Speed

[Donald Galt]

On 15 Oct 99, at 14:38, Jim Holland wrote:

> And after these discussion it would seem 
> more logical to put the line in a subway all the way - except the prw in 
> Beechview to SHJ.  Or if not in a subway, at least a depressed right of 
> way that would allow for viaducts over the tracks.

I have to confess to having been torn from my "trams-before-
subways-no-matter-what" attitude after riding Pittsburgh's T last 
spring. The railfan in me loves the remnants of old PRCo still 
evident, and the backyard running, and on and on. But I got to 
wondering whether the sedate speeds might not eventually drive 
me crazy on a twice daily trip between Washington Junction and 
the Triangle.

Some of the same thoughts arise from comparing the Calgary and 
Edmonton LR downtown routes.

Seattle seems bent upon the Pittsburgh solution (assuming we 
ever get anything at all!) and I am more and more convinced that 
this is an ill-conceived oil-and-water mix of neighborhood and long 
distance transport needs. And we don't even have the excuse of a 
pre-existing right of way.

D2