The tunnel vision of some people never fails to amaze me. The lady who lives on Gorse Avenue is concerned that the Metrolink trams will not take her to within a couple of feet every destination she visits, plus she feels she may get delayed when crossing Market Street every now then.
The gentleman from Cheetham Hill Rd in Dukinfield is concerned about the cost of building the Metrolink - but he fails to consider the significant economic benefits that the Metrolink will bring to localities on the line. He also puts forward a very weak argument about a family of four ‘struggling’ aboard the tram on route to Manchester Airport. He obviously is completely unaware of how many people already use the train to go to Manchester Airport and I bet he has never even heard of the Gatwick and Heathrow Express - the preferred method of transport for most frequent fliers from the UK’s two largest airports.
The chap who writes from Manor Road makes the best points of the trio as he has observed - as have I, how so little of the hardware used in building and operating the Metrolink System is actually British. Grand projects like this could help revive British manufacturing and create desperately needed jobs but sadly every aspect of the project from the company commissioned to build the line, to the plant machinery used, to the actual construction of the trams have been given to foreign conglomerates - a sad state of affairs!
21 comments:
In the last 90 days, jet fuel prices have spiked 38%, rising along with crude.
It was no surprise to me, then, to see some of the smaller carriers starting to go belly up this year. As oil has hit record high after record high, fuel costs have actually exceeded labour costs for many airlines, accounting for as much as 40% of operating expenses.
...rail is bound to gain market share in the coming decades as the airline industry contracts. This is because rail is by far the cheapest and most fuel-efficient form of transport, requiring about a third less fuel than air for personal travel, and as little as 3% of the energy for freight.
Rail can also run on renewably generated electricity, making it a true transportation alternative for the future.
I would hardly say rail is cheap, at least not under a system which allow capitalists to keep the train fares high.
In the short term the metrolink is disruptive and beyond the near empty wallets of the people of Ashton and Droylsden.
I think the money wasted on this venture would have been put to better use reopening the stations which suffered under Dr.Beeching reign of railway tyranny.
Yes SS, the Beeching Axe destroyed what was the worlds most connected rail network. Before Beeching halved the railway network you could pretty much get a train from anywhere to anywhere in this country.
You are absolutely correct about rail fares being too high. Whenever I go to London alone I go on the train as it cheaper than driving and a lot less hassle into the bargain. But sadly when I travel with a colleague the cost can become prohibitive due to exorbitant ticket prices. The privatisation of the network was a disaster to impose upon the travelling public and it should never have taken place. I look forward to the day when it is re-nationalised and the efficiency of the rail network is matched by its affordability.
How can the massive cost of the metro link be justified. Four new estates built in the last twenty years, all close to or near to the closed Droylsden train station. A five minute walk to the station, fifteen minutes into Manchester, no parking charges for the car, everyone a winner.
We already have a decent bus service down Ashton New road, with stops close to our abode,why would I get on a tram when it's a fifteen minute walk home. God forbid if I have any shopping.
In an earlier post you have suggested that the trams will bring buisness back to Manchester, the same as canals and railways used to do.
The operative words are 'used to do'
Unless I decide to transport my camels goats and chickens on the local trams, although somebody (not local)is probably one step ahead, the tram system is unwanted by the people of Droylsden. The opening of the local train station would be more beneficial to ease the congestion in the town centre.
And,there are people who live on these estates,paid for by Taxpayers(Roy West, look away)
Just to let it be known, I,m sick to death paying taxes for public sector jobs.
Why are they on better wages and pensions, when I work harder, and have less time on the sick?
Is hemp rope expensive?
Do we have to use hemp rope, or is washing line perfectley acceptable.
Coming to a lampost near you soon.
Probably
Muggins really is a clueless mug who has no concept of how an integrated transport system operates. Muggins old bean, broaden your horizons before you come on here preaching sermons about issues you obviously know nothing about.
TC, Tell us what the economic benefits of the tram are, with its three stops between Droylsden and Ashton (about fifteen stops for the bus).
What percentage of holidaymakers, or anyone with a reasonable amount of luggage is going to use the tram to get to the airport, with the one mile walk to the tram stop, and walk to the terminus at the other end? Probably less than five per cent of the vast number of people who arrive at the airport every day by private car or taxi.
The miniscule proportion of the moving public that the tram can carry and the enormous cost, the inconvenience, obstruction and delay it will cause to the vast majority of the moving public, i.e. road users, makes its existence totally unjustifiable.
You'd better hope rail DOESN'T ever have to take even a slight increase in the 6% share of the load it currently has because it would totally collapse under the strain.
Muggins by name and muggins by nature sai
Please enlighten the poor Plebs of Droylsden, who it would appear, seem to have no idea what an integrated transport system entails.
Can you name one benefit that will help the average hardworking taxpayer?
Mr Cooke stop being a snake for once in you're life.
Stop pretending that you care about any community.
Up to 70 Muslim terrorists set to be released from prison this year will not be monitored because of government service cuts, the probation officers’ union has warned.
Dozens of ‘high-risk’ Islamic terrorists – including a collaborator of the shoe bomber Richard Reid – are due for release in the next twelve months, despite many of them only serving half of their sentences.
But a senior probation official has warned that probation and security officers will not be able to cope with the releases, due to government cuts.
Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of the National Association of Probation Officers, said that as many as 70 al-Qaeda terrorists could be released over the coming year, as well as about 130 other criminals who have been radicalised in prison and are now classed as dangerous.
He said: ‘They are all deemed high risk, and in profile they are totally different from the rest of the criminals that we deal with.
The importance of a good nights sleep should never underestimated. For anyone tormented with insomnia as I often am, this article is worth a read.
Re the Cooke video
You can tell, wildy needs a drink badly there.
Mr John Cooke (ukip) I've made this rather nice video for you.
Don't worry yourself with what money Ive got coming into the house.
It's none of your buisness.
Now relax to this, you'll like it.
TC, the best point in the lady from Gorse Avenue's letter IS the fact that the tram's crossing this extremely busy road junction every five minutes will cause significant hold-ups and delays. The same applies on Altrincham Rd and many other places.
Labour: £17 million in debt.
90% of bills paid by the unions.
Ed Miliband's approval ratings amongst the lowest ever recorded for the leader of a major party.
The party is owned by the unions and dominated by cranks with lunatic agendas.
How can I ever, have respect for my Labour Cllr, when he works through smear and allegation methods?
My Labour Councillor has been doing this for years now.
If you have an allegation about me, then he'll run with that allegation.
The small matter of having evidence, won't get in the way of this Labour Rat.
TC, Red Kite.
P.S. Trains are shite.
We win the League Title for the most Councilors by a big margin.
Denton and Audenshaw 12 Denton North East
Denton South
Denton West
Audenshaw
Can any other Tameside District beat this marvelous achievement of
12 waste of financial resources greedy thick gits.
The vast majority of local councillors are in it for the money and no other reason.
Has anyone noticed the leaning of TMBC Politicians towards having themselves photographed with young children.
Now surely thats in breach of the present rights of children because all adults and parents who are non Tameside Politicians cannot photograph children even their own children on their sports days,take photographs at christmas plays/concerts of children.or simply photograph a child who is not family linked to the adult photographer or adult posing on the picture with children.
I would think Tameside Politicians Councillors and MP`s are breaching the law by exposing Tameside children to being photographed and displayed in the local Labour Rags.
Now lets hear from the Borough Solicitor who usually has "all the answers" because I reckon TMBC Politicians are overstepping the mark and exposing children along with the Press photographers who are complicit in this abuse of childrens rights and why has the TMBC Solicitor not upheld the childrens rights.
So am I right TC contributors ?????
and should these regular antics be
brought to the attention of the authorities
"The gentleman from Cheetham Hill Rd in Dukinfield is concerned about the cost of building the Metrolink - but he fails to consider the significant economic benefits that the Metrolink will bring to localities on the line"
But what about localities not on the line?
The metrolink is great if you happen to live and work/shop within half a mile of a station, but otherwise, its utterly useless.
What would the economic benefit of been if instead of building the metrolink, they extended the M602 all the way to M67 and the M66 to the M56? Or if they expanded the M60 to 4 lanes each way all the way around? Or even more?
Even IF the metrolink came all the way to Mossley, which it doesnt and likely never will, it would still be cheaper and quicker for me to drive to Altrincham.
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