see also: https://bathtrams.uk/7th-tranche-of-letters-in-bath-chronicle/
Letter from Dave Andrews
Dear Sirs,
Dear Sir,
I refer to the recent letter ‘Tackle services then lay the tram tracks’ submitted by John R T Carson. It is true that traditional track solutions for urban tram routes in the UK have incurred significant costs in the relocation of utility equipment – the utility companies do expect to be able to access their equipment to effect repairs and tram tracks are generally laid on significant foundations of concrete. Interestingly it is not the trams that require such robust track – road traffic, in particular buses and heavy goods vehicles present the heaviest axle loads that the track must withstand.
Coventry City Council in partnership with the University of Warwick and Transport for West Midlands is leading a project to develop a very light rail urban tram solution which will feature a modular track solution that can be rapidly moved to allow utility access for repairs. We are working closely with various utilities to gain their support for this new approach.
Kind regards,
Nick
Dr Nick Mallinson
Programme Manager
WMG centre HVM Catapult
IARC Building
University of Warwick
Coventry, CV4 7AL
Phone: + 44 (0) 2476572696
Mobile: +44 (0) 7876218112
Email: nick.mallinson@warwick.ac.uk
Letter from David Holt
Manchester