• Plans progress to expand Greater Manchester’s tram & train network (Rail UK)
• Huge HS2 bridge rotation & move completed in Birmingham ahead of schedule: Video (HS2)
• 3D map shows how the Underground could warm City’s historic churches (Ian Visits)
• Scotland garages turned into homes to help ease housing crisis (BBC)
• Secrets of Birmingham’s Cross City Line south: Video (Transport Matters)
• China’s Metros Raise Fares & Cut Service Amid Mounting Losses (Asia Daily)
• Italy approves world’s longest suspension bridge linking Sicily to mainland (E+T)
• Jen Orpin paints Britain’s motorways (The Spaces)
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“World’s longest suspension bridge”
It says: “six vehicle lanes, two railway tracks and two service lanes. ”
Hitherto, it was usually understood that railway tracks were a serious “don’t go there” for suspension bridges. So I assume that modifications have benn made to the design to accomodate or allieviate the known problems, as well as having the railway tracks in the centre.
I wonder if aspects of the stayed-cable type of structure are involved, as well, to reduce the difficulties .. mostly sway & ripple effects that are minimal on cars, but which would ( & did) derail trains in short order.
I wonder what speed-limit will be set for the trains, as well?
Manchester Tram expansion
If even some of this goes forward, it will undo some of the massive transport damage done in the “Age of Beeching” (Marples). Specifically, the note says:”and out to the North-West of the city-region including options for links to Leigh, Wigan and Bolton.”
There used to be the ex-LNW line from Manchester Exchange (or Victoria) round the Leigh loop & back down to the main line at/near Lowton. This very useful interurban route was closed in the late 1960’s simply to “save” the cost of building a Motorway bridge.
I note that part of that trackbed is now in use as a “guided bus-way”, but I would imagine that converting that to the more environmntally & passenger-freindly usage by trams would be (relatively) easy & inexpensive?
However, this leads to another question ..
Manchester & now Birmingham are re-expanding their tram systems, & Nottingham has a good one, but why is Sheffield stalled completely & London absolutely nowhere.