A more realistic solution?

Chirimoya · #1 10-19-2005, 05:03 PM

This is not completely new information, but it's in today's news and we haven't discussed it here:

Quote:

Light railway for Santo Domingo
The head of the Office of Transport Reorganization (OTR), Diandino Pena, announced yesterday that the preparatory work being carried out on the Maximo Gomez Avenue and the Francisco J. Peynado bridge that links Santo Domingo with Villa Mella are related to the installation of a light train system that will be begun in January, 2006. Pena told reporters from Listin Diario that the municipal council had approved the project and that their suggestions for some changes would result in a better infrastructure. Meanwhile, the mayor of Santo Domingo North, Daniel Carvajal Lois, said that his council members would be meeting with OTR technical staff today. According to the liaison for the Santo Domingo North municipal council, Margarito de Leon, the only information the council members have received is the starting point for the train, the fact that it will be built as an elevated train and the fact that it will use a special bridge, parallel to the Peynado bridge, to cross the river.

What's the verdict? Is this a more realistic, cost-effective way of tackling the city's transport problem than the much-derided Metro idea?
It sounds good in theory, but I wonder what will need to be done to placate the powerful transport unions.

Mirador · #2 10-19-2005, 09:39 PM

They're hiding the project details, but the word is out that the project is not a train but an electric tram, trolley cars on rails. They've already purchased the trolley cars, Pulman Standard, made in the 1930s.

Keith R · #3 10-19-2005, 09:57 PM

Mirador, is that a joke or for real? An electric tram in a city with inconsistent/unreliable power supply?

Rick Snyder · #4 10-19-2005, 11:19 PM

Sounds like a typical Dominican mentality project to me if they plan on using electricity as the power source. But regardless of what they come up with there will be, as Chirimoya said, a need to placate (corruption)the transportation unions.

2dlight · #5 10-20-2005, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirador

They're hiding the project details, but the word is out that the project is not a train but an electric tram, trolley cars on rails. They've already purchased the trolley cars, Pulman Standard, made in the 1930s.

the consummate prankster!

windeguy · #6 10-20-2005, 09:04 AM

The humor in the concept of having electric trains in the DR is not lost upon me. Also, would not the Metro be an electric train as well? Imagine the fun of being in a pitch black tunnel for 8 to 12 hours until the power comes back on. I am sure they thought about this in their design for a back-up power system.

This is all going to be a lot of fun to watch. Especially the new island off the Malecon.

Escott · #7 10-20-2005, 09:23 AM

And some people Say that LEONEL is a good guy and we should re-elect him...

Don Juan · #8 10-20-2005, 03:26 PM

If our wild and crazy government is bent on some kind of rail transport, won't it make more sense to build it around the more densely populated areas of our capital? Why not a closed loop that starts/ends at La puerta del Conde that runs west on 27 de febrero then north on Lincoln ave then east on JFK ave. back to el Conde. It would serve more people which means more revenue. Plus it may even become a tourist attraction. Those San Francisco-type cable cars would sure look pretty!

NALs · #9 10-20-2005, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith R

Mirador, is that a joke or for real? An electric tram in a city with inconsistent/unreliable power supply?

Have you ever wonder why Puerto Plata has an electric cable car going up and down Pico Isabel de Torres?

For a place that has unreliable power supply, that would be an oddity, but yet, its real and it works!

-NAL

canadian bob · #10 10-20-2005, 04:31 PM

Trams on rails, pulled by horses would solve the problem and would certainly be a tourist attraction! Canadian Bob.