On 20/12/2011 18:11, Graeme Wall wrote:
On 20/12/2011 18:10, allantracy wrote:

Suppose you put together a vehicle that was as long as a NET LRV but
on two
decks. The downstairs could have minimal seating but maximise space for
pushchairs, disabled access etc. Seating would be upstairs; best of both
worlds. Nothing to stop you MU ing 2 or more if you wanted to.

I think it's technically feasible.

I just don't think we can remain in denial of the fact that the
resurgence of tramways in the UK owes everything to the light rail
concept.

Given that tramways are, by definition, a light rail concept, that's
stating the blindingly obvious.

It depends what you mean by "light rail". Is it a way of avoiding the
negative connotations of the word "tram" (a problem which might not even
exist any more give the success of Tramlink etc), a railway built under
the terms of the 1896 act (eg Derwent Valley), a tramway with minimised
street running and heavy rail characteristics (eg Metrolink), a metro
with short trains (eg DLR, Tyne & Wear)...

I've seen "light rail" used to distinguish systems from traditional
tramways, and to imply things like a segregated routes rather than
on-street running, perhaps high platforms, traffic priority, maybe
tunnels and things, basically what we would call pre-metro if it was in
Belgium.


--
Arthur Figgis Surrey, UK