[sclug] OT: convert rail tracks to tarmac for private coach network which saves billions and provides a better service!

[Tom Carbert-Allen]

Matt Dainty wrote:
> * Tom Carbert-Allen <tom at randominter.net> [2009-09-10 10:33:45]:
>   
>> I like your analogy but your argument miss's one important difference 
>> between tracks and rubber wheels. They can drive around each other. So 
>> if one service is delayed or breaks down, the rest just drive around it. 
>> So a rubber wheel system has less chance of an incident causing systemic 
>> problems.
>>     
>
> You've clearly never been on the M25.
>
> Matt
>   

I have and have driven past many many vehicles in the hard shoulder who 
have broken down and did not inconvenience my journey in the slightest, 
try that on a train track. I have also over taken thousand and thousands 
of slow goods vehicles without issue, also not possible on tracks.

I know the M25 often gets slow, but that is caused by reaching it's 
capacity. All systems suffer from this, you can predictably do the speed 
limit for your whole journey until the traffic level goes over 75% of 
the capacity. The difference here is the capacity of a single lane of 
tarmac is about 20 times that of rail, for both passengers and ton's of 
freight. Increasing the over all transport capacity of the country for 
such a small cost would reduce congestion on all forms of transport much 
better than any other transport improvement program.