I always said that it ought to have been DART myself...
BUSRAGE Discussions » Light Rail
Off-topic--LUAS to be slow (70 km/h max)
(3 posts)-
For those of you who put their hopes in Luas bringing some relief to commuters in Dublin, stay those hopes awhile, because the top speed of the trams they're ordering for this fine line is less than 44 mph. That's slower than what the bus is capable of...and certainly will not have the intestinal fortitude of beating the automobile, except (perhaps) in traffic situations...Posted 5 years ago #
-
Al,I don't know which planet you live on, but igf you think that Dublin traffic is flowing at speeds of 70KMh even outside the rush-hour, you are sadly mistaken.
How could you call 70KMh slow? Do you know the average speed of Dublin traffic these days, even off-peak?
Take the Sandyford line for instance - it takes a 48A bus an hour to get from Dundrum to Stephen's Green at rush hour - the LUAS will do the journey in 14 mins. Even off-peak, the bus will struggle to do the journey in half an hour (late at night, perhaps 20mins).
Why on earth would you want trams that go greater than 70KMh when the stops will only be a mile or so apart in most instances?
Also bear in mind that as a tramway, it will have tighter curves and steeper slopes than a railway - hence you would not want to be going so fast!
I think you are comparing the speed of a LUAS with that of an intercity train :)
As for bus speed, city buses are capable of about 45-50mph before a governor in the engine kicks in, but would rarely if ever reach this speed on most routes - and only occasionally on the outer suburban ones.
Bus Eireann vehicles, designed for rural / express work are governed to about 65-70mps AFAIK.
Steve
: For those of you who put their hopes in Luas bringing some relief to commuters in Dublin, stay those hopes awhile, because the top speed of the trams they're ordering for this fine line is less than 44 mph. That's slower than what the bus is capable of...and certainly will not have the intestinal fortitude of beating the automobile, except (perhaps) in traffic situations...: I always said that it ought to have been DART myself...
[posted by: Steve O'Shea]Posted 5 years ago # -
:
: Al,: I don't know which planet you live on, but igf you think that Dublin traffic is flowing at speeds of 70KMh even outside the rush-hour, you are sadly mistaken.
You're not serious, are you?? During peak, nothing moves but the train (but that's everywhere) but off-peak?? Unless they've hired extra guards to hand out speeding tickets, people will continue to drive as fast as they want. I was only back visiting Dublin in October of last year, but I saw plenty of what's happening on the Dublin roads.
And I've lived on various parts of the planet, including Leixlip, Co. Kildare (after that, Elizabeth, New Jersey and now in the Pocono Mountans of Pennsylvania, which is quite automobile-reliant). I've done a bit of travelling and researching a few things; and I'm still surprised about the Luas having that cap on the top speed.
: How could you call 70KMh slow? Do you know the average speed of Dublin traffic these days, even off-peak?
70 km/h is SLOW. Bottom line. Especially for a modern tram.
: Take the Sandyford line for instance - it takes a 48A bus an hour to get from Dundrum to Stephen's Green at rush hour - the LUAS will do the journey in 14 mins.
And how fast could a DART do the same journey? There are trams out there that can outdo DART speeds. I know--I've used them. If Line B were not on the Harcourt Street Line, it would take perhaps 40 minutes to hit Faiche Stíofán.
: Even off-peak, the bus will struggle to do the journey in half an hour (late at night, perhaps 20mins).
You're talking about the 48A, which is mostly captive to those old roads around Dundrum (which are being by-passed, right?)
: Why on earth would you want trams that go greater than 70KMh when the stops will only be a mile or so apart in most instances?
Ever hear of express or skip-stop service? Light rail systems often do that during peak hours.
: Also bear in mind that as a tramway, it will have tighter curves and steeper slopes than a railway - hence you would not want to be going so fast!
Not the Line B, which you are talking about--that one is the former Harcourt Street Line, built for the most part to heavy-rail standards. Not even Line A has tight curves or steep grades--the grades aren't the problem, but the curves, if operated around too rapidly, could result in derailments (but, again, not likely).
I just hope, for volume's sake, that the operators of Luas are smart enough to couple three articulated trams together in order to maximise passenger space during the morning and evening peak travel hours.
: I think you are comparing the speed of a LUAS with that of an intercity train :)
No offence, but your standards are rather low if you think that an intercity train ought to run at 60 mph max speed. Even the ex-GSWR Dublin-Cork line has been slowed down thanks to the new 201 class (only 90 mph?? they ought to have re-gauged InterCity 125 HSTs on there).
I've been on LRVs that have hit 60 mph on former heavy-rail alignments--not such a wild ride, but it's rather heartening to know that the trams can do it if necessary. If the Luas vehicles were the same, then it would sure attract more passengers to them...certainly, not what DB wishes, but just to stick it up Brennan's arse, I'd like to see it happen.
: As for bus speed, city buses are capable of about 45-50mph before a governor in the engine kicks in, but would rarely if ever reach this speed on most routes - and only occasionally on the outer suburban ones.
Right; I've confirmed that; thanks.
: Bus Eireann vehicles, designed for rural / express work are governed to about 65-70mps AFAIK.
Would that include the double-deck ones used on the 103 to Ashbourne?
:Posted 5 years ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.