Shouldn't we be switching buses with light railway?
Shouldn't we be switching buses with light railway?
Even if you think what you would say is obvious, please add. This is genuinely something I think makes sense regarding local bus routes given the longevity of light rail and how infrequently routes change, but I also suffer from confirmation bias, so I'm hoping for reasons this would be a terrible idea but obviously would prefer reasons it would be an even more amazing idea than I thought.
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But why put them on rails? As a kid I remember busses running on electricity from cables that were located above them. Isn't that the best of all versions?
Tyres wear down and produce nasty pollutants, and metal-on-metal is more energy efficient.
Trolley buses are good. But light railway lasts longer and does less damage to the road for vehicles that actually need to drive. Also you can go autonomous with light railway which is far easier on tracks than without.
Those are called trolley busses. They are pretty good, especially due newer ones that have batteries for any needed detours etc
They still have those buses in Dayton, Ohio.
Rail has some advantages. Efficiency, Tyre dust. Long term cost. It's a bit harder for the next government to dismantle it. Higher capacity, more predictable path/easier to give intersection priority. Much much easier to automate if given dedicated right of way. Better accessibility.
Rubber wheels have advantages too. Quieter, more flexible (especially with a buffer battery), lower per-vehicle cost can increase the number of services.
I think the first goal should be getting any service that doesn't get stuck in traffic. Then grade separation and consider the tradeoffs for rail.
Short answer: no.