"Edinburgh's tram system opens – £375m over budget and three years late"

But now we've got these... we get to keep a "City Status" in the eyes of Europe.

[lesmore49]

I find your picture and text....oddly comforting.

Mass public transportation proposals in my city in North America are excessively expensive also.

[Kerrowdown]

I find your picture and text....oddly comforting.

The problem plagued tram system opened to paying customers last Saturday, three years behind schedule, more than twice over budget and limited to a route that covers less than half the network that had originally been planned for it. IMHO the money (some expected total cost of £1,000,000,000) could have been far better spent elsewhere.

[lesmore49]

The problem plagued tram system opened to paying customers last Saturday, three years behind schedule, more than twice over budget and limited to a route that covers less than half the network that had originally been planned for it. IMHO the money (some expected total cost of £1,000,000,000) could have been far better spent elsewhere.

A similar situation here. Roads and infrastructure are crumbling, current public transportation runs under capacity and yet grand ideas evolve into bloated, uber expensive systems that few use....but come about due to aggressive pressure groups that do not represent average citizenry.

[Kerrowdown]

but come about due to aggressive pressure groups that do not represent average citizenry.

Not a Scot in charge by any chance?

So we're not alone in this kind of perverse behaviour then.

[wtlwdwgn]

Even with all the expense it's still better than diesel spewing buses clogging downtown streets.

[Kerrowdown]

it's still better than diesel spewing buses clogging downtown streets

I would agree but they had already changed over many of the buses to Hybrid/Electric or Gas powered.

[lesmore49]

Not a Scot in charge by any chance? No, no Scot in charge. There used to be and things went well. He was an engineer, but then the politicians took over with predictable results.

So we're not alone in this kind of perverse behaviour then.

I'm afraid it's a world wide thing now.

---------- Post added 06-05-14 at 10:37 AM ----------

Even with all the expense it's still better than diesel spewing buses clogging downtown streets.

You might be surprised how well a modern diesel does with emissions. There have been great strides in reducing emissions in the past decade. A diesel engine spewing contaminants is a sign of old engines with old technology. It's not the case with modern engines.

[Kerrowdown]

I'm afraid it's a world wide thing now

Perhaps they ought to leave to us Pentaxians to sort it, cos the forum runs like clockwork.

[Photogoof]

"Edinburgh's tram system opens – £375m over budget and three years late"

But now we've got these... we get to keep a "City Status" in the eyes of Europe.

Nice reflection!

[Kerrowdown]

Nice reflection!

This has been quite a successful image for me, it reflected both the new and the old, in a single image of Edinburgh.