West End tram tracks

[ozbob]

This photograph forwarded by a kind correspondent.  Thanks.

Comment: 'Old tram lines unearthed by Newman's diggers at the new bus roundabout/terminus at the West End CityCat; ancient intelligence.'

10th January 2011

[#Metro]

Looks like they are in good condition.

[colinw]

Don't dig 'em up, use them!!!! 

[SteelPan]

Don't dig 'em up, use them!!!!  

You know, how often do you hear govt officials quote horrendous figures for re-introducing trams, cogh cough, sorry, "Light Rail" to Brisbane, the figures now run easily to $1B+.  I always think, why don't they just go down to the basement of City Hall (or wherever) where a tonne of material must be from the days when "non-sophisticated" Brisbane ran an extensive "Light Rail" system?  A system which started every day earlier than most buses run now and ran to at least midnight to even the quietest suburbs!

But no-way, "the sophisticated" managers will spend millions on countless new studies and reports alone.  They do seem to totally forget their grandfathers ran a mighty fine tram network all those years ago!  

[#Metro]

It is because it is priced to high heaven. The old system was non-fancy and ran in mixed traffic like a bus does. But newer schemes add the cost of street beautification (widening, park benches, landscaping, lighting) and have reserved alignment (moving services, digging up roads) which just blows the cost out of all proportion.