Leeds trolleybus scheme delayed further

Loiner1960 · Post by **Loiner1960** » Sat 11 May, 2013 9:15 pm

Tramway Mel must be getting some kick backs from somebody, allegedly... Geneva's trolley buses are operated by the Geneva Canton not private companies and supplement the trams, not instead of. They also have had routes either replaced by trams or buses.Bari's trolleybuses stopped in 1987! Again the local authority will own and control any re-established routes. The folly buses were ordered in 2008! Castellon de la Plana is a hybrid trolleybus as parts of the city of 300,000 the catenary does not have sufficient space to be installed. And the cost of this has been enormous and this is probably why it is only on a single route. And it was supposed to be autonomous by using a painted guide path. It didn't work so they have drivers! So Tramway Mel answer that one... Another load of propaganda. In the internet age it just won't wash.

Cardiarms · Post by **Cardiarms** » Sat 11 May, 2013 11:11 pm

One complication is that due to the conservative legislation of the 1980s the council can not 'own and operate' public transport So what ever happens has to be a bodged compromise involving contracted private operators. 30 years on and things have improved, haven't they?

Brunel · Post by **Brunel** » Sat 11 May, 2013 11:53 pm

I will pass on, all your valued comments.

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Sun 12 May, 2013 2:44 pm

Brunel wrote: I will pass on, all your valued comments. I take it Tramway Mel is the guy who goes under the alias of 'oldsyphilitic' in the Y.E.P comments page on the trolleybus stories?

book · Post by **book** » Sun 12 May, 2013 8:10 pm

Brunel wrote: 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." That's exactly the problem isn't it? The people of Leeds havng no say in the future of its infrastructure unless they are politically aligned.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Sun 12 May, 2013 8:27 pm

book wrote: Brunel wrote: 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." That's exactly the problem isn't it? The people of Leeds havng no say in the future of its infrastructure unless they are politically aligned. If it is actually ever built, (and I seriously hope it isn't) perhaps we could get up a petition for it to be renamed the Orwell Line?

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Sun 12 May, 2013 9:01 pm

Just like the appeaser Chamberlain, when Hitler patted him on the head and sent him back to England. So did the councillors of the City of Leeds return from Whitehall. Obediently, and meekly they accepted a poultry piece of paper, the value of it not worth the paper it was written on.And so faced with this dilemma, knowing they had consistently failed the citizens of Leeds, fearing for their luxury lifestyle and perks of the job. The councillors hatched a cunning plan hoping to fool the dim witted proletarians of the City. Unlike other Cities who had fought, mediated, and provided great arguments for substantial funding, they were not going to accept second best, they were going to secure the very best solutions for their Cities...Leeds City council did not do any of this.... So over lavish dinners they realised the heat was on them, they had failed to deliver a modern transport scheme for over 3 decades, yet they had been given a pittance by the big boys in London to pay for one. What are we going to do with such a small amount of money?How about buses said one councillor, they must be cheapish.He was a friendly type, nice-but dim. Not ever using public transport in his life he was clueless. No we already have those replied another Councillor, erm what about bendy buses then? You know instead of carrying people on the top deck of the bus, loose the top deck and couple it behind instead he replied. We've tried that already, they call it F.T.R said one. Why didn't it work? didn't it carry more passengers, improve journey times, get people out of cars? Sadly not was his reply.I know then, how about buses that sometimes run on batteries?That will keep the dim people of Leeds happy won't it?Sadly not, we've tried that one too, apart from the batteries running out all the time, they offer no advantage over any ordinary bus at all.Look this can't go on any longer, the people are on to us, they are already calling us unprofessional, saying we don't know what we are doing.We need to launch a CHARM MISSIONhttp://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/lat ... 5572512AND GET THIS... We'll run buses, but stick a pole on top with electric wires.. That way it will look like a tram (that our better rival cities have) but it will only cost a fraction because we don't have any tracks, or infrastructure to build. We'll just plonk it on the roads we already have. GREAT IDEA the councillors agreed, they patted each other on the back, whoops of delight all around. They all agreed this was their last chance, even they themselves knew their idea was complete rubbish and a total waste of money. They had to try fool everyone else, or they would have a very bad time trying to explain why they were such consistent failures! And so the Leeds Follybus was born!!!

Brunel · Post by **Brunel** » Sun 12 May, 2013 9:12 pm

I cannot remember if it has been mentioned before.L.C.C. face a considerable dilemma, the money offered by the government, is only available if the Folley Bus scheme goes ahead.No F. Bus.... no money for anything else.

Phill_dvsn · Post by **Phill_dvsn** » Sun 12 May, 2013 9:15 pm

Brunel wrote: I cannot remember if it has been mentioned before.L.C.C. face a considerable dilemma, the money offered by the government, is only available if the Folley Bus scheme goes ahead.No F. Bus.... no money for anything else. That's because L.C.C are spineless failures, accepting 2nd best.They want to hang their heads in shame ever getting this City in this mess in 2013. They should tell Whitehall to shove their pittance of money, it won't make any difference.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Sun 12 May, 2013 9:46 pm

Brunel wrote: I cannot remember if it has been mentioned before.L.C.C. face a considerable dilemma, the money offered by the government, is only available if the Folley Bus scheme goes ahead.No F. Bus.... no money for anything else. I say we adopt a more continental attitude in that case. Take the cash, build something completely different (i.e. actually useful) and then shrug our shoulders if anyone notices...