simple, two rails on sleepers, and the OHLE looks robust [think
N Sea gales] but basic in its engineering.

The route is interesting. It provides the main transport link between
Ostend and the other coastal towns - Blankenberge [seaside], Zeebrugge
and our personal favourite, Knokke. [If you saw our pix from last Sunday
you would think you were on the French riviera - beach cafes, sunbeds,
the lot. And much nearer than Cannes!]

For much of the route the tramway is behind the dunes, and of course
there has been an explosion of apartment-building all along the coast.
We joked that maybe my former colleagues and neighbours in Brussels had
forgotten to tell me they had all been evacuated!

Southbound there's more view of the beach as the tram goes through
Westende, Nieuwpoort and on to De Panne and the kids' favourite,
Plopsaland [if you don't know, don't go there...]

Anyway, enough of this OT rambling, really shouldn't take up bandwidth
like this.

But it did remind me of a certain bit of blonde foolishness here in
London - cancelling the Greenwich transit! Come on, Boris - we need it.

Many thanks for that.

I hear that Ghent is also very beautiful.