Trams - 30 Further Month Delay - WTF?
Discussion
Holyrood #2 anyone: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_...
Part of my work involves dealing with the local authority of Edinburgh and they are imploding while trying to save £92 million.
With the other hand they are throwing over £500 million at a tram line to bring tourists in to Princes Street from the Airport and the Liner Berths down at the shore!
Another example of how politicians shouldn't run business!
With the other hand they are throwing over £500 million at a tram line to bring tourists in to Princes Street from the Airport and the Liner Berths down at the shore!
Another example of how politicians shouldn't run business!
ALY77 said:
I spoke with a couple that were working for TIE, had been involved in the other UK city projects where trams had been put in and they had no idea why Edinburgh had taken the project on as there was no serious public transport problems that the trams would solve!
Revenge for 'fecking them off' over the congestion charge! 
s!jshell said:
ALY77 said:
I spoke with a couple that were working for TIE, had been involved in the other UK city projects where trams had been put in and they had no idea why Edinburgh had taken the project on as there was no serious public transport problems that the trams would solve!
Revenge for 'fecking them off' over the congestion charge! s!You need to spend less time on CTF btw.
LHD said:
jshell said:
ALY77 said:
I spoke with a couple that were working for TIE, had been involved in the other UK city projects where trams had been put in and they had no idea why Edinburgh had taken the project on as there was no serious public transport problems that the trams would solve!
Revenge for 'fecking them off' over the congestion charge! s!You need to spend less time on CTF btw.
jshell said:
Friend of mine 'in the know' reckons about £1.3billion total by end of project in current form, and it'll never pay for itself - just like most other European cities!
IIRC the original figure was £560m for 3 tram lines.I reckoned it would always be at least £1bn, but if it ends up as £1.3bn for one stunted line then the death penalty should be brought back for councillors.
Size Nine Elm said:
jshell said:
Friend of mine 'in the know' reckons about £1.3billion total by end of project in current form, and it'll never pay for itself - just like most other European cities!
IIRC the original figure was £560m for 3 tram lines.I reckoned it would always be at least £1bn, but if it ends up as £1.3bn for one stunted line then the death penalty should be brought back for councillors.
Great!
jshell said:
When they first approached the banks for finance, they were asked if they'd 'peer-reviewed' against other European networks. They all sat looking sheepishly at their shoes. The bank had 'P-Rd' and said the costs were way off, coupled with each and almost every European system being a loss-maker.
Great!
And (if it ever happens) the Waverley line renewal will be the same. I reckon they would need 1000 people a day paying about £40 return to ever make it worth while.Great!
Or - they could improve the A7, and make the park-and-rides around Edinburgh actually work. Newcraighall is great - except it only runs every 1/2 hour. Make it 10 mins and its a winner. Except they've screwed up the Calton Hill tunnels so they can't get enough trains in and out of Waverley, and it would then interfere with the ECML.
Incompetence? Who'd have thunk it.
Is there an active "Scrap the Trams" campaign?
If not, why not?
Bilfinger Berger seem to be in breach of contract - and if they're not whoever negotiated the deal needs surcharged - so could probably be stiffed for at least some of the costs so far...
This is the only faintly amusing thing about the whole fiasco.
If not, why not?
Bilfinger Berger seem to be in breach of contract - and if they're not whoever negotiated the deal needs surcharged - so could probably be stiffed for at least some of the costs so far...
This is the only faintly amusing thing about the whole fiasco.
Walked along Princes Street yesterday, and was surprised (well maybe disappointed more than surprised) to see that the road surface along the edges of the rails is already breaking up.
Now that was only finished just before Christmas IIRC, and there's been no trams and no traffic on them since, so not exactly a long-term job there, eh?
No doubt another dispute between tie and contractor:
"You need to rectify that"
"No, it's wear and tear guv" (Or however you say that in German)
"No you built it wrong"
"It was fine when we left it. Wear and tear - council maintenance that is"
Now that was only finished just before Christmas IIRC, and there's been no trams and no traffic on them since, so not exactly a long-term job there, eh?
No doubt another dispute between tie and contractor:
"You need to rectify that"
"No, it's wear and tear guv" (Or however you say that in German)
"No you built it wrong"
"It was fine when we left it. Wear and tear - council maintenance that is"
tvrgit said:
Walked along Princes Street yesterday, and was surprised (well maybe disappointed more than surprised) to see that the road surface along the edges of the rails is already breaking up.
Now that was only finished just before Christmas IIRC, and there's been no trams and no traffic on them since, so not exactly a long-term job there, eh?
No doubt another dispute between tie and contractor:
"You need to rectify that"
"No, it's wear and tear guv" (Or however you say that in German)
"No you built it wrong"
"It was fine when we left it. Wear and tear - council maintenance that is"
Un-fecking-believable!Now that was only finished just before Christmas IIRC, and there's been no trams and no traffic on them since, so not exactly a long-term job there, eh?
No doubt another dispute between tie and contractor:
"You need to rectify that"
"No, it's wear and tear guv" (Or however you say that in German)
"No you built it wrong"
"It was fine when we left it. Wear and tear - council maintenance that is"
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