Turin VAL system opens

[dario]

This picture from www.ferrovie.it does better justice to see the track and the bogie with the horizontal steering wheels.
FN2218101.jpg

[Trev]

Thanks for your answer Dario.

Like you say, it's not a train, but I still think it looks pretty good. I would love to see systems such as this across the UK. God knows why we ever got rid of trams and trolleybuses.

[Albula]

Originally Posted by Trev

Thanks for your answer Dario.

Like you say, it's not a train, but I still think it looks pretty good. I would love to see systems such as this across the UK. God knows why we ever got rid of trams and trolleybuses.

We got rid of them because the car was going to bring us new found freedom!
Having spent Saturday advoiding the M11 closures adding an extra hours journey to get home from London I wish that our country would look at the long term instead of short term solutions.

[Trev]

Originally Posted by Albula

We got rid of them because the car was going to bring us new found freedom!
Having spent Saturday advoiding the M11 closures adding an extra hours journey to get home from London I wish that our country would look at the long term instead of short term solutions.

That's politics for you Albula!

[dario]

Our politicians also insisted and acted successfully against railways and tramways. Now they look for the "iron cure".

[dario]

Turin VAL system has counted its first million passenger on Sunday 19th March, just after seven weeks since opening, stabilizing on 24,000 pax/d.

[DSY011]

Dario
That's one heck of a lot of cars that are not on the roads. As Albula said "I wish that our country would look at the long term instead of short term solutions". Today Bristol came to a stand still again for the 3rd time this week as the city became grid locked. Not only do we have the country's longest contraflow on the M5 (9 miles @ 40 and 50 mph) but the M32 and the M4 around Bristol has road works with 50 mph limits. Topping this all off, the shopping centre of Bristol is one big building site with what was 4 lanes of traffic from the M32 now down to 1 lane.
Please Please Please can we have a VAL system in Bristol
Syd

[dario]

Syd,
I just looked at Bristol using Google Earth.
Quite a beautiful City.
As usual, it is difficult to "track" the railway lines where they really are.
I see you have a X-shape railway network.
Perhaps it needs integration with a "ring" underground.
This is the "iron cure" I would suggest for this City.
Unfortunately I only am a visionary train lover, and cannot influence any decision maker.
Nevertheless, I keep at it.
I hope to ear again from you.
Good bye from Dario

[dario]

On Monday 3rd April, preliminary work has started on the VAL underground South-extension, approx. 2.5 miles.
Tunnel Boring Machines will get into action by the end of this year.
The work is to be finished in 3 years time.
This remains to be seen to be believed.

[dario]

Sunday 14 May will see the first Turin VAL open day with guided visits to the Traffic Control Room, the Depot, the Workshop, and the Test Track, from 9,30 am to 5,30 pm.