ESRI advocates Bus based alternatives to rail investment

Ronald Binge · 24-10-2006, 14:19

From the Irish Times today:

Quote:

Bus based alternatives are available in all cases, and will often offer higher frequency than train-based schemes for the same overall volume, better ability to penetrate target markets, as well as lower capital and operating costs

It's like DART, Suburban Rail and Luas never happened...

Oisin88 · 24-10-2006, 17:12

Am I allowed use the word "****e" here?

Do these people forget what happened last century when they turned the existing railways and tramways into buses?

Mark · 24-10-2006, 18:36

Do they realise that we NEED all the investment because we are actually playing catch up infrastructure wise now? Did they spend the last 20 years silent while we didnt invest anything?

Dave · 24-10-2006, 19:28

Can anyone tell me why economists fail to see the non monetary benefits of rail based public transport? Is there a module in Irish universities for economics students that teaches them "buses good, trains bad."

Mark Gleeson · 24-10-2006, 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave

Is there a module in Irish universities for economics students that teaches them "buses good, trains bad."

Sean Barrett lectures it only to commute by rail himself

Oisin88 · 24-10-2006, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Gleeson

Sean Barrett lectures it only to commute by rail himself

He must want to keep the train all for himself.

I'd like to know his exact thoughts on a morning which he has to take the bus in.

houstyl · 24-10-2006, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave

Can anyone tell me why economists fail to see the non monetary benefits of rail based public transport? Is there a module in Irish universities for economics students that teaches them "buses good, trains bad."

To be fair to Barrett (as an ex-student of his) he does acknowledge the non-monetary benefits of railways, he just doesn't see them outweighing the monetary costs by and large in an Irish context, which I wouldn't be inclined to agree with mind. The lack of decent CBA in the Irish transport context doesn't help with dispelling this notion

Derek Wheeler · 25-10-2006, 00:09

Look at it this way.

If we built dedicated busways as opposed to Luas and invested the balance in fast forwarding the much needed improvements to the existing rail system, would we be better off?

In all fairness, the red and green lines could operate just as effectively with a dedicated busway considering the advancements in "bus" technology.

To play devils advocate some more, whats wrong with considering tunnel technology for dedicated busways aswell?

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24-10-2006, 17:12	#2
Oisin88 Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dublin Posts: 608	Am I allowed use the word "****e" here? Do these people forget what happened last century when they turned the existing railways and tramways into buses?

24-10-2006, 18:36	#3
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Northern line Posts: 1,311	Do they realise that we NEED all the investment because we are actually playing catch up infrastructure wise now? Did they spend the last 20 years silent while we didnt invest anything?

24-10-2006, 19:28	#4
Dave Regular Poster Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 141	Can anyone tell me why economists fail to see the non monetary benefits of rail based public transport? Is there a module in Irish universities for economics students that teaches them "buses good, trains bad."

25-10-2006, 00:09	#8
Derek Wheeler Registered user Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Kildare Posts: 1,555	Look at it this way. If we built dedicated busways as opposed to Luas and invested the balance in fast forwarding the much needed improvements to the existing rail system, would we be better off? In all fairness, the red and green lines could operate just as effectively with a dedicated busway considering the advancements in "bus" technology. To play devils advocate some more, whats wrong with considering tunnel technology for dedicated busways aswell?