Re: The HOFT

[Rob & Tami Howard <warry@tassie.net.au>]

peter berrett wrote:

<snip>

> The only solution is a low cost short distance feeder service for
> trains. Ie we need some way to shift people from near their homes to
> their nearest rail station at minimal cost, safely and quickly.
>
> It seems to me that this might be achieved by a new hybrid lift
> service.
> People are accustomed to travelling anything up to half a kilometre in
> a
> vertical direction using a lift, surely it would not be too difficult
> to
> devise a 2 kilometre long lift that travels in a horizontal direction?
>
> Just as people have lift wells for each floor so each stop along the 1
>
> kilometre long route would have a lift well style door which would be
> closed until the automated horizontal lift (or as i choose to call it
> -
> the HOFT) arrived. Controls would be exactly the same as for existing
> lifts. Advantages for patrons would be as follows;
>

A good Idea but let me play Devils Advocate for a moment.

> 1. If no-one wants to use the service then it just sits idle thus not
> needlessly consuming energy like trains that have to provide a service
>
> even if there are no customers.

Where would it be stored and what sort of security against vandalism
would be provided.  Not even the supposedly Vandal proof Tangara is safe
from attack.

>
>
> 2. Due to short distance travelled and the fact that most passengers
> travel in one direction only during peak periods, the service would be
>
> frequent and fast.
>
> 3. As no labor is required costs are reduced.

What about servicing and breakdowns?  I admit that this would be a
comparatively minimal cost compared to maintenance of buses but still
should figure.  As an aside what would happen to the HOFT service while
one of the cars was being serviced?

>
>
> 4. Service is free as increased patronage of trains funds service.

Is that economically justifiable?  For example many people catch a bus
to get in to the main shopping centers and never go near the rail
interchange after getting off their bus.  If the HOFT service were to
operate according to you goals, then many people would make use of it to
get into the business district of town rather than catch the bus (a safe
free ride is always better than having to pay for one).

>
>
> 5. The HOFT does not need a large right of way and can easily do sharp
>
> turns.
>

What about patron safety?  Should the HOFT breakdown how would the
patrons fare?  These are things the I feel need to be addressed.

All in all if a good efficient means of transporting people can be
discovered the it should be looked at.