Leeds trolleybus scheme delayed further

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Tue 15 Jan, 2013 2:19 pm

Something on BBC Look North about the folly bus at half past one when it comes on. Will it help, or increase traffic problems in the city.It will be on again at 6 this evening if anyone misses it.

Post by **chameleon** » Tue 15 Jan, 2013 3:37 pm

Phill_dvsn wrote: Something on BBC Look North about the folly bus at half past one when it comes on. Will it help, or increase traffic problems in the city.It will be on again at 6 this evening if anyone misses it. They showed the short documentary featuring Leeds Trams amongst others again the other evening. The conclusion was that everwhere which had displaced them (only Blackpool trams remain don't they), publically state they wished they'd been retained in some form.

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Tue 15 Jan, 2013 3:49 pm

chameleon wrote: Phill_dvsn wrote: Something on BBC Look North about the folly bus at half past one when it comes on. Will it help, or increase traffic problems in the city.It will be on again at 6 this evening if anyone misses it. They showed the short documentary featuring Leeds Trams amongst others again the other evening. The conclusion was that everwhere which had displaced them (only Blackpool trams remain don't they), publically state they wished they'd been retained in some form. Blackpool have somewhat killed off their fine tramway though when they 'modernised and improved' (destroyed it)Ha set on fire already All the old heritage tram stops, fencing, the lot.. Gone They do have a limited old heritage tram fleet still in operation, but for me if it wasn't for the tower. It's not worth going to again. I also see they modernised the Tower to make it ''better'. A great piece of Victorian engineering built with cast iron and rivets now looking like Anytown soulless B&Q trade warehouse or car showroom

Post by **chameleon** » Tue 15 Jan, 2013 3:52 pm

Likely a lot to do wiv't old elf & safety routine too Phill

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Tue 15 Jan, 2013 11:51 pm

We transport heritage lovers will never forgive Blackpool for their desecration of that once great transport system. The new trams are totally lacking in any character and are, of course, afflicted by the "zany livery" virus - I use the word "livery" very loosely. How splendid they would have looked in the dignified original simple cream and mid green with that superb "Blackpool Transport" fleetname with the sea waves symbol. I saw some films last night showing one of the magnificnet double deck "balloon" cars in all over white and the inevitable funereal lilac.Another bad feature is the fitting of poor quality destination displays which are scarcely legible, especially in bright sunlight.I imagine one time General Manager Walter Luff and those before him will be turning in their graves.

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Wed 16 Jan, 2013 12:18 am

Once it's gone, it's gone for good isn't it Blakey? Blackpool council have been incredibly short sighted, they have viewed the situation as an old transport system passed it's best. The new tramway will never extend much, if any further away from the sea front at Blackpool. It won't ever carry 'non tourist' mass amounts of passengers around the town. Instead of preserving their heritage, they've destroyed it. People travel from miles around to Beamish to see the old trams and life of yesteryear. Blackpool was unique in having the only real original working museum in this country. They went and destroyed it. Local Councillors aren't fit for purpose!

BLAKEY · Post by **BLAKEY** » Wed 16 Jan, 2013 10:09 am

Too true Phill - we must be thankful though for the incredible National Tramway Village at Crich which leaves all other museums well and truly in the shade. Starting out as a few sheds in a quarry it has become, through the incredible efforts of an army of volunteers working in awful conditions, the most magnificent place where you can really go back in time without much imagination needed. Apart from the working tramway interest it is a lovely day out for families in a beautiful part of the Country.One of my happiest days there was one Sunday in 1995 when, with a friend, I took the tram driving course. You can't imagine, till you've had a go, what a demanding job physically and mentally it must have been for real. We learnt on Liverpool 869, a giant eight wheel beauty with air brakes etc. It was a gorgeous Summer day with intense sunlight and what a clown I made of myself at the outer terminus of the line. You had of course to reverse the trolley pole and reposition it on the wire. The springs are incredibly strong and I don't weigh much and couldn't see a thing for the sun. Every attempt to place the trolley wheel on the wire resulted in a sideways swing, nearly lifting me off the ground, and the appreciative laughing crowds grew larger as the farce developed and the regular very busy tram service began to back up behind us. What a wonderful day that was, and I do have a certificate to prove it.

Post by **Croggy1** » Wed 16 Jan, 2013 11:18 am

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/n ... 317330Mark Paul's comments on the article seem to sum things up niicely. Quote: Someone has told them that the Student halls along the route have ALL closed down .This was the aim of the system, yet they still steam roller ahead ?Are they all asleep at the wheel ?I can not believe that the councillors think the solution to Leeds transport system is one bus on wires that runs along ONE street.What are these people smoking?Buses already run along that route, hundreds of them just not on fixed wires.They think this is a green option, try telling those south of the river that live under sulphur clouds from the power station at ferrybridge that electric is a green option.£250,000,000 of money is about to go in to a one street only transport "solution".Enough to build 25 park and rides or 50 miles of new train track or an underground loop train system for the city centre.And what will we get, a bus on a overhead wire for one street.A 19 century solution to a 21st century problem. Madness, Complete madness.

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Wed 16 Jan, 2013 5:40 pm

Blakey, bus alert, we need your help here pls http://www.secretleeds.co.uk/forum/Mess ... e=0&#92688

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Thu 17 Jan, 2013 3:50 am

Phill_dvsn wrote: Once it's gone, it's gone for good isn't it Blakey? Blackpool council have been incredibly short sighted, they have viewed the situation as an old transport system passed it's best. The new tramway will never extend much, if any further away from the sea front at Blackpool. It won't ever carry 'non tourist' mass amounts of passengers around the town. Instead of preserving their heritage, they've destroyed it. People travel from miles around to Beamish to see the old trams and life of yesteryear. Blackpool was unique in having the only real original working museum in this country. They went and destroyed it. Local Councillors aren't fit for purpose! Wandering slightly off the topic here but can I just add this.I recently went to Fleetwood for the transport festival known locally as Tram Sunday and we travelled from Fleetwood into Blackpool on one of the new style trams. I found the ride to be smooth, fast and quiet, in other words totally boring and souless, not what I want from a tram.If it doesnt rumble, clunck, bang and lurch then its not a real tram to me but thats me speaking with my enthusiast head on, what Mr and Mrs average family want is totally different.Now I'm not defending Blackpool Council or indeed Blackpool transport because several weeks ago I took the Mrs there for a day out and even she, with absolutly no transport interest, said "it's just not what it used to be and it doesn't look like Blackpool without the old trams" but unfortunatly if they had not introduced the modern cars then the system would have been completely doomed to closure.The E.U. are tightening up on grants given to public transport and some of the next rounds of grants are dependent on vehicles meeting the latest safety standards with regards to equiptment and construction and also with disabled access, something the old tram cars were not capable of being adapted for.The council's hands were tied on this, without the new cars there simply wouldn't have been a tramway system in Blackpool in the future.