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Flexible routes = unpredictable. Flexible capacity = attempts at over optimization = not trusting that capacity will be there = unpredictable. Shared infrastr
by unethical_ban 3y ago
Flexible routes = unpredictable.
Flexible capacity = attempts at over optimization = not trusting that capacity will be there = unpredictable.
Shared infrastructure with roads and following road laws = all the inconvenience of traffic jams.
Flexible routes may be nice on a multi-year timetable but still runs into the jam issues above.
So if we are going to build dedicated lanes with special signal crossings and high capacity to encourage a large population to use it, let's make it as efficient as possible - a rail track is much more efficient than tires, and electricity is better than directly burning fuel, and delivering electricity through rail is better than battery.
- Robotbeat 3y agoBus rapid transit exists, is much cheaper than rail, solves nearly all these problems while making the infrastructure far cheaper (due to ability to climb grade, etc). They’re often lighter than trains, they can be much more granular (so you don’t need an entire train at low rider volumes), so the efficiency can be closer to a wash than people would like. Especially with trolley buses or battery electric buses (or BEST, the combination ones).
- dwallin 3y agoIt’s not an either/or situation. You have a bunch of tools with pros and cons and you have to use the proper tool where each one is most appropriate. The best transportation systems are a blend of transportation types. Use rail where the benefits are worth the cost and buses where they are not. There also many incremental options in between.