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Paul Terry[_2_] · July 8th 11, 09:14 AM posted to uk.transport.london

In message ,
writes

Perhaps Trams could be more suitable

That has been proposed. The scheme (from Bombardier) is to build a tram
tunnel under the Solent to Gosport, from where trams would use the
existing road network to Fort Rowner, and then disused rail track to a
terminus at Fareham, offering cross-platform interchange with Network
Rail.

On the island, once the SWT franchise expires, the trams would take over
the island line, and there is an ambition to reopen the Sandown to
Newport line for trams.

I don't think it was particularly well received. A lot of traffic is
seasonal, making it difficult to justify the cost of the Solent tunnel
(although the underwater part needs only to be about a mile in length).
There was huge opposition from the ferry companies, naturally, and the
residents seem to feel that a major part of the island's attraction is
its relative inaccessibility!

This proposal didn't include using the St John's Road tunnel, though,
where I think there wouldn't be enough clearance for a tram's overhead
gear - although I wouldn't have thought it beyond the wit of engineers
to use battery power plus a system for automatically lowering the
overhead gear (as on the Rome trolleybus network).
--
Paul Terry