[sustran] Re: selection of Transport Strategies

[Jonathan E. D. Richmond]

On Mon, 14 Jun 2004, Eric Bruun wrote:

> Andi
>
> I also want to point out that the UK is just one place. There are other
> countries in Europe, as well as numerous cities in the US and Canada, where
> policy makers and citizens feel otherwise.
>
> The UK is a special case. First, it requires the use of private money,
> so-called Private Finance Initiatives, and the investors bear a risk of any
> revenue shortfall.

If you read Bent Flybjerg's "Megaprojects and Risk," you'll see that that
is a good thing!


 The Croydon Tramlink investors suffered when revenues
> where lower than forecast.

Revenues are almost always lower than forecast!


 Riders used regional fare instruments, as fares
> are controlled by Transport for London, not themselves. Other investors saw
> what happened. Thus, they put a risk premium in their plans so the
> construction costs have ballooned in the last few years.

That is helpful as it makes it less likely that unworthy projects will
come to fruition.

 Furthermore,
> outside of London, the Office of Trading Practices (or some title similar to
> that), won't permit plans that involve removal of parallel bus routes and
> development of  new trunk/branch networks that redeploy the bus hours
> elsewhere, arguing that the rail investors are trying to get rid of their
> competition. This is viewed as a very primitive and ideological stance
> anywhere else in Europe or in North America.
>

Not necessarily. Bus lines provide a different service type, with more
frequent stops and serving more locations. Often, removing parallel buses
would mean a real loss in service. In and around Croydon, buses serve a
variety of housing areas and shopping facilities not directly on the rail
system. It is very interesting to see what is happening with new light
rail developments in Singapore. Initially, competing bus services were
discontinued. There have been such protests, however, that many of them
are being restored.

                                 --Jonathan


> Eric
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Alan P Howes" <alan at ourpeagreenboat.co.uk>
> To: "Andi Rahmah" <andi_rahmah at pelangi.or.id>
> Cc: "Asia and the Pacific sustainable transport"
> <sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org>
> Sent: Sunday, June 13, 2004 4:29 AM
> Subject: [sustran] Re: (fwd) [UTSG] transport strategy transfer
>
>
> Andi -
>
> Just digging around my old emails - did I ever let you have anything
> on this?  I seem to remember it sparking off some good discussion on
> sustran-discuss!
>
> Alan
>
> On Fri, 23 Apr 2004 11:19:27 +0700, Andi Rahmah
> <andi_rahmah at pelangi.or.id> wrote to alan at ourpeagreenboat.co.uk:
>
> >
> >Dear Alan,
> >I'm interesting with your statement about the UK Government  is now
> >restricting funding for new tram/metro schemes because of doubts about
> >the socio-economic returns, and encouraging bus-based alternatives
> >instead. Would you mind to give me detailed information about that?
> >
> >As you know, Jakarta has already have first corridor of busway and have
> >planned to build other 14 corridors. But, recently, The Jakarta city
> >government has signed MoU with National Government to build metro at the
> >first corridor of busway.
> >
> >I thank you for your kindly assistance to me.
> >
> >Best,
> >
> >Rahmah
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: sustran-discuss-bounces+andi_rahmah=pelangi.or.id at list.jca.apc.org
> >[mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+andi_rahmah=pelangi.or.id at list.jca.apc.org]
> >On Behalf Of Alan P Howes
> >Sent: Jumat, 23 April 2004 4:01
> >To: Asia and the Pacific sustainable transport
> >Subject: [sustran] Re: (fwd) [UTSG] transport strategy transfer
> >
> >It's worth noting, Gabby, that in the UK the government
> >
> >A policy that perhaps would benefit from being transferred?
> >
> >(Mind you, there has also been a case of a local council effectively
> >turning down government money to build a busway because they want
> >trains - which there is little realistic hope of their being able to
> >fund. Blame local politics!)
> >
> >Alan
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> Alan P Howes, Perthshire, Scotland
> alan at ourpeagreenboat.co.uk
> http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/alanhowes/  [Needs Updating!]
>
>

-----

Jonathan E. D. Richmond                               02 524-5510 (office)
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