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[Varche]

Our nearest city, the lovely Granada is busy installing what looks like it will be a superb tram system. We shall certainly be tempted to use it in the future as the joy of driving in the city has gone in the lst five years.

Bit here in English about Spanish tram systems including Granadas.http://www.spanishrailwaysnews.com/noticias.asp?not=54&cs=oper

Anyway. It got me thinking. Just what do trams offer that a well run bus service doesn't?  Both clutter the streets up, reduce the space for driving cars. Both carry passengers on set routes. There must be something for the absolutely enormous installation cost. If they are cheaper to run- just how many years is it before you get the £400M capital back?

[Kevin Wood]

I guess the yoghurt knitters will claim less pollution. Well, more accurately, less local pollution, of course.

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I guess the yoghurt knitters will claim less pollution. Well, more accurately, less local pollution, of course.

As I understand that is one of the prime arguments for trams.

The other is that they travel on dedicated pathways and (apparently!) can travel faster through otherwise congested areas.  I would love though those with modern experience of trams to comment on that, especially those from Croydon, Manchester, and anywhere else that has them

[Rods2]

Trams are meant to be much more energy efficient, can carry more people in a single unit with a single driver, so are cheaper to operate, but you need a big city for these advantages, for smaller cities Trolly buses are meant to be a good compromise. Bigger than buses and more energy efficient and those fitted with batteries can steer around obstacles, broken down vehicles, accidents, road works etc, which trams can't do.

If you have extensive nuclear power or the terrain for many hydro-electric plants then you do reduce airborne pollution.