A890: Cars could go on rails to end 140-mile detour

punyXpress · **Posted:** Tue Feb 07, 2012 12:15

J--M--B wrote:

On the BBC News website

Quote:

7 February 2012 Last updated at 04:07

Phased reopening planned for A890 in Wester Ross

A stretch of Highlands road which was shut following a landslide on 22 December could open during hours of daylight from 17 February.

Highland Council said it hoped the A890 in Wester Ross could reopen fully from 17 March.

..............

And " Winter Road Rescue ", Thursday, 9pm on Channel 5 will show how they did it! :wink:

J--M--B · **Posted:** Tue Feb 07, 2012 12:20

Mark Hewitt wrote:

How are these problems solved in tram systems?

There is a series of excellent programmes about Welsh railways available on iPlayer, two tell the story of the Welsh Highland Railway and show the train running down the street in Porthmadog.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0178f9d/episodes/guide

michael769 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 07, 2012 14:29

Mark Hewitt wrote:

How are these problems solved in tram systems?

Trams are much lighter and have shorter stopping distances.

Mark Hewitt · **Posted:** Tue Feb 07, 2012 15:13

michael769 wrote:

Mark Hewitt wrote:

How are these problems solved in tram systems?

Trams are much lighter and have shorter stopping distances.

That's true, however the issue of road vehicles blocking the tracks is no different with trams as it is with heavy rail. I appreciate the likes of moving vehicles and pedestrians can be considered differently with tram systems.

michael769 · **Posted:** Tue Feb 07, 2012 15:54

Mark Hewitt wrote:

That's true, however the issue of road vehicles blocking the tracks is no different with trams as it is with heavy rail.

Indeed. It is an enforcement issue either way.

Helvellyn · **Posted:** Tue Feb 07, 2012 17:09

This is going off-topic but on-topically off-topic (does that makes sense?)

How did the Weymouth tramway work, was the road effectively closed or did it really operate in theory as a tramway, i.e. mixed road and rail so that the road was (in theory) still open and traffic simply giving way?

t1(M) · **Posted:** Tue Feb 07, 2012 23:44

My recollection from the one time I saw it in action (1973) was that the road was open to traffic, but anyone coming the other way would have great difficulty passing.

Mark Hewitt · **Posted:** Wed Feb 08, 2012 09:30

t1(M) wrote:

My recollection from the one time I saw it in action (1973) was that the road was open to traffic, but anyone coming the other way would have great difficulty passing.

If you look at the video posted upthread then there was still traffic passing in the opposite direction while the train was proceeding, very odd looking indeed.

WHBM · **Posted:** Wed Feb 08, 2012 13:27

Helvellyn wrote:

How did the Weymouth tramway work, was the road effectively closed or did it really operate in theory as a tramway, i.e. mixed road and rail so that the road was (in theory) still open and traffic simply giving way?

The tracks are offset to the seaward side, the walking flagman would stop oncoming traffic at the pinch points, like under the harbour bridge. It would be actually quite difficult to overtake the train going at walking pace with the oncoming vehicles all squashed over to the landward side. In practice the quay at Weymouth has very little through traffic, it being more practical to cut through the town, and it functions more as an elongated car park.

I never heard of a vehicle striking the train; if that happened I wonder if it would have to stop and exchange name/address/insurance with the locomotive driver !

J--M--B · **Posted:** Wed Feb 15, 2012 08:44

BBC News

Quote:

14 February 2012 Last updated at 11:19

Delay for partial re-opening of A890 in Wester Ross

The partial re-opening of a stretch of Highland road which was shut following a landslide has been delayed.

.................

nowster · **Posted:** Wed Feb 15, 2012 12:02

I like the photo. Was that sign change official, or done by a random person with a magic marker?

WeirdKerr · **Posted:** Wed Feb 15, 2012 23:10

nowster wrote:

I like the photo. Was that sign change official, or done by a random person with a magic marker?

Haha i like that... much better than my idea

Strome Ferry
(no ferry)(oh yes there is)

but i guess that would only work in panto season... lol

bealach na ba · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2012 20:20

Reopening delayed again:

Highland Council wrote:

TRAC have encountered greater challenges than anticipated and this, combined with adverse weather at the weekend, has resulted in them advising the Council that the revised partial re-opening date of 27 February cannot be met. No new date is being given due to the unpredictability of the works required to make the rockface safe.

Burns · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2012 21:25

Ach well, it looks like I'll be taking the A86 when I go to Skye on Friday.

J--M--B · **Posted:** Thu Mar 01, 2012 18:20

Oooooops

Strome car ferry ran aground briefly

J--M--B · **Posted:** Tue Mar 06, 2012 15:24

More bad luck

Quote:

6 March 2012 Last updated at 11:10

Strome car ferry Glenachulish breaks down ahead of Keith Brown visit

A car ferry that had been helping to ease travel in part of the Highlands after a road was shut has broken down.

...........

I thought at first the curse of Jonah Brown had struck again but wrong Brown.

A303Paul · **Joined:** Mon Sep 20, 2004 06:49 **Posts:** 3465

I see an extra train is now running to kyle for 9AM arrival.

A303Paul · **Joined:** Mon Sep 20, 2004 06:49 **Posts:** 3465

WeirdKerr wrote:

Strome Ferry
(no ferry)(oh yes there is)

Oh no there isnt! :laugh:

geesin · **Joined:** Sat Mar 03, 2012 00:33 **Posts:** 7

As mentioned in previous message
Trac hoping to put cars onto railway by the mid march. road to be opened to vehicles with mgw of 7.5 ton.

Here's hoping

AJK1982 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 11, 2012 14:22

Any update when the road is re-opened will be greatly appreciated on this one

The A890 forms part of the route on my journey around Britain and I will be there on Easter Saturday if it is re-opened. If not, I'm planning an alternative route, though what are the chances of someone who isn't at all local getting on the car-ferry?

A890: Cars could go on rails to end 140-mile detour

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