alternative party

NB this was written after the 2007 local elections. Updated 2008, 2010

During the election, I joined other bloggers in making a wish list to offer the incoming government. This was number one on my modest proposals:

1. Transport: (a) Forget about extending the Luas. Bring the bus network up to Luas standard, ie electronic timetables, shelters, and high frequency. Thereby: saving millions, bypassing massive disruption – benefiting passengers on the entire network, not just a few routes. Almost immediate beneficial effect – no waiting for years on end. See my Mark of the BX
(b) Free public transport. Yes I know it has to be paid for, but no one says that when [edited] a Minister opens yet another motorway.

See my detailed proposal here.

Actually, it was only when Labour counsellor and ex-Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin Aodhá¡n Ó Ríordáin turned up on my doorstep that I thought of it. He wanted to know if there was anything he could help me with and I gave the poor man an earful about how the RPA want to rip up the newly renovated O’Connell St to extend the Luas from Stephen’s Green to O’Connell St. What’s wrong with a bus/tram hybrid, I fumed? No disruption, a tenth of the cost, meaning ten bus/hybrid routes for the price of one Luas route, with all the admitted benefits of a tram, namely real time passenger information, high frequency, accessibility, speed etc.

Well, imagine my surprise when I did a google for bus/tram hybrid and the first link to come up was Bus Éireann! (see link below).

It seems that when ex–Transport Minister Martin Cullen (update: now retired) was touring the country, announcing new routes and buses in Galway and Waterford, and in the process, unveiled an exciting future.

An 18 metre streetcar, manufactured by Wrights of Ballymena, Co Antrim, was unveiled at the event.

Ballymena is in First Minister Ian Paisley’s constituency [update: Dr Paisley has now retired], and sure enough, his photo is on their website (PDF), pictured at the ceremony where the Wright Group honoured for engineering innovation. [edit: unfortunately this picture has been replaced]

Bus and Coach Professional, however, has a very interesting piece on the Streetcar, plus photos.

Am I the last one to hear about this?? The Sunday Business Post reported on the prototype two years ago, and added

Both Bus Eireann and Dublin Bus have already invested in low-floor buses designed and manufactured by Wrightbus buses which ease access for passengers with disabilities, elderly people and customers with buggies. According to Nodder, both companies have ’œexpressed interest’˜ in StreetCar.

Let’s hope that interest hardens into Streetcars of Desire on Irish streets. A start could be made by substituting a Streetcar for Luas between Stephen’s Green and O’Connell St.

Ten upgraded routes to Luas’ one would take a lot of cars off the street. It would be nice to see Irish cities join the 21st century public transport club – at a tenth of the cost.

Of course coupled with my argument for free transport – well, maybe that’s 22nd century.

Bus Rapid Transit – Could ’Bus Trams’ be the Future for Public Transport in Irish Cities? This was a link to the Bus Éireann website, but unfortunately it no longer exists, and can’t be found on Google, so it would seem that the idea is dead as far as CIÉ is concerned.

Bus and Coach Professional on the Streetcar

*Update Oct 2008 from the Ballymena Guardian, now no longer on its website.

This is the latest in a series of significant contracts won by the Wright Group, including the provision of 50 ‘green’ buses to Dublin Bus and an order worth over £125 million with FirstGroup, the world’s leading transport company.
This significant order sets the standard for public transport and is powered by a state-of-the-art hybrid-electric system that is both fuel-efficient and more environmentally-friendly.
The high-tech StreetCar RTV interior also provides passengers with the latest travel information and internet access.
Passenger safety is assured by a panic button and a live video feed which can be relayed back to the bus depot as well as the local police station.