What positive benefits would the re-establishment of a railway bring?

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 15:09

I have often wondered if it would be technologically possible to re-establish the railway as a passenger carrying facility.

It can be argued that there is an economical benefit in such an infrastructure enhancement.

Anyone care to make a serious comment?

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 15:16

From a historical point of view, haven't trains gone gradually out of favour as more people could afford cars? I imagine that during the height of Cyprus' railways, very few people had cars. The great thing about cars is that are door-to-door. If you need to drive to the station, you might as well drive to the destination?

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 15:22

I agree with TRNCVaughan..given the amount of cars on the island I don't think a Railway would be a viable Project......Also, since the Island is divided,the distances from place to place don't warrant such a transport link ...

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 15:25

Msg.1 A good point in general but if one considers the potential utility in terms of tourism then it may be possible to benefit from a "light" railway system. Potentially it would provide income to towns/villages along the way.

However, I can see issues over where the tourists are mostly based and the available and easier terrain for track laying.

It appears that Famagusta to Nicosia may be a practical (initial) route - for tourists based in Famagusta.



There have been times when people ask what there is to do for children apart from going to the beach and it may be that such a light railway would add to that - short - list of things that would be interesting for them.

Geoff


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 1370

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 15:26

It could be done as most of the old track bed is still there. As a railway buff I would love to see it.

However, I doubt it's viability.

Geoff

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 15:31

A pipe-dream would be a UN initiative to improve employment prospects for some of the growing population. In theory it would be difficult to define a significant set of reasons why a small-scale project wouldn't be viable.

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 15:33

It would be useful to explore the reasons why it would seem not to be viable.

Tangerineman


Joined: 08/03/2010
Posts: 318

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 15:35

If it took as long to lay as the new tram-line on the Fylde Coast you'd be along time waiting for it anyway

Where are the railway lines?

I have always assumed Cyprus never had a railway network

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 15:40

Msg.8 There is a discussion on the old railway at http://www.cyprus44.com/forums/60252.asp

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 16:19

msg6 Another pipe dream would be to restrict the number of employees per job ,in order to make most things here in TRNC both profitable hence viable... Ten men doing one man's job can never be profitable If things stay as the are I can envisage a" NEW" Railway swamped with Employees and 5 passengers..

CJtill


Joined: 02/05/2008
Posts: 836

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 16:23

Over staffed and subsidised by the Government to the tune of xxxx, and when things start to go off the rails, the employees will no doubt ask the Government for help\go on strike.

A non starter.

Michael

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 16:38

Blimey! it didn't take long before the thread went off the rails either



It may be worth referring back to the title of the thread.

Brinsley


Joined: 04/04/2009
Posts: 6858

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 16:43

Electric trains are not viable as supply is intermittent, diesel too expensive but the old chuff-chuff, buying in old rolling-stock from India would be marvelous. Work for the TC's and lots of train spotting tourists!



Richard

annie


Joined: 30/05/2007
Posts: 208

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 16:49

I have often wondered why there is so many staff in some establishments to make it profitable, on the other hand it costs the UK goverment a fortune to pay people to sit in there own homes doing nothing and unfortunately this can become a habit especially for the young who have never known the benefits of being part of the work force so who is right I wonder.



As for the railway as someone who relys on public transport I would definately use the train to get about.

If the buses are anything to go by it would be used by the locals my bus is always full throughout the day.



Annie

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 16:56

Msg. 13: Indeed. The steam aspect would then instantly provide a historical link - and bring alive some of the historical walks people take part in. Those are all positive things. Start small and see what happens!

Another positive pipe-dream is a track that links Guzelyurt to Famagusta - what a day trip that would be!

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 17:05

Msg14. If the demand is really there from the non tourist market then it would probably need to be more than a "choo-choo train" but even so, there can still be an argument for a light railway supported by such a demand.

philbailey


Joined: 17/01/2011
Posts: 3534

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 17:07

Did I not read that trams were starting ?

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 17:16

Forgive me Brother,,you keep talking about a train service supported by Tourists... Tourism is dead or dying ,so where will the support for a railway come from?

CJtill


Joined: 02/05/2008
Posts: 836

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 18:06

Sorry I was guilty of going of going off track as per msg12.

To the question What possible benefits would the etc etc.

Answer.....None, that would not be outweighed by the drawbacks.

Michael

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 18:26

Msg.18: It is quite a step-change in the way governments think about encouraging an economy. A positive benefit could be an increase in tourism.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 20:12

It'll create employment. Station Guards. Porters. Train Drivers. Signalmen. Railway Police.

martinD41


Joined: 06/09/2010
Posts: 3001

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 20:39

msg20.....Your optimism is quite astounding ..Me, I'm a good old usually right pessimist....

DoctorW


Joined: 28/11/2010
Posts: 334

Message Posted:
07/04/2011 21:43

I too would like to see a railway in TRNC, however this is unlikely ever to happen. Roads have been built along a lot of the old railway routes and offer a much quicker and cheaper method of travel. The infrastructure would cost billions of £, Lira or Euro. Buying land for the project would be fraught with difficulties and getting the title deeds would be even more difficult.



True, it would be a tourist attraction, but not enough to get tourists to come here just for the railway. So would we just have the tourists who are coming here anyway. Another problem is that most tourist railways run on nostalgia and volunteers. There would appear to be little nostalgia for the railway here, so volunteers would be difficult to find. It is certainly not a project that would interest any venture capitalists and I dont think Turkey would see any advantage to invest in the project. I think it will always remain a pleasant dream for us railway enthusiasts.

CJtill


Joined: 02/05/2008
Posts: 836

Message Posted:
08/04/2011 09:09

If people are that keen on travelling by train then there is always the Oscar version, which in itself is a tourist attraction.

Michael

brother



Joined: 29/01/2010
Posts: 446

Message Posted:
08/04/2011 17:38

Thanks to all of you for taking the time to participate in this discussion.