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Author Topic: Pod travel plan for Bristol enterprise zone (BBC News 01/10/2012)  (Read 6137 times)
JayMac
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« on: October 01, 2012, 11:44:08 »

From the BBC» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Quote
Automated pods on a guided roadway may be used to transport workers around a multimillion-pound enterprise zone in Bristol.



The city council is considering the plan for the business park close to Bristol Temple Meads station.

Liberal Democrat transport councillor Tim Kent said the pods were one of many options under consideration.

"It's a lot cheaper than a traditional tram and it's good for an area as small as the enterprise zone," he added.

The zone was announced in April by the government and aims to encourage firms, with a business rate discount and simplified planning rules.

The pods would be similar to those in use at Heathrow Airport, which were designed by a firm from Aztec West near Bristol.

Small system

Officials from the city council have already visited Heathrow on a fact-finding mission.

It is likely that the cost per journey would be between ^2 and ^3.

"It obviously wouldn't be a very large system, it would be quite a small system but we think the option is very good and we have been talking with one provider and looking at it as a possibility," Mr Kent added.

Mr Kent said the system would link up with nearby Temple Meads railway station and could eventually run to Cabot Circus shopping centre.

He said the scheme would not be cheap to build.

"You could be looking at anywhere between ^30m and ^40m to build such a scheme in reality," he added.

Other options being considered include making the zone either cycle or pedestrian only, increasing the number of car parking spaces or using the nearby harbourside and River Avon.

Mr Kent said investigations into travel schemes were at an early stage and further work would be taking place over the coming months.

The council said 11 new business had moved into the enterprise since it opened in April, creating 306 jobs.
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TonyK
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« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2012, 11:53:47 »

I cannot see this as anything other than an attempt to distract attention away from the Bus Rabid Transit scheme, and in particular the stupid ^49 million BRT2 route. Knowing Bristol City Council's record, they will start with what is in service at Heathrow, and "value engineer" it down to a fairground ride. Then forget about it, and paint another bus lane.
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grahame
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« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2012, 12:09:22 »

Some random thoughts and figures:
* You're looking at around 10,000 journeys per day, every day for 4 or 5 years, to cover the construction costs before you start looking at operating costs at all
* Looking at the latest figures to Temple Meads, there's a daily average of around 23,000 journeys made to and from the station each day. 
* People arrive by rail at Bristol Temple Meads in large groups (called "trainloads") - usually hundreds at a time, between which there are large gaps, and I wonder what the capacity of a pod system is to uplift such groups in a time that they'll accept, rather than wanting to queue;  of course, the BRI» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) barriers and queues for excess tickets already help spread out the tidal wave of passengers that hits platform 3 via the subway when a London train arrives.
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TonyK
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« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2012, 12:20:52 »

I've had another thought. That conveyor belt that collapsed  on Crossrail duty recently - could it be repaired?
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bobm
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« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2012, 13:16:50 »

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"It obviously wouldn't be a very large system, it would be quite a small system ....."

Very insightful....  Grin
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TonyK
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« Reply #5 on: October 01, 2012, 13:44:48 »

Quote
"It obviously wouldn't be a very large system, it would be quite a small system ....."

Very insightful....  Grin

More like inciteful...
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bobm
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« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2012, 14:00:17 »

http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/insightful?q=insightful

http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/inciteful?q=inciteful
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TonyK
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« Reply #7 on: October 01, 2012, 14:26:48 »


"adjective
(of words, actions, sedition, violence, revolution, etc.) offering incitement."
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JayMac
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« Reply #8 on: October 01, 2012, 14:37:51 »

Looks like something of a pedant's revolt going on at the moment.

What one of you is called Tyler?
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« Reply #9 on: October 01, 2012, 16:09:31 »

Steady on chaps, otherwise we'll have to invoke the spirit of the Magma Carter.... Huh
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TonyK
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« Reply #10 on: October 01, 2012, 16:27:23 »

Steady on chaps, otherwise we'll have to invoke the spirit of the Magma Carter.... Huh

You leave my grandma out of this.
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chuffed
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« Reply #11 on: October 01, 2012, 17:46:57 »

 Grin Grin Grin
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