Canberra - Light rail

[ozbob]

Canberratimes --> Canberra light rail: Extra services added from April as peak-hour period to expand

Peak travel times along Canberra's light rail network will be extended and more services added to meet rising demand for the public transport system.

An extra 155 light rail services a week will be added to the timetable from April.

Services will run every five minutes, instead of every six, during the morning peak period from the start of term two on April 27 and services will also start one hour earlier on Sundays and public holidays at 7am, rather than 8am.

The extra services, which take the weekly total to 1600, will be carried out with the existing fleet of 14 light rail vehicles.

The expansion flagged for April comes as the ACT government extended peak hour service times along the light rail network from this week.

Southbound peak morning services have been extended by 30 minutes, now running from 7am to 9.30am.

Northbound afternoon peak services will run from 3pm to 6.30pm, extended from 4pm to 6pm.

Southbound afternoon peak services will operate from 3.30pm to 6pm, extended from 4pm to 5.30pm.

Afternoon peak hours will be further extended in April when peak northbound services will run until 7pm and peak southbound services until 6.30pm.

ACT Transport Minister Chris Steel the extra services were added to keep up with growing passenger numbers.

"More than 15,000 boardings are being made every day on light rail, which is ahead of what we expected in 2021, let alone today," Mr Steel said.

"Due to its popularity, we are also seeing some crowding on light rail in both the morning and afternoons.

"Light rail has been a huge success, with 3.5 million boardings since it started last year and we want to encourage even more people to get on board."

The new services will begin in April at the beginning of term two for school students.

The expansion will come into effect on the same day more services will be added to Canberra's bus network as part of changes made to last year's timetable overhaul.

"More light rail services will help improve connections from buses at Dickson and other stops and provide a more comfortable trip for passengers from Gungahlin to the city," Mr Steel said.

Labor backbencher Michael Pettersson, who called for more light rail services, said the move was a good step forward.

"I heard from a lot of constituents that crowding on their commute was an issue and it's great that light rail will now be even more accessible and comfortable for people to move around our city," he said.

[ozbob]

Canberratimes --> Transport Minister Chris Steel says work to extend the light rail service to the lake is on track


An artist's impression of the light rail turning on to Commonwealth Avenue.

Work to extend the light rail to Lake Burley Griffin is on track to commence later this year after the Commonwealth ruled the project will not require a full environmental impact assessment.

A spokesperson for Transport Minister Chris Steel said the federal government's decision did not amount to final approval of the project, but meant the extension of the light rail to the lake, Stage 2A, could be assessed using preliminary documentation because its effects were localised and predictable.

Under the plan, 1.7 kilometres of wire-free track will be installed running from the Alinga Street station, along the western side of London Circuit and on to Commonwealth Avenue before terminating at Commonwealth Park.

Stage 2B, involving extending the light rail line over the lake and through to Woden via the Parliamentary Triangle, will require a full environmental impact statement because it will pass near areas of national and heritage significance, the spokesperson said.


"This decision from the federal government reinforces our choice to deliver light rail to Woden in two stages," Mr Steel said. "The process of assessment for Stage 2A means we can get on with the job of extending light rail to Woden sooner.

"We always expected that an extensive EIS process would be required for the more complex stage 2B extension through the Parliamentary Triangle under the Commonwealth environmental approval process."

Under the ACT government's plans, the light rail will run on narrower, grassed tracks along Commonwealth Avenue.

To support wire-free operation, light rail vehicles will be fitted with onboard batteries with regenerative braking capabilities.

"Running wire-free through London Circuit will mean a narrower track built in the middle of the road, taking up less space as light rail will be running in the road median," Mr Steel said.

"As Light Rail Stage 2A turns on to Commonwealth Avenue, wire-free running will also ensure that the heritage vistas along Commonwealth Avenue are maintained."

[SurfRail]

This also means the trams will need to recharge before crossing the lake, which will make them slower.  Fair enough the Commonwealth is not going to allow wires in the parliamentary precinct but you would think they would stay under them as far as is practical.  (Still very happy the Gold Coast is gimmick free.)

[Cazza]

Why don't they do a third rail in the ground like Sydney has done down most of George St?

[verbatim9]

This also means the trams will need to recharge before crossing the lake, which will make them slower.  Fair enough the Commonwealth is not going to allow wires in the parliamentary precinct but you would think they would stay under them as far as is practical.  (Still very happy the Gold Coast is gimmick free.)

Why don't they do a third rail in the ground like Sydney has done down most of George St?

I have no problem with overhead wiring for Trams and Trolleybuses unless there are clearence or safety issues . Electricity wires for premises (buildings and homes) should be underground.

[SurfRail]

Why don't they do a third rail in the ground like Sydney has done down most of George St?

It's hideously expensive, and I am not sure if CAF offer that.

[ozbob]

Trams will be fully charged when they leave Alinga Street station.  Maybe a rapid charge enroute and full recharge at Commonwealth Park will only take a few minutes.

Trams will be well loaded is my guess, so they had better get it right.

Should be manageable.  Guess the toffs don't want OLE spoiling the Canberra (in the bubble) streetscape ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/RailExpressNews/status/1252400163001208834

[SurfRail]

That's about what they were planning on I think, numbers probably down due to the pandemic. 

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> Roads swallow federal infrastructure funding as ACT bags new light rail stop

In a flurry of infrastructure funding announcements, the federal government has only allocated funding for one new rail project, a new stop on the Canberra light rail line in Mitchell.

The stop, at the intersection of Flemington Road and Sandford Street, will be the 14th for the network. The federal government and ACT governments will each contribute $6 million.

The funding comes from the $1.5 billion of infrastructure funding announced by the Prime Minister Scott Morrison on June 15. As of June 22, roughly a third of the funding had been announced, with the light rail stop in Canberra the only rail project receiving funding.

In his address on June 15, Morrison noted that $500m of the funding would go towards road safety upgrades, and $1bn would be for non-mode specific "shovel-ready" projects that were identified by the states and territories.

So far, funding allocated under the 'shovel-ready" project stream has been distributed to Queensland with $204.3m, Western Australia has received $96m, $13.6m to the NT, and $16m in the ACT.

Out of the hundreds of millions allocated to "shovel-ready" projects, $11m will go towards non-road projects, with $6m for the Canberra light rail stop and $5m for pavement rehabilitation along Northbourne Avenue, also in Canberra.

A federal government spokesperson said that further road and rail commitments to be funded under the $1.5bn infrastructure package will be announced in due course.

ACT Minister for Transport Chris Steel said that work would soon get underway on the new tram stop.

"Design is being undertaken on a 14th stop on the light rail line and we will work with Canberra Metro to build the station at Sandford St over the next year," he said.

"The new light rail stop on Flemington Road at Sandford Street will provide better access to the Mitchell business district in addition to the existing stop at Well Station Drive."

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> Canberra light rail extension takes next step in planning process

The ACT's government's plan for the extension of the current light rail line to Woden, in the city's south, has taken the next step forward, with the ACT government releasing for public comment the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) preliminary documentation.

The documentation covers the stage from the city, where the current line ends, to Commonwealth Park, otherwise known as Stage 2A and supports federal approval of the line.

ACT Minister for Transport Chris Steel said this step meant that construction could soon begin.

"With the planning approvals set in motion for the extension of light rail to Commonwealth Park, work will continue to refine the project's planning and design development with a view to construction starting as early as next year."

The EPBC documentation covers measures the government will take to mitigate the light rail line's impact on the critically endangered Golden Sun Moth. To address this, the preliminary documentation notes that there will be no need to install a traction power substation or connection power supply, while intersection and road layouts were refined.

The 1.7-kilometre Stage 2A will run without overhead wires to protect the cultural value of the centre of Canberra and improve visual amenity. Future light rail vehicles will travel on green tracks along Commonwealth Avenue, with landscaping besides and between the rail tracks.

Stage 2A will include three stops, one at Edinburgh Avenue on London Circuit, City South, and Commonwealth Park, where the line will terminate.

Chair of the Public Transport Association of Canberra Ryan Hemsley said the project would improve outcomes now and into the future.

"By extending Canberra's light rail network, we can deliver a much-needed shot in the arm for Canberra's construction industry, with the double benefit of providing improved public transport options in the longer term."

Stage 2B, which will continue the light rail line to Woden via the Parliamentary Triangle, will require a more rigorous planning assessment process, and is expected to take up to 18 months.

At a press conference announcing the release of the EPBC preliminary documentation, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said that environmental approvals should be streamlined, with too many federal agencies involved in the project.

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Extension of Canberra's light rail, overhauling London Circuit, gets federal environmental approval

An extension of Canberra's light rail line that will transform parts of Civic by raising London Circuit has gained federal environmental approval, as the ACT Government mulls whether the line should be extended further south than initially announced.

Key points:

The ACT Government will consider extending light rail further south than initially planned
The line's extension from the city to the lake has cleared a federal hurdle
The lake extension will transform London Circuit, in the heart of Civic

Next week's ACT budget will include funding for design works on the changes as the Government pushes ahead with its two-stage plan to extend light rail from Civic to Woden.

Stage 2A will extend the line from Civic's Alinga Street to Commonwealth Park, raising London Circuit to intersect with Commonwealth Avenue in the process.

The more ambitious Stage 2B will cross Lake Burley Griffin, traversing the Parliamentary Triangle to extend the line south to Woden. ...

[timh]

Why the hell would they want to raise London Circuit? It's already got a fancy cloverleaf interchange, and the light rail extension could fly over it in the median of Commonwealth Avenue. Makes no sense to me to REMOVE grade separation...

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> $132.5m of federal money for ACT Light Rail stage 2A

[SurfRail]

Why the hell would they want to raise London Circuit? It's already got a fancy cloverleaf interchange, and the light rail extension could fly over it in the median of Commonwealth Avenue. Makes no sense to me to REMOVE grade separation...

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

The intention is to take back the cloverleafs (which are a monstrous waste of space) and reconfigure the area to something more suitable for the heart of a city.

[ozbob]

ABC News --> End of the line: How Canberra's political parties learned to love the ACT's light rail network

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Transport_CBR/status/1387255265054105602

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ABarrMLA/status/1397344363961753600

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/abcnews/status/1556805117973655552

[ozbob]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-09/act-light-rail-wireless-five-new-vehicles-for-expansion/101313770

... It was announced this morning that a contract had been awarded for early works on stage 2 of the network, with five new wire-free light rail vehicles to be introduced from 2024, while the existing vehicles would be retrofitted with onboard batteries.

In a statement, the ACT government said this would enable the vehicles to operate wirelessly along the route's extension throughout the parliamentary zone, stage 2A to Commonwealth Park and stage 2B towards Woden respectively.

The government said it would also be expanding its light rail depot at Mitchell to facilitate the ongoing maintenance of the fleet, with construction expected to be completed in mid-2024. ...

Interesting development ...

[#Metro]

In a statement, the ACT government said this would enable the vehicles to operate wirelessly along the route's extension throughout the parliamentary zone, stage 2A to Commonwealth Park and stage 2B towards Woden respectively.

They can't do a deal with the NSW Government and just offload the non-wire free trams to the NSW Government for the Parramatta Light Rail project and then buy new wire free trams and cash-in the old ones?

 

[SurfRail]

^ The PLR project is wireless in places.

The only "new" light rail system which hasn't fallen for these gimmicks, at great cost (ie in terms of greater capital outlay and permanently slowing services down), is ours.

[#Metro]

Dickson Interchange - An Example of Bus-Rail Interchange within 5 km of the CBD

- Similar or lower population density than Brisbane (BCC area)
- Smaller population than Brisbane (BCC area)

The number of domestic examples of buses interchanging to rail is growing. Here is an example from the Canberra LRT. The Dickson Interchange is an LRT stop that is about 3.5 km away from the Canberra City Centre. For comparison, the path distance to Toowong Station is 4.5 km from the Brisbane GPO.

Extract of the Canberra Bus Network

You can see the routes that feed or intersect with the LRT. Where a bus is-through routed, it is sent on a route that does not duplicate the LRT on the road (Routes R9, 30, 31, 50). The network is much simpler than other parts of Canberra which still have multi-bus overlap.

You cannot view this attachment.
Source: https://www.transport.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1603688/2023_TC_network_map_420x792.pdf

View of the bus platforms and stop at the bus interchange. It has a very simple design - a section of the road is closed to general traffic and the kerbs on either side are built up as bus platforms, similar to a busway station.

You cannot view this attachment. 

Map view of the interchange, passengers walk from the bus platform to the LRT platforms, crossing a road at ordinary lights and pedestrian crossings.
You cannot view this attachment.

[#Metro]

Route 18 - Dickson Interchange

Here is an example of a weekday half-hourly bus route which enters part of the LRT corridor (Northbourne Avenue). It could continue to the CBD as its so close, but ACT Planners terminate it at the interchange and force the transfer instead.

You can see the route design is highly simplified.

Extract of Route 18 Timetable
You cannot view this attachment.
Source: Route 18 Bus timetable - ACT (Click Image to Enlarge)

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/PT_CBR/status/1678873573300252676

[ozbob]

In Defence of Light Rail: The Imperative for Canberra's Transport Future

> https://www.plannin.online/post/in-defence-of-light-rail-the-imperative-for-canberra-s-transport-future

[Redrient]

The ACT Government would be wise to make a move on approvals for light rail through the Parliamentary Triangle while there's a government that (at least claims to be) on the side of public transport and there's somewhat of a political mood for standing up to Territories' rights to self-determination.

If they ever want to extend to Woden and Tuggeranong (and as someone who lived in Gungahlin and worked in Woden for 5 years, I sure wish they would) with a realistic plan (i.e. with overhead power), the time is right to make a move while there's a government that might actually be willing to listen.

[ozbob]

https://x.com/Transport_CBR/status/1718043922444804280?s=20

[ozbob]

https://x.com/RailExpressNews/status/1735109372303536321?s=20

[#Metro]

Privately financed PPP, similar to GCLRT. Would be interesting to see how this model could be adapted to BRT.

[ozbob]

https://x.com/inframagoz/status/1761926260815745223?s=20

[ozbob]

https://x.com/Amy_Jelacic/status/1781591902816698857

[ozbob]

https://x.com/PT_CBR/status/1785463040911294926

[ozbob]

https://x.com/PT_CBR/status/1787646889242112358

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> Green light for Stage 2B in Canberra

The Federal Government is committing funding to Canberra to improve the city's public transport network.

It is injecting $50 million to plan for Stage 2B of the Canberra Light Rail. This work will design the extension of the current light rail line from Commonwealth Park to Woden, so that Canberra's southern suburbs can experience the benefits of improved public transport currently enjoyed by those in the north. ...

[ozbob]

https://x.com/Transport_CBR/status/1795341759079170053

[ozbob]

https://x.com/MonteBovill/status/1847602579879903542