Sydney Light Rail Extensions

[ozbob]

Sydney Light Rail Extensions

http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/rail/lightrail-extension.html

The NSW Government is extending the light rail network by almost 10km so passengers can travel directly between Dulwich Hill, the Inner West and through the Sydney CBD.

The two-stage $500 million light rail expansion is part of the NSW Government's Metropolitan Transport Plan.
Stage 1 - Inner West extension

The first stage of the light rail extension - a 5.6km extension through the Inner West - will operate from 2012. It will run from the current light rail terminus at Lilyfield, along the disused freight rail corridor, to Dulwich Hill.

Nine new stops are proposed: Leichhardt North, Hawthorne, Marion, Taverners Hill, Lewisham West, Waratah Mills, Arlington, Dulwich Grove and Dulwich Hill Interchange.

The project includes a shared walking and cycling path with bushcare sites – a "GreenWay" – from the Cooks River to Iron Cove.

[ozbob]

From the Sydney Morning Herald click here!

Only small changes to light rail plan

Only small changes to light rail plan
Jacob Saulwick
December 21, 2010

THE state government is making only minimal changes to the proposed light rail line to Dulwich Hill, despite local councils and the Roads and Traffic Authority requesting more pedestrian bridges and the movement of some stops closer to railway stations.

The project - a 10-kilometre extension of the existing light rail line from Central Station, which terminates at Lilyfield, to run alongside cycle paths and walkways - is expected to be finished in two years.

Responding to submissions on the project from local residents, other government departments and interest groups, Transport NSW said it would make only one significant change, shifting the final stop at Dulwich Hill closer to the railway station.

It declined a request by the RTA and Leichhardt Council to build a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists to cross to the Leichhardt stop over Marion Street.

Instead, Transport NSW will stick with its original plan for a signal crossing.

It also turned down a request by Marrickville Council to shift the stop at Lewisham West closer to Lewisham station.

The proposed stop is about 400 metres from the station, and despite the council's concerns, Transport NSW said this was near enough for commuters to walk between the two.

Most of the submissions on the project were in favour of the light rail extension.

A plan to extend the line into the eastern suburbs, proposed by EcoTransit and the Australian Conservation Foundation, last week won support from local government, education and sporting bodies in the area.

But one expert on transport, Corinne Mulley, warned about the costs of light rail compared with cheaper alternatives.

''If the route provides enough room for a light rail service, the same could be achieved by just painting the road for a dedicated bus service that could be provided with an environmentally friendly vehicle,'' Professor Mulley, the chairwoman in public transport at the Institute of Transport and Logistics at the University of Sydney, said of the eastern suburbs plan.

[ozbob]

But one expert on transport, Corinne Mulley, warned about the costs of light rail compared with cheaper alternatives.

''If the route provides enough room for a light rail service, the same could be achieved by just painting the road for a dedicated bus service that could be provided with an environmentally friendly vehicle,'' Professor Mulley, the chairwoman in public transport at the Institute of Transport and Logistics at the University of Sydney, said of the eastern suburbs plan.

It is about the longer term operating costs, sustainability and capacity.  As we are finding out in Brisbane, there are capacity limits to 'just painting the road' ...

[somebody]

Painting what road?  The service is running on an existing (disused I think) rail corridor.

[ozbob]

Painting what road?  The service is running on an existing (disused I think) rail corridor.

Bingo,  old freight line ...

[#Metro]

IMHO they were referring to this sort of plan http://www.smh.com.au/national/transport-group-reveals-rail-plans-for-bay-light-express-20100126-mwev.html
which is the "light rail to everywhere" idea. I actually agree with Corinne (not totally though). You can put buses in and bus lanes (putting bus lanes in is harder, because they can be reversed easily, we know all too well, just look at Coronation Drive!) and this can increase the patronage.

There is a good case to use buses first, because that can be done now.
Of course, following through with upgrading from BRT to LRT is the hard part!
http://www.brt.cl/opinion-pieces-frequency-and-connectivity-%E2%80%93-key-drivers-of-reform-in-urban-public-transport-provision/

[johnnigh]

Back to the future with Sydney Light Rail: tickets purchased on board, not one but TWO connies, as well as the driver of course, for a load of some 15 passengers this morning Maybe it isn't a surprise that ticket prices outdo CityRail.

Last time I saw a connie it was on Melbourne trams before the Kennett sell-off, and no, I didn't buy a ticket then because the connie sat in a special connie station that I didn't see until off the tram as it passed me by 

[colinw]

Anyone know the status of this project in the wake of the NSW election result?

Still on track for opening through to Dulwich Hill in 2012?

[ozbob]

From the Sydney Morning Herald click here!

Light-rail fare cuts pledge still not met

Light-rail fare cuts pledge still not met
Jacob Saulwick
April 23, 2011

ONE month after assuming power the O'Farrell government has failed to cut light-rail fares despite pledging to do so ''immediately'' after the election.

The Coalition's election policy on light rail, which included promises to build a tram line through the CBD and conduct studies into lines to Sydney University and the University of NSW, had criticised Labor for excising light rail from the broader public transport network.

''A NSW Liberals and Nationals government will immediately incorporate existing light rail services from Central to Lilyfield into the MyZone ticketing system,'' the Coalition pledged.

However, the Transport Minister, Gladys Berejiklian, has now given herself more time.

Asked when she would carry through on her light rail pledge, Ms Berejiklian referred to the Coalition's 100 Day Action Plan. This commits only to ''commence negotiations to incorporate existing light rail services from Central to Lilyfield into the MyZone ticketing system''.

Integrating light rail into the MyZone structure would cut ticket costs on the line.

Commuters could use MyMulti weekly or monthly tickets on the tram without paying an additional fare. Single ticket costs would also fall.

A single ticket from Lilyfield to Pyrmont costs $4.40, and the owner of the light rail line, Metro Transport Sydney, does not offer half-price concession fares.

There are no patronage figures for Sydney's light rail line. But previous financial reports filed by Metro Transport Sydney suggest it makes about $7 million a year.

Incorporating the line in the MyZone structure could therefore cost the government about $3 million a year, though this would rise as more commuters were lured onto light rail through cheaper fares.

While the government would be subsidising a private company in agreeing to cut ticket costs, taxpayers provide a subsidy to other forms of public transport.

The CityRail network, for instance, recoups only a quarter of its costs from fares. The rest of CityRail's expenses are paid through general revenue.

State Transit's inner city bus network recoups just less than 40 per cent of its cost from fares.

But part of the problem of integrating light rail into the main fare structure is the lack of a fool-proof method of counting customers.

Metro Transit Sydney says it would be immediately possible to let customers use MyZone tickets on the tram because guards could simply mark them off on paper. But such self-reporting would trouble Treasury when it tries to work out how much to pay the light rail operator.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/lightrail-fare-cuts-pledge-still-not-met-20110422-1drey.html#ixzz1KILV9Q6z

[ozbob]

From The Daily Telegraph click here!

Sydney's $180 million light rail plan

Sydney's $180 million light rail plan

   Vikki Campion
   From: The Daily Telegraph
   May 06, 2011 12:00AM

SYDNEY Council has put its money where its mouth is with a $180 million investment to run light rail down the city's spine and clear cars out for good.

Draft budget plans reveal the council will make its single biggest investment in a decade to give George St to the people and run trams down the city heart.

Its bold plan is to pedestrianise up to 1km of George St from Bathurst St, near Town Hall, to Hunter St, near Wynyard Station.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore yesterday promised the changes would make it easier for motorists who had to drive through the city.

"Many international cities have pedestrianised roads in their city centre and these cities continue to thrive - we only have to look at New York's Broadway, London's new West End and our own Pitt St Mall to see evidence of how it works well," Ms Moore said. "George St will flourish if we remove the traffic congestion currently choking it. We want to open up a network of vibrant lanes and small plazas that encourage shops, bars and other small businesses to thrive."

The cash will be on condition the State Government runs light rail down George St, transporting up to 8000 people an hour. "Light rail is the solution to the gridlock in the city," Ms Moore said. "Our investment is dependent on the State Government building light rail down George St, which all our research shows is the optimal route into the city centre."

The council's investment will be spent on streetscaping, signs, laneways, landscaping and traffic management works to redirect vehicles around George St.

"This is about making it easier for people who need to drive to be able to do so," she said.

"While we are looking at pedestrianising a part of George St if light rail is introduced, other easier routes will be found for motorists and buses."

Ms Moore said bold changes were urgently needed to stop the gridlock gripping Sydney, which costs $3.5 billion a year.

"Congestion is crippling our city and it's not going to get any better unless we radically rethink the way our city works and how people move around," she said.

"Congestion costs are expected to more than double to $7.8 billion by 2020 if we do nothing."

The $180 million will be set aside in the new long-term financial plan to be discussed next week.

Read more: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/sydneys-180-million-light-rail-plan/story-e6freuzi-1226050757107#ixzz1LVzR8UPm

[colinw]

Excellent!     Well done Clover Moore.  Bring on the next stages too - Anzac Pde.

Brisbane, take note!  This is the future of inner city public transport, and what should ultimately replace CityGlider, etc., when buses can no longer cope.

It is going to be an embarrassment when Gold Coast has a more accessible and frequent public transport spine, running 24/7, then Brisbane does.  And yet that is exactly what is set to happen.

[somebody]

I'd have to say I am not a fan of this one.  If there is light rail on George St, where would it go south of Railway Square?  Are all current George St buses to terminate there with a forced interchange?  Urgh is all I say to that idea.

[colinw]

What did the original Sydney tramway system do in that area?

[somebody]

I think it probably would have continued along Parramatta Rd.  There was probably a branch through Newtown also.

[SurfRail]

I'd have to say I am not a fan of this one.  If there is light rail on George St, where would it go south of Railway Square?  Are all current George St buses to terminate there with a forced interchange?  Urgh is all I say to that idea.

I've seen the concept work for their proposed interchange on Eddy Avenue - urgh indeed.  No passing lanes, narrow platforms - somebody clearly hasn't visited the Cultural Centre at 5pm before preparing it!

[ozbob]

From the Daily Telegraph click here!

Councils are on line for tram fight

Councils are on line for tram fight

    EXCLUSIVE by Vikki Campion
    From: The Daily Telegraph
    May 25, 2011 12:00AM

THE battle for another light rail system has turned heavy as two of Sydney's biggest councils continue to lobby the state government for an expansion of transport infrastructure.

Sydney's rail-starved eastern suburbs are pushing for light rail ahead of the CBD's George St, arguing the city heart already has public transport while residents continue to use a conga line of buses.

Randwick Council has earmarked $100,000 in its draft budget to commission a study for light rail - and promised more cash in the future.

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has announced $180 million in her council's draft budget to build walkways, landscaping and signage for trams along George St.

Randwick Mayor Murray Matson said the Sydney CBD had trains, monorail and ferries while tens of thousands of commuters from the eastern suburbs had no choice but to catch buses.

"You've only got to look at how congested our roads are to know that something needs to be done," he said.

Randwick's study would help fast-track investigations and route planning for the expansion of light rail, examining potential routes from the CBD to Randwick, financial viability, patronage, costings and a consultation strategy.

Three major hospitals, the University of NSW, Centennial Park, Royal Randwick racecourse, Fox Studios, Sydney Cricket Ground and the Sydney Football Stadium are all supported solely by buses.

Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian said a feasibility study into the extension of the network in the CBD to the University of NSW and the University of Sydney would begin soon.

"The study will determine if extending the light rail network from Central to the University of NSW is viable and in the best interests of commuters and taxpayers," she said.

Read more: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/councils-are-on-line-for-tram-fight/story-e6freuzi-1226062268213