In message
, at
02:16:21 on Tue, 29 Jan 2008, Mwmbwls
remarked:
I understand the pods can be fairly easilly mounted on pillars --
lighter than the DLR, although presumably less capacity than a DLR at
full rate (say 1.3 people per car, one car per 5 seconds, 1000 people
per hour).

That's equivelent to a DLR at ~60 people per carriage, 2 carriage per
train, 8tph, more frequent than many branches.

The size of *a station to disgorge one car per 15 seconds (assume 3
stations either side of a central coridor) would be fairly high, but
it works on ski lifts.

However people on ski lifts are not normally encumbered with
suitcases, baby buggies and hurricane proof rucksacks. The ultra
system will work at Heathrow as it is intended to operate from
relatively low density car parks to a high density terminal.

The trial installation of pods will be going between *business* parking
and the new BA terminal. It's not going to be used by huge numbers of
families going on holiday.

If you want to see the exact opposite, try watching the shuttle buses
loading at the mid-stay at Luton - kitchen sink doesn't even *begin* to
describe the situation!

--
Roland Perry

On 28 Jan, 21:59, Paul Weaver wrote:

Be interesting to see how ULTRA goes at Terminal 5, There are small
areas like Brent Cross that could benefit from a lightweight system
like that (Euston, Kings Cross, St Pancras -- Thameslink end, or
Lancaster Gate/Paddington/Marylebone/Baker Street/Marble Arch, or
something involving City Thameslink, Bank and Charing Cross)- Hide quoted text -


Isn't the last of these an oft proposed DLR extension?

Jonn

On 29 Jan, 11:13, wrote:
On 28 Jan, 21:59, Paul Weaver wrote:



Be interesting to see how ULTRA goes at Terminal 5, There are small
areas like Brent Cross that could benefit from a lightweight system
like that (Euston, Kings Cross, St Pancras -- Thameslink end, or
Lancaster Gate/Paddington/Marylebone/Baker Street/Marble Arch, or
something involving City Thameslink, Bank and Charing Cross)- Hide quoted text -

Isn't the last of these an oft proposed DLR extension?

Jonn

Yeah. TfL's Transport 2025 mentions a DLR extension from Bank to
Charing X via City Thameslink and Aldwych.

On 27 Jan, 22:49, "Lew 1" wrote:
People will tollerate public transport (reliabilty and cost issues
aside) in the form of trains and planes. They dont use buses. Buses
are a distress purchase, the kind of clientelle they attract are
either old or scum, even compared to things like the NLL or Watford DC
line.

Without agreeing with what you've said, I actually agree with... erm... what
you say.

Buses are very often the most convenient way of getting around, and a lot of
the traditional limitations of buses are slowly being fixed. However, the
public perception of them is trash - and you are quite right that the
general public won't get out of their cars for buses, where they might for
trains, planes and monorails (I Wish!).

Car-loving people use buses (station or car park to terminal, and
terminal to gate) at airports, though - the key is making it free
(i.e. included in the cost of the main ticket - here, free to train/
tube users), regular, clean and new. Not looking like a 'normal bus'
probably helps too...

--
John Band
john at johnband dot org
www.johnband.org

What you might call phase 1, some sort of people-mover between
Brent Cross Northern Line and (proposed) Brent Cross Thameslink,
looks achievable and could help reduce car journeys in the area.

Some kind of shuttle bus is planned. I seem to recall a suggestion
that it be like the things you find in tourist areas in the USA,
designed to look like an old fashioned tram, rather than a bus.

A few years ago there was a suggestion to use the Dudding Hill line
for a branch of the Heathrow Express, running in to St Pancras, but
that's dead now, I think

Jeremy Parker

wrote:
On 29 Jan, 11:13, wrote:
On 28 Jan, 21:59, Paul Weaver wrote:



Be interesting to see how ULTRA goes at Terminal 5, There are small
areas like Brent Cross that could benefit from a lightweight system
like that (Euston, Kings Cross, St Pancras -- Thameslink end, or
Lancaster Gate/Paddington/Marylebone/Baker Street/Marble Arch, or
something involving City Thameslink, Bank and Charing Cross)- Hide quoted text -
Isn't the last of these an oft proposed DLR extension?

Jonn

Yeah. TfL's Transport 2025 mentions a DLR extension from Bank to
Charing X via City Thameslink and Aldwych.

Sounds distinctly similar to the orriginal Fleet line route: Charring
Cross - Aldwych - the City - Docklands.

Robin

In message , at 23:08:54 on Tue,
29 Jan 2008, Jeremy Parker remarked:

What you might call phase 1, some sort of people-mover between
Brent Cross Northern Line and (proposed) Brent Cross Thameslink,
looks achievable and could help reduce car journeys in the area.

Some kind of shuttle bus is planned. I seem to recall a suggestion
that it be like the things you find in tourist areas in the USA,
designed to look like an old fashioned tram, rather than a bus.

There is a similar thing - a faux train - running between York City
Centre and the Railway Museum.

Quite appropriate for a City that also has buses dressed up as trams.
--
Roland Perry

On 27 Jan, 20:41, thoss wrote:
At 12:21:09 on Sun, 27 Jan 2008 MIG opined:-

The four main reasons I use buses

1) They go directly to places that aren't near a railway line.

2) They go more often than adjacent trains.

3) I want to go beyond my travelcard zones.

4) It is late at night after the trains have stopped.

You forgot
5) I don't have to find somewhere to park.
--
Thoss

If there's a sensible choice between tube and bus (similar journey-
time etc) I will always choose the bus - it's less claustrophobic and
there's more to look at if you don't fancy reading.