Monorail to be pulled down - O'Farrell

[colinw]

The Courier Mail ->

SYDNEY'S controversial monorail will be pulled down, says NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell.

The State Government has announced it has bought the company that owns the light rail and monorail to clear the way for the monorail's removal.

"The monorail is not integrated with Sydney's wider public transport network and has never been truly embraced by the community," Mr O'Farrell said today.

"The monorail is reaching the end of its economic life and the NSW Government cannot justify costly upgrades like the purchase of new vehicles required to keep it running."

The State Government has bought Metro Transport Sydney (MTS) for $19.8 million.

Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said tearing down the monorail would remove any constraints on the proposed new convention centre development in Darling Harbour.

It is expected to be completed by 2015-16.

She said the monorail, which came into service in 1988, could be pulled down in two to three years but the government would not know for another 12 to 18 months the exact date of its removal.

Buying out MTS gave the Government greater flexibility when it came to planning future public transport, particularly proposed extensions to the light rail network, she said.

"It means our options have increased in relation to light rail," she said in Sydney.

"Our options have increased in relation to how we integrate the convention centre with other modes of public transport.

"The monorail's been around for 20 years, and many argue that its use-by date has arrived, and that is certainly the Government's position."

Mr O'Farrell said the monorail struggled right from the start, with patronage figures in its first two years half that predicted by the Unsworth Labor government.

"The real problem with the monorail I think for most Sydneysiders is that it doesn't actually go anywhere that you want to go," he said.

[colinw]

More details in this article.  The NSW Government has purchased the light rail system as well.

Sydney Morning Herald -> Monorail to be pulled down

The NSW government has bought the company that owns the light rail and the monorail and has announced it will be pulled down, a move welcomed by lord mayor Clover Moore.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell and Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian made the announcement at Darling Harbour today.
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The light rail network will be extended in its place.

The removal of the monorail will allow the accommodation of the new convention centre at Darling Harbour.

"This is good news for Sydney. It delivers certainty for business wanting to invest in the Darling Harbour precinct and allows the efficient development of the light rail network," Mr O'Farrell said today.

"The monorail is not integrated with Sydney's wider public transport network and has never been truly embraced by the community.

"While it has been a controversial part of Sydney's history for more than 20 years, the monorail is reaching the end of its economic life and the NSW government cannot justify costly upgrades like the purchase of new vehicles required to keep it running.

"This decision paves the way for the development of a world-class Sydney international convention, exhibition and entertainment precinct as the NSW government gets on with the job of making NSW No.1 again."

Under the deal, the government has bought Metro Transport Sydney (MTS) for $19.8 million and, for now, the operation of light rail and monorail services will continue as usual under the contract with Veolia, the Premier and the minister said in a joint statement.

The removal of the monorail will occur as soon as feasible after obtaining the necessary approvals and consulting with stakeholders, the statement said.

Ms Berejiklian said the simplified contractual arrangements would make it easier for the government to expand the light rail network.

"The NSW government is committed to expanding light rail and extending the Inner West Light Rail to Dulwich Hill," she said.

"This purchase gives certainty to transport planners and will ensure light rail is fully integrated with the wider public transport network.

"The Light Rail Strategic Plan - examining the feasibility of extending the light rail network through Sydney's CBD, to the University of Sydney and the University of NSW - will be completed in the middle of this year, and the government looks forward to examining its findings," she said.

Lord mayor Clover Moore said in a statement: "This is exactly what we've been waiting for from this government - big, bold transport projects.

"I welcome the purchase of Metro Transport Sydney, which will help fully integrate the current light rail system into the expanded network now being planned.

"Removal of the ugly and intrusive monorail is also the right next step. Replacing it with efficient and effective light rail will improve transport access in central Sydney."

Infrastructure Partnerships Australia said the taxpayer purchase of Sydney's light rail and monorail business was a good step because it removed complexity from the western extension to the light rail network and allowed the removal of the monorail, which is impeding other projects.

"The purchase by the government removes the potential for complex competition issues, will serve to reduce the cost of the planned minor extension of the light rail network and clears the way for the abolition of the monorail," IPA chief executive Brendan Lyon said in a statement.

"Few people will miss the monorail after it is removed. It is an analogue mode in a digital world and is in the way of a range of important projects like Sydney's new convention centre.

"Sydney has got to make a lot of very difficult, very complex and very expensive decisions as it moves to finally deliver a First-World transport system."

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/monorail-to-be-pulled-down-20120323-1vnss.html#ixzz1ptePVUcY

[somebody]

Surprising about the Light Rail having been bought.  They were operationally profitable under private enterprise.  Why not leave it alone?

[SurfRail]

Surprising about the Light Rail having been bought.  They were operationally profitable under private enterprise.  Why not leave it alone?

I expect there would actually be LESS red tape and problems this way, particularly concerning public funding for the extensions and new rollingstock.

[BrizCommuter]

There will be a few monorail fans crying over this, but few others. It was just a misplaced theme park ride.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Halt puts retail on track

Halt puts retail on track
Carolyn Cummins
March 31, 2012

SYDNEY'S monorail has been one of the more-discussed modes of transport across the city for as long as it's been operating.

Opponents argued its route was in the wrong area of town, while supporters said it put the Darling Harbour precinct on the map.

The monorail was built almost 25 years ago and tracks a path down Market Street, through the convention centre at Darling Harbour, up Harbour Street into Liverpool Street, then down Pitt Street.
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But there are only a few stops and retailers argue that, given it's a ''train in the sky'', there are limited times a passenger can alight to shop.

But they are all moot points, now it is being sold and dismantled. Some retailers say it will be a boost for them as the area below the monorail will be eligible for an upgrade when the pylons disappear.

The executive director of global research and consulting at CB Richard Ellis, Kevin Stanley, said the section of Pitt Street south of the mall stood to reap the greatest amenity benefit from the removal of the monorail. ''The block between Market and Park streets is already a busy pedestrian thoroughfare and it's likely the removal of the monorail will lead to an upgrading of the retail offer along this block,'' Mr Stanley said.

The office tower on the corner, 55 Market Street, has a large expanse of frontage that throughout the years has been a nightclub and retail outlets. Because the monorail stop is enclosed, it has not been an attractive venue for tenants.

It has been suggested the owner of the property, Investa Property Group, could offer two large floors to an international retailer. Its proximity to Pitt Street Mall has made it a target for big-name brands keen to enter the local retail sector.

Fuelling the demand for prime sites is the pending opening of Topshop fashion store on the next corner of Market and George streets.

''The intrusive nature of the structure and the noise it creates are probably the two aspects of the monorail which shoppers, workers, residents and visitors will appreciate most, once they have gone,'' Mr Stanley said.

He said the removal of the monorail would probably lead to a retail upgrade of the precinct, which would still provide a lower rental alternative to having frontage on Pitt Street Mall, which has the most expensive retail rents in Australia and among the highest in the world.

Mr Stanley said net rents for super prime retail (properties facing and immediately around Pitt Street Mall) ranged from $7500 a square metre to $11,500 a square metre, as at March.

''The CBD retail sector is outgrowing Pitt Street Mall, with higher-end retailers spreading north into the block between King Street and Martin Place and most notably along George Street,'' Mr Stanley said.

The senior manager for retail services at CBRE, Leif Olson, said there were many global retailers yet to establish in Australia and the section south of Pitt Street Mall would be ideal for a first store. ''Recent redevelopments have reaffirmed the attractiveness of the precinct and prompted the arrival of many international retailers,'' Mr Olson said.

''The CBD has ... significant private and public-sector investment which stimulate the city's retail sector, with Pitt Street being the most obvious beneficiary of this investment and redevelopment.'

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/property/halt-puts-retail-on-track-20120330-1w3dq.html

[SurfRail]

But there are only a few stops and retailers argue that, given it's a ''train in the sky'', there are limited times a passenger can alight to shop.

This is precisely the point that the proponents of elevating part or all of Gold Coast Rapid Transit (or replacing it with a monorail) do not understand.

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Never the rail deal

After a stormy start the monorail ultimately proved to be no more than an amusement ride, writes Jacob Saulwick ...

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> End of the line nears for maligned monorail

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> End of the circle as last ride nears for monorail

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Travellers urged to avoid monorail's busier stations

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Sydney's monorail to make final journey before demolition

[ozbob]

Twitter

Daniel Bowen ‏@danielbowen 2m

Last day of Sydney's monorail. Unlikely to be moved elsewhere because it's at the end of its economic life. http://www.danielbowen.com/2013/01/08/monorail-going-nowhere/ ...

[ozbob]

The Telegraph --> Sydney monorail makes its last loop


http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/06/30/1226667/273990-sydney-monorail.jpg

[SurfRail]

I'm a bit disappointed it didn't go back into its original TNT colours.

[Gazza]

Sea World might pick up the trains for use as parts donors.

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> One-track minds as thousands turn out for one final ride on monorail

[ozbob]

Earthmove and Civil Contractor -->Last section of monorail track removed

Transport for NSW today announced that the final section of track from Sydney's monorail has been removed. Dismantling the final 46 metre-long, 23 tonne section from over the Western Distributor completes the removal of the monorail track, however work remains to remove some of the supporting columns.
   
 
Last section of monorail track removed

"This was one of the most difficult sections of track to remove and required an intricate and complicated lift. The southbound lanes of the Western Distributor were closed so a crane and other equipment could remove the final section.

"Work to remove the monorail infrastructure only started in August this year and already all of the track and support columns have been safely removed, which is a great achievement. Most of it has been done during the night, so people may not have noticed how fast it has come down," a Transport for NSW spokesperson said.

Although the track is gone, there is still a lot of work to be done. Crews are now focused on removing the concrete pedestals that supported the monorail. Significant heritage restoration work will carried out on the Pyrmont Bridge as the last elements of the monorail infrastructure in the area are removed.

"The state heritage listed Pyrmont Bridge is an iconic part of Sydney's industrial history," the spokesperson said. "It is one of the largest swing span bridges in the world, opening regularly to allow tall vessels to go in and out of Darling Harbour.

"The bridge's control tower, which was moved when the monorail was built, will be shifted six metres, back to its original position.

"The crews will then remove the current electric breaking system used during opening and closing of the bridge, and reinstate the original hand-operated brake system. This original system will allow the bridge to be opened and closed with greater care and reduce the risk of damage to the bridge," the spokesperson said.

Removal of monorail infrastructure on the bridge is underway and will continue over the coming months. During this time there will be reduced space for cyclists and pedestrians. The swing span of the bridge will reopen for boats on 22 November.

For more information go to: www.transport.nsw.gov.au

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Sydney woman wants to make former monorail station her home