On 24/04/2021 08:47, TP wrote:
> The one problem with the E class appears to have been that they broke

> the golden design rule and piled lots of weight into it and the power

> supply proved inadequate. I imagine this is the main reason why they

> have pulled the stops on acquiring more and having a fresh look at a

> new design.

>

I finally got around to watching this video and don't disagree with most
of what the author says.

However, in the last section where he compares the percentage of
dedicated tram lanes he seems to have been given incorrect or out of
date information.

Melbourne has roughly the same percentage of dedicated tram lanes -
perhaps a bit more - and like Toronto new tracks and most renewals
include dedicated tram lanes..

The comparison of transfer facilities is probably correct in terms of
direct transfer, but there is a much lower need for transfer in
Melbourne as the rail and tram routes tend to both provide more
door-to-door service for commuters with less need to transfer.

Melbourne's transfer information system (including on board stop and
transfer announcements on trams) is the best I have seen anywhere -
although it's five years since I visited Toronto.

There is no reason to believe that the Es were cancelled due to weight
issues.  The reasons are more likely to be around traffic predictions
seeing a need for some smaller vehicles to run on a system with quite
closely spaced tramways in some areas, plus the wise decision to
re-visit the design some  15 years down the track.

The power supply issues are more due to air-conditioning than weight.

Mal Rowe - liking both cities, but preferring Melbourne's climate