On Tue, 28 Jul 2015 20:56:56 +0100, Arthur Figgis
wrote:

On 28/07/2015 20:26, Recliner wrote:
Arthur Figgis wrote:
On 28/07/2015 16:41, Recliner wrote:

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.

Generally in the form of slimmed-down and lower-capacity "normal"
vehicles. AIUI modern trams come in two standard-ish widths, 2.65 m and
2.3 m, though there are many exceptions on legacy lines which need
something different. If you can get away with the lower capacity of
smaller vehicles, do you need light rail in the first place? If your
stock is going to be full-size, why bother with narrow gauge?

The DLR vehicles are 2.65m. Narrow gauge is better on lines with tight
curves, like the DLR.

Define better... the DLR appears to work with standard gauge.

IIRC the automatic line in Kuala Lumpur is off-the-shelf standard gauge,
even though the main line network is metre.

By 'off-the-shelf' I presume you mean because it uses the
linear-induction system developed by Ontario's Urban Transportation
Development Corporation (technology now owned by Bombardier)?

Vancouver's two SkyTrain lines are the same, and a couple of curves
are pretty tight without squealing problems, with another acute curve
to appear when the newest extension opens late next year.

The conventional system used on the line to the airport/Richmond is 4'
8 1/2", and suffers from wild squealing from the Hyundai Rotem cars
midway down the underground segment.