Cambridge Metro must not be encouraged

Gareth Dennis’s article on the Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro ( RAIL 918) confirmed much of my own thinking.

The estimated cost figures are truly frightening, and I question where the funding to meet them might come from.

The original report spoke of several sources - including developers, government (local and national) and a precept on council tax. In any potential future situation, significant funding from these sources seems extremely unlikely.

When I was working for Cambridgeshire County Council nearly 20 years ago, I suggested that consideration be given to providing a tram rather than a bus on the guideway route.

My argument at the time was that it could run through the pedestrian area in central Cambridge. Because of its fixed track, a safe area for other users could be delineated either by paint or paving.

I acknowledged that the provision of overhead wires in the central area would be unpopular with environmentalists, but with modern battery development, that would not be necessary. I am afraid the suggestion was not taken seriously.

Mayor James Palmer has made the scheme a major part of his programme, rather than the mundane task of sorting out Cambridge’s traffic problems.

At some point, someone has to grasp the necessity of (as Gareth correctly identifies) “excluding cars from the city streets”.

John Holmes, St Ives

Gareth Dennis comprehensively demolishes the efficacy of the proposed Cambridgeshire non-autonomous non-metro.

Doesn’t this give us all a massive sense of déja vu, recalling the ‘creation’ of the Cambridge guided bus (sic) scheme - a horrendous waste of money and both grossly over-engineered and poorly built?

What is it with this council that pits them firmly against traditional rail solutions - particularly Cambridge-St Ives-Huntingdon?

Alan Fell, Devon