[Proposal] Greater Cambridge Light Rail

[gsc777]

I came across the proposals for a Cambridge Light Rail network recently, and was inspired by it to create my own, based on my own perceptions having now lived here for a few years. Necessary disclaimers include:

• I do not know every last town in the Greater Cambridge area, so please forgive me if one town or another has been left hard done by this speculative map.
• Please forgive the limitations of the software I used to make the map, as I am no graphic designer!
• I know that there is no money for this in our current economic climate, so discussions of ways to make this cheaper or more feasible are great but just saying "this could never happen" is unproductive.

With that being said, please enjoy, comment, and critique! The idea for me is a 3tph service on each line (with the Burwell branch running a 2tph to Grantchester, 1tph to Cambridge service to provide Trumpington with a 2tph direct connection to Addenbrookes) and a 2tph night service operating on the Balsham (grey), Bodichon (purple), and Tudor (yellow) lines. Let me know what you think!

 

[Magdalia]

just saying "this could never happen" is unproductive

It may be unproductive, but it is realistic. Most of it will never happen.

As you like drawing lines on maps I suggest that you start with making the map show the following:

• draw in the existing heavy railways in the right place
• draw in the river
• draw in the guided busway
• draw in the M11 and the A14

That will help you to see how many new bridges you need to build. One of the key features constraining movement around Cambridge is that these are all barriers with only a few places to cross (except by cycle).

Bear in mind that nearly all of Cambridge's roads are single carriageway and don't have space for light rail. In most of the city you won't be able to lay tracks in the streets.