Tram Train Trial

[BigAl1]

14 minutes ago, Arthur Ritus said:

The tram does go beyond the city, there is the university/ Hallamshire area which also has abismal parking. A bit of a walk at that end as original planners didn't seem to think connecting tram to hospitals important.

If I remember correctly they didn’t even think of a decent connection to the station or bus network 

[ECCOnoob]

2 hours ago, BigAl1 said:

If I remember correctly they didn’t even think of a decent connection to the station or bus network 

What you on about?  The Station has its own dedicated stop and Bridge Link directly to the platforms.   That was updated and moved around when the station change their own access points replacing the older bridge down to the station forecourt. Think it might have been the second phase to open but it was the same year as the first one. It was was part of the original 1994 route to Spring lane

 

Fitzalan Square is just a couple of minutes walk from the main bus interchange and the tram route is even closer to the numerous bus stops on High Street or West Street or Haymarket which generally are the exact same bus routes that will also trundle around towards The Moor, Eyre Street or Arundel Gate.

 

Whilst I agree better hospital access will be great in an ideal world. It's not that simple. The geography of where the hospitals are located makes it very tricky. Look at the tight cluster and already chaotic roads around Brook Hill and Glossop Road and the cluster of hospitals between the Childrens, Charles Clifford, Western Park, Royal Hallamshire, that's before we get onto all the prominent university buildings which were all there long before the supertram.   Just where exactly is it supposed to go?  Plus could you imagine the crying on here about the traffic being created.  People not be able to get to hospital..... people being trapped 'for hours' because of the road works and temporary lights. 

 

There was more than enough crying about it back in the 90s when they were trying to install in the much more spacious, less chaotic areas along Hillsborough, towards Meadowhall through wastelands in Attercliffe, and out into the wide purpose roads towards the townships.

 

Now the Northern General might be more feasible if they could find a way of getting it from Hillsborough and up over Herries without too much mayhem, but then again it will probably only get to one part of the hospital campus which might not be too convenient for those who are wanting particular parts of they already vast site.

Edited December 7, 2023 by ECCOnoob