Lol! Ok, here's a specific example of how one could speed up Sydney's trams right now. Most of the existing line is on its own right of way. On an old rail line. So. Step 1, when the last passenger is on, door closes, accelerate to full speed, keep going at full speed till it's time to brake, apply the brake, open the door, rinse and repeat. Compare with the present. Last passenger is on, wait, accelerate to half speed, coast a bit, apply the brake, open door, rinse and repeat. See the SPECIFIC DETAILED difference?PeFe wrote: ↑Thu Oct 26, 2017 5:13 pmI have been to Prague, and I do not remember the trams being particularly fast. Not been to Budapest.
How many cars are on the roads of Prague and Budapest have compared to Sydney?
Sure 1940's trams could whiz along Sydney streets........because safety standards were different and there were virtually no cars ( compared to modern Sydney)
Building costs reflect each society, we live in a high wage, high standard of living country with high safety standards.
I do not disagree that the new Sydney tram line could have been built at a slightly lower cost but this new cliche that all transport projects are "gold plated" is really tiresome, especially when you provide no details on how you would actually speed up the current Sydney tram.
As for comparing standards, the Swiss build trams and tramways cheaper, they have a higher cost of living, a good, if not better standard of living. The other cities are required to conform to EU Standards. Long gone are the days when we could claim our safety or technical standards are better.
Finally, the gold plating. All you have to do is look at the various official pictures of the construction, then wander down North Terrace right now. Look at what's in the ground right here, look at the Sydney images on your mobile phone, then compare them. The Sydney Citadis are longer, and coupled, but that's it. Either Adelaide's tracks are inadequate and are going to crumble to bits when the Citadis are running, OR Sydney's track is gold plated with palladium and platinum inlays. One or the other. All you have to do is use your eyes and compare what's going on right in front of them.
Edit. Plus "slightly lower cost". Yikes! Adelaide is building 1kM of track for $80m, including a junction and trams along a boulevarde about the same width as George St. Sydney is building 13kM, with very little in the way of special work, and lots of track in areas of less difficulty (eg the race course and showground where trams used to run) for $200m per kilometre! $80m for a short section with all the diseconomies of small scale vs $200m. And that's "slightly lower"? Riiiiiight!
