London has another growing light rail system, I guess closer to you: the Docklands Light Railway, which will get its second Thames crossing by 2009. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
This is about trams so I glossed over it. Also, it also covers mostly the north bank, although it has, as you say one river crossing and will get more. Those whom the Gods wish to destroy They first make mad. -- Euripides
The Tramlink does have some sections outside of streets, and shares track with the commuter rail, but it does have sections where it shares the right-of-way with regular traffic. Those whom the Gods wish to destroy They first make mad. -- Euripides
Is that true at the Western and South-of-Thames ends too? (I'm asking naively, I only assumed they cross streets from maps.) *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Meanwhile, While the French boom and form design made surface light rail again fashionable with politicians, I note another bad trend: surface light rail and even more light metros are often brought up by politicians instead of heavy metros, as a cost-saving alternative -- which can lead to shiny new lines with insufficient capacity and slow traffic due to jammed streets... *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
From that first route, the line was extended to Bank Station in a new tunnel to provide a more convenient link with the rest of the tube network. Other lines on elevated track took the system to the service/"garage" facilities near All Saints, using elevated new sections for most of the way. The line to Stratford from there used old docks lines again. The southern extension involves a new tunnel under the Thames from Island Gardens which is now underground until it joins the existing BR station at Greenwich. From there again redundant routes were used to Lewisham. The other extensions are again a mixture of old dock railway routes and new build.
There is a tram system in Croydon which although is technically a separate town, is part of Greater London. That runs through the streets and then joins a redundant rail line towards Wimbledon that if memory serves was mostly used to haul coal to a town gas/coke plant at what is now Ikea and power stations at Mitcham. (I used to live in the area but I am not sure about the more southerly part of the routes)
One point of trivia, if it is the route I think it is, it runs close to the line of a horse drawn wooden railed line that ran from the south coast to London to haul fresh fish - accounting for a huge number of oyster shells found locally and a history of children making "grottos" or mini-gardens using them in order to beg for change to spend at Mitcham fair.
the Mayor and New West End Company's long term goal of further improving the West End to ensure it is the highest quality retail and leisure centre befitting a 21st century world city, [includes]: The long-term goal of a tram-based public transport solution for Oxford Street, from Marble Arch to Tottenham Court Rd Remodeling of Marble Arch to provide a new, world-class public space, with a high quality pedestrian environment and improved interchange between buses and the Underground. Making the most of the Arch itself, this will provide a fitting gateway into London's premier shopping area. Renewal of the eastern end of Oxford Street, with the redevelopment of Tottenham Court Road station providing opportunities to create a proper eastern gateway to Oxford Street.
I believe there are several other 'outer London' routes in varying stages of completion - the one that springs to mind is a route along the Uxbridge Rd axis that's intended to open up the western approaches to Shepherds Bush.
The DLR is cool looking and pretty handy for short hops - but I live in Lewisham and it isn't very useful for getting into the centre from there as it's way too slow compared to overland rail or the tube from New Cross/New Cross Gate.
My folks live in Nottingham, which recently introduced a tram/light railway that appears to have been a raging success. The council are looking to bring in at least two more routes, including one out through West Bridgeford/Clifton to Nottingham Airport. The proposed hub and interchange for these routes will be at the railway station, where there's a viaduct from the old Grand Central railway line that used to run out of Victoria station and over the tracks of the Midland station before crossing the river.
Regards Luke -- #include witty_sig.h
125 Street No. 1 Station, Harlem
By the way, what's the code on ET for inserting pictures into posts?
