Harsh reality of this Utopian tram dream

I have read and re-read Dave Andrew’s letter regarding the “utopian” dream of a tram based transport system in the Bath area and have just a few questions.

In previous articles he has stated that the reason for industry’s inefficiencies was that people struggled to get to work because of traffic jams and the consequent delays in bus journeys.

All of which would magically disappear with the installation of a tram system and a mass migration from the previous modes of transport. All backed up by “our calculations”.

Here are the questions that need answering.

Just how long would it take to install the tram-lines between say Bath and Bristol?

Assuming there would be two lines, one east - west and the other west - east. The whole road would need to be closed to install the lines and the overhead gantries for the power supply.

“My calculations” would suggest that would take years. Where will the traffic (including buses, delivery lorries, ambulances etc) go whilst this is being undertaken?

Industry will not be any more efficient during this spell, in fact it might well collapse with people not being able to get to work at all.

Once this system is up and running how will other road traffic cope with 2/3rds of the road being occupied by the “frequent” trams and obviously the loss of most if not all on-street parking. Tram favouring lights will only cause chaos.

Most services (gas, water, electricity) are located underneath our roads. Once the network is in place what happens if mainte

nance is needed or an emergency occurs. The whole system is prejudiced. Imagine major waterworks on the road approaching Saltford. Where does the tram go? At least buses and cars can make diversions. The gantries needed to power the trams are likely to be an unattractive addition to any rural areas they pass through. Who wants to look out of their window and see metal gantries and wires?

Remember the outcry at the thought of similar gantries being installed in Sydney Gardens in relation to the long stalled electrification of the London to Bristol mainline.

His last paragraph states that pictures on his website show trams, cyclists and pedestrians happily co-existing with trams.

One picture I saw showed people gaily walking and cycling in front of an approaching tram. This picture, taken in Birmingham (which has an electric tram system) had obviously been air-brushed as the tram appears to be self-propelled, there being no overhead gantries in sight! Heaven forbid if the rails were live.

He also states that tram rails are no more dangerous than the kerb. The flaw is that you have to negotiate a tram rail every time you change your route, it is not as simple as filtering across to turn. You need to make more exaggerated changes and be much more careful in the wet and dark.

Riding into the kerb is a basic error of judgement.

Dave’s tram system might well work on the flat A4 between Batheaston and Newbridge but I bet we’ll never see one up here in rural Fairfield Park Road.

We will have to wait for a nonexistent bus to take us to the nearest tram stop or drive to Emersons Green, save some time and miss all the fun and games.

Mike Fear

Bath