tim... wrote:


"Basil Jet" wrote in message
news

https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/trams/the-future-of-trams

"Since 2000, we have seen the number of passengers on trams increase from 14
million to 32 million passengers in 2015. Passenger numbers are expected to
reach nearly 60 million by 2030.

We need to upgrade the trams network to accommodate this growth"

Um, how does building a new line to serve a new area create extra capacity
to accommodate growth on the current network?

and then there's

"The second phase would unlock the potential of the Wandle Valley and St
Helier areas for housing,"

Um, what part of these areas that is not already built on do they think has
not been deliberately left as open space for leisure purposes?

I don't know that area, so can't comment on the specific. But in my part
of suburban London, more dwellings are being squeezed into the landscape
by:

- Redeveloping petrol stations. Every independent petrol station and small
garage within a mile from me has been replaced by a block of flats. They've
been put out of business by supermarket fuel stations.

- Converting office space to residential. Numerous office blocks have
either been converted into, or replaced by, apartment blocks. I can think
of a nearby hotel that suffered the same fate.

- Squeezing new houses into large gardens.

- Replacing a row of large family houses into a new apartment block
complex.

- In one case, a row of large houses had been converted into a private
school. That's now gone, to be replaced by a block of retirement flats.

Apart, perhaps, from the retirement flats, all these new dwellings (few of
which have off-street parking) will increase the load on local public
transport services.