Leeds trolleybus scheme delayed further

Jogon · Post by **Jogon** » Tue 07 May, 2013 3:11 pm

raveydavey wrote: I noticed today that the speed limits on......................... Although, as usual a quick Google indicates that the information has been "in the public domain' for a while, although not necessarily publicised to anyone not specifically looking for it...30MPH speed limitA660 Otley Road from New Adel Lane to Kingsley Drive – reduction from 40mph. There will be no repeater signs as the street lighting will indicate 30mph as per the Highway Code.40MPH speed limitOtley Road from Lawnswood roundabout to New Adel Lane – no change.Leeds Road from the roundabout at Kings Road, Bramhope to just past the entrance to Quarry Road, Pool 50MPH speed limit Otley Road/Leeds Road from Kingsley Drive, Adel to Kings Road roundabout, Bramhope – reduction from 60mph. Ravey thanks, useful.Which perhaps ties in with the amount of mobile camera van activityhttp://www.secretleeds.com/forum/Messages.aspx ... =4708Leeds TrolleybusTo declare an interest, living up here the groundworks will be appalling - we'd have x years grief for the (alleged) benefit of future gens? or not.I drove through parts of Sheffield tram routes recently and I do not think it is a good idea. For years I did. I am not convinced the massive capital costs justify a fixed route.Will the No1 service+ others then dissappear? Edinburgh wishes it had never heard of them.

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Tue 07 May, 2013 7:59 pm

Jogon wrote: [Leeds TrolleybusTo declare an interest, living up here the groundworks will be appalling - we'd have x years grief for the (alleged) benefit of future gens? or not.I drove through parts of Sheffield tram routes recently and I do not think it is a good idea. For years I did. I am not convinced the massive capital costs justify a fixed route.Will the No1 service+ others then dissappear? Edinburgh wishes it had never heard of them. I agree entirely Jogon - while the tramways at Sheffield, Croydon etc etc have many good features, and the Manchester one is really extensive and forward looking, we just don't seem to "think big enough" in this country sadly. I often visit Belgian friends in Ghent and the tram and bus system in that city is magnificent. The entire city centre has just been rebuilt over a period of a couple of years, involving incredibly huge civil engineering projects- all without any serious disruption to traffic flow or bus/tram services. It is complete now and more efficient than ever. The Flemish state transport operator De Lijn is a superb outfit. You can only pay the bus/tram drivers in an absolute emergency - otherwise buy ten ride cards or other types from practically anywhere. !00% reliable cancellors are at every doorway on every bus and tram, and within an hour from boarding your first vehicle you can travel on as many others as you need to without being charged again. I once tried it just for interest and managed to travel on five buses/trams in the hour for 80 cents!! To see five section Bombadier trams disappearing without a hitch down minor streets which look little wider than the Shambles in York is just wonderful - the gauge is narrow, about 3 feet0" I think, and the trams are slender but this is no detriment for the relatively short distances.A further cautionary sign for the A660 protaginists - the only trolleybus route in Belgium was in Ghent and was installed and operated for many years in conjunction with the vehicle manufacturer. Temporarily suspended, due to the massive city centre alterations mentiond above, it was restored but has now been removed permanently and replaced by articulated buses until it can be converted to trams shortly. Also, while on holiday last year in Switzerland, I spent a day in Berne and was very impressed with the trolleybus network - but this is to be discontinued before long as well.

Loiner1960 · Post by **Loiner1960** » Wed 08 May, 2013 11:16 am

So this is the future then. Okay why didn't it catch on then?Because £13,000,000 per unit to purchase and electrify is not good investment.Here is an example, now in a museum.http://www.sandtoft.org.uk/picviewer.ph ... PTE%202450

BJF · Post by **BJF** » Thu 09 May, 2013 1:42 pm

Just found this on Leeds Forum--------------------------------------------LEEDS TROLLEYBUS SCHEMEPublic MeetingLeeds Civic HallSaturday 11th May 201310am - 12 noonSpeakers :Councillor James Lewis - Head of MetroCouncillor Richard Lewis - Head of HighwaysThe speakers will talk briefly about the scheme and then answer questions from the audience

The Calls · Post by **The Calls** » Fri 10 May, 2013 9:42 pm

There was a report in today's Yorkshire Evening Post of a meeting that took place at the Civic Hall on Wednesday of all the city's councillors. Already, the article has attracted over 40 comments. Here are extracts from the article:"It's time to dump this trolleybus white elephant"Senior councillors have branded Leeds’s controversial trolleybus scheme a “white elephant” – and are calling for bosses to back off from the project entirely.Opposition councillors spoke out in force against the project at this week’s full meeting of Leeds City Council.They were commenting after campaigners from across Leeds joined forces to urge the council chamber to reconsider the trolleybus proposals, which they branded “conceptually flawed” and “not fit for purpose”.Leeds has pledged £19.3 million as part of its share in the development costs of the £250m scheme......Conservative Coun Barry Anderson said: “There’s no experience in this country of this type of trolleybus system. Even Budapest, which is often quoted, is giving up on it.“The time savings [with trolleybus travel] will not be as great as some are saying. It is possible to use electric and hybrid vehicles to get the same performance. It’s going to be a waste of money because it’s not going to be the 21st century transport that we need as a city. We need to think again.”Colleague Coun Clive Fox lashed out at what he said was “propaganda” in favour of the scheme, adding: “There’s no way we should be spending this money. The council should back off.”Construction on the planned £250m NGT (New Generation Transport) trolleybus network – drawn up after Leeds’s Supertram light rail scheme was axed in 2005 – is expected to begin in 2016. However, concerns have also been expressed about the estimated 2020 completion date of the scheme, and the “finite” council and Government funding attached to it.Here's a link to the article :http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... -1-5660765

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Fri 10 May, 2013 9:47 pm

The Calls wrote: Senior councillors have branded Leeds’s controversial trolleybus scheme a “white elephant” – and are calling for bosses to back off from the project entirely. Best bit of news, and only piece of common sense I've heard spoken from officialdom about this project. Great news, the pressure has to be kept up

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Fri 10 May, 2013 10:42 pm

Phill_dvsn wrote: The Calls wrote: Senior councillors have branded Leeds’s controversial trolleybus scheme a “white elephant” – and are calling for bosses to back off from the project entirely. Best bit of news, and only piece of common sense I've heard spoken from officialdom about this project. Great news, the pressure has to be kept up I couldn't agree more. Clearly not everyone within the Civic Hall has been brainwashed by the folly bus salesman...

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Fri 10 May, 2013 11:00 pm

raveydavey wrote: Phill_dvsn wrote: The Calls wrote: Senior councillors have branded Leeds’s controversial trolleybus scheme a “white elephant” – and are calling for bosses to back off from the project entirely. Best bit of news, and only piece of common sense I've heard spoken from officialdom about this project. Great news, the pressure has to be kept up I couldn't agree more. Clearly not everyone within the Civic Hall has been brainwashed by the folly bus salesman... Ah, a breath of municipal fresh air at long last. I have too serious a lifetime interest in transport to be in any way a 'Luddite" but I shall breathe a sigh of relief when this nonsense is put where it belongs.

Brunel · Post by **Brunel** » Sat 11 May, 2013 7:12 pm

Quote from Tramway Mel: "It will not be dumped The YEP for some unknown reason have contrived to mount a concerted attack on the scheme, they only publish letters attacking NGT and I know that many people who have sent letters in praising the scheme for some reason do not have their views published. It's like the old days when the railways were going to be built and the newspapers objected? The talk about Geneva scrapping their trolley buses is a complete fallacy in fact they are expanding the scheme, Bari in Italy are modernising their system and a new system is now operating in Castellon de la Plana in Spain. It will happen and the North West Leeds Luddites will have no say."

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Sat 11 May, 2013 7:37 pm

Brunel wrote: It will happen and the North West Leeds Luddites will have no say." Depends how people define Luddites I guess.If Luddites are against antiquated transport not fit for today, never mind the future.Then give me the 'proud member of the Luddites' tee shirt, I'll wear it with pride