I finally made contact with GoldLinQ using a different phone number and spoke to a rather knowledgeable non-technical gentleman.

His explanation is that essentially the operation of the trams is via a computer.

When that computer has problems, the system can't fathom where the trams are and causes a shutdown. Most probably this is tied in with the operation of the T lights at intersections and elsewhere.

This shutdown, however it was performed, resulted in a number of trams being stranded between tram stops, according to what I saw on their real-time website during the delay.

I mentioned that an incident such as yesterday's would be more than just embarrassing during the Commonwealth Games in April next year. I think his response was that more technical people will be on duty.

It looks like there is insufficient redundancy built into the operation and no provision for manual override.

I asked the gent about what drivers do to assist passengers off the tram when stranded between stops.

He said that if it is going to be any more than a small delay, the driver assists passengers to disembark.

Perhaps the day has arrived where tramway operation has been made much too complicated for what is required to provide a service.

Regards,