80 MPH proposed maximum speed limit in 2 years time

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Originally Posted by wedge

What are butchers & greengrocers? Never heard of 'em!

Most towns are blighted by superstores that now offer convenience, choice, well priced goods.

It's far more complex than just educating consumers, celebrity chefs and what Mary Portas screams. The likes of Tesco can buy land, property and offer number of jobs.

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And all that while they employ not even half the people that are needed for SG's plan! Which means I'm all for what SG proposes cause it's healthier and sustainable. Screw Tesco and the likes.

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Originally Posted by ioan

:up:

PS: Is this becoming a trend or what?!

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Worrying, init? :laugh:

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Originally Posted by Mark

The problems with rail are many fold. Firstly a lack of rolling stock, secondly the railways are already exceptionally busy you can't just whack on additional trains like you can put lorrys on the road.

And most importantly, rail doesn't go to many places. It's much cheaper for Tesco to have one lorry which goes from depot to store, rather than lorry to rail to lorry.

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Mark, Tesco do have trains that carry good across the country on a daily basis though. There is at least one route that runs between the Midlands and Scotland via the Lake Disctrict. I've seen it numerous times. :) I do conceed the points you are making. The trains are schedule to a degree with what they can carry and they are subject to long stops waiting to let comuter trains past.

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Originally Posted by wedge

It's far more complex than just educating consumers, celebrity chefs and what Mary Portas screams. The likes of Tesco can buy land, property and offer number of jobs.

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Indeed. Those with a romanticised view of capitalism believe that every business has the chance to compete on a level playing field with the High Street giants. It blatantly isn't true.

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Originally Posted by Mark

The problems with rail are many fold. Firstly a lack of rolling stock, secondly the railways are already exceptionally busy you can't just whack on additional trains like you can put lorrys on the road.

And most importantly, rail doesn't go to many places. It's much cheaper for Tesco to have one lorry which goes from depot to store, rather than lorry to rail to lorry.

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What are the figures for amounts (i.e. percentages) of freight transported by rail in the UK compared to other European countries? I was under the impression that the UK lagged some way behind. Whatever, there is undoubtedly an obsession in some quarters with transporting freight by road when rail would be a perfectly acceptable alternative, backed up by a road haulage lobby that is far more powerful than its rail equivalent. And innovative ideas such as running freight trams, now seen on the streets of Amsterdam, have never gained much ground in Britain even when the infrastructure exists.

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Originally Posted by ioan

To be honest, the best way to improve traffic is to have an IQ test before giving someone a driving license, no license for those with a coefficient under 100. Problem solved.

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The real answer is for the traffic cops to be given the power to issue more cautions for minor driving offences/bad driving. These cautions work in two ways - deleted from the records if a re-test is taken, or converted into points and a stiff fine if a re-offence committed within 5 years. Education is the key.

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

What are the figures for amounts (i.e. percentages) of freight transported by rail in the UK compared to other European countries? I was under the impression that the UK lagged some way behind. Whatever, there is undoubtedly an obsession in some quarters with transporting freight by road when rail would be a perfectly acceptable alternative, backed up by a road haulage lobby that is far more powerful than its rail equivalent. And innovative ideas such as running freight trams, now seen on the streets of Amsterdam, have never gained much ground in Britain even when the infrastructure exists.

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The British mentality is fundamentally flawed. Most major cities HAD trams operating in them. Quite why they were all abolished beggers belief - only to be re-introduced (Sheffield, Croydon etc) at great cost and disruption during the construction phase.

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Originally Posted by SGWilko

The British mentality is fundamentally flawed. Most major cities HAD trams operating in them. Quite why they were all abolished beggers belief - only to be re-introduced (Sheffield, Croydon etc) at great cost and disruption during the construction phase.

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The trams were very expensive to run, had crumbing infrastructure which badly needed completely replacing at great expense. vs diesel buses which didn't need tracks to run on, didn't need infrastructure apart from roads and bus stops and could go anywhere and be completely flexible, it's not hard to see why the trams were removed.

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Originally Posted by Mark

The trams were very expensive to run, had crumbing infrastructure which badly needed completely replacing at great expense. vs diesel buses which didn't need tracks to run on, didn't need infrastructure apart from roads and bus stops and could go anywhere and be completely flexible, it's not hard to see why the trams were removed.

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So why bring them back? Take a look at Regent Street or any major London route these days - wall to wall buses stuck in a traffic jam, burning up diesel while stationary. If that isn't very costly as opposed to an electric powered tram, which only consumes power when moving then what is????

A traditional diesel bus really only ought to be used for rural services.

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Originally Posted by SGWilko

So why bring them back? Take a look at Regent Street or any major London route these days - wall to wall buses stuck in a traffic jam, burning up diesel while stationary. If that isn't very costly as opposed to an electric powered tram, which only consumes power when moving then what is????

A traditional diesel bus really only ought to be used for rural services.

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Because the world isn't static. The situation we find ourselves in now is very different to when the trams were taken out.