In article , (Roland Perry)
wrote:

In message , at 08:19:03 on Thu, 20 Apr
2017, d remarked:
On Wed, 19 Apr 2017 16:14:24 -0500
wrote:
This is probably true but the unguided section at Orchard Park probably
and the approach section to Cambridge North station definitely are
unguided on cost grounds.

Comparing to clearing the ground, casting the concrete and moving into
place, how much extra in percentage terms would bolting a pair of steel
guiderails into place cost? It can't be that great and I'd be surprised
if they didn't recycle the old rail track to create them.

I suggest you come to Cambridge and have a closer look at Guided Busway
construction. You wouldn't then spout that nonsense.

Isn't Colin saying they *didn't* cast concrete guided sections for
Cambridge North. In effect it must be just "a normal road, buses
only".

Which has other benefits, such as not being restricted to
buses-with-guide-wheels.

Not so. The steel guide rails at the entrance and exit to the roadway
prevent anything other than guided buses from entering. There's a similar
arrangement controlling access from the guideway across Harrison Way at St
Ives.

See this Streetview of the somewhat ******* child. Presumably the
short length of guiderail is to prevent guided buses falling into the
"car trap". But an unguided bus could drive through the gap if done
carefully enough - a couple of inches clearance either side.

http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/...9_42dd46aa.jpg

Of course, it's an accident waiting to happen, because sooner or
later a driver will forget that the onward road isn't guided and take
his hands off the wheel. The drivers are not the sharpest tools in
the box.

Which are amongst the reasons why it's probably illegal under the ROGS
regulations.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-20427214

"[Stagecoach] said it thought the driver had misjudged the entrance
to busway, causing it to leave the tracks.

The bus was left at a 45-degree angle across the entrance, before
being recovered from the scene a few hours later."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-21479277

"Passenger Michaela Murray said the bus she was on slowed down for
horses and another bus hit it from behind."

http://assets9.heart.co.uk/2016/27/c...ay-crash-july-
2016-1467897287-article-0.jpg

and probably the worst:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-35841300

"A guided bus driver who crashed near Cambridge injuring five
passengers was travelling at more than 53mph in a 30mph zone, a
report concluded.

...

The "excessive speed" at a junction between one set of guide tracks
and another made it "unlikely the bus was under the driver's control".

--
Colin Rosenstiel