Could unidirectional trams be considered for Montreal? Given that their pevious system was largely unidirectional with either loops or wyes a every terminus and that Toronto retains unidirectinonal running while plaining on new Transit City lines with bidirectional LRVs, they have shown no signs of converting the legacy system to bidirectional running.
Similarly, many old tramway networks in tram savvy European countries, escpeially Eastern Europe, still retain unidirectional trams and show no sign of switching to bidirectional running. Why do these operators continue ordering more unidirectional trams and rather than converting to bidirectional running?
We discussed this before, and loop track, whether around a block or just turning loops, can be advantagous even on bidirectional tramway networks at busy termini because headways of less than a minute mean that there is not enough time for the driver to change ends. And with loops at both ends, the advantages of unidirectional trams can be considered.
By having driver controls at only one end and doors only on the right, there can be more floor area available for a greater amount of seating with all seats fixed and most facing forwards. Facilities such as wheelchair bays can be directly opposite the doors, which is not as easily acheivable on a bidirectional tram. Having doors on only the right means there is neither the possibility of the driver opening the wrong side doors nor the need for either expensive software to prevent wrong side door incidences or fences to protect passengers when this happens.
Also, depending on your taste, unidirectional trams may also have aesthetic advantges. For example, which looks better, identical number one and number two ends (as double ended trams need to have) or non-identical front and rear ends (quite common with single ended trams)? For example, do you prefer headlamps and brake lights at both ends (necessary for bidirectional running) or headlamps at the front and brake lights at the rear, as is found on unidirectional rolling stock.
