wrote:
On Tue, 28 Jul 2015 09:08:49 +0000 (UTC)
Recliner wrote:
I suspect that the costs of using a non-standard gauge come from all the
non-standard parts and manufacturing, and 9.5 inches doesn't really
seem worth the aggravation (Japanese services around Tokyo run perfectly
happily on 3'6", after all).

Yes, indeed. In any case, no metro system needs wider than standard gauge
tracks. Narrow gauge, as in Japan, might be better, in fact, if the tracks
have tight curves. Many Continental tram systems are metre gauge for that
reason. In fact, I wonder why the DLR wasn't?

A good question. Did it re-use any track on the former BR route it took over
going up to Stratford? Or maybe it was cheaper to buy standard gauge kit.

I don't think the original DLR took over any existing track, but the later
Canning Town to Stratford section may have used some of the old NLL tracks
between the new stations. But that wouldn't have affected the original
decision to use standard rather than metre gauge.

Given its twisty, highly graded route, and modest speeds, metre gauge
tracks might well have been more appropriate. There are plenty of metre
gauge railways and tramways in Europe and Asia, so standard kit should
readily be available.