Article: Green light for Newcastle light rail

[ozbob]

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Green light for Newcastle light rail

Green light for Newcastle light rail
by Jennifer Perry — last modified Jun 19, 2013 03:06 PM

Light Rail is now firmly on the agenda for Newcastle after yesterday's announcement by the New South Wales Government that it will use proceeds from the privatisation of the Port of Newcastle to revitalise the CBD.
 
Green light for Newcastle light rail

Handing down yesterday's 2013-14 state budget, the NSW Government announced that it will offer a 99-year lease of the port and if the transaction was successful, $340m of the $700m in proceeds would be directed to a new light rail package for central Newcastle.

The government has already made a definite $120m funding commitment.

The funding gained from the lease of the port would not only deliver light rail in Newcastle's CBD but would also provide the potential basis for a future wider light rail extensions, the government said.

"The proposed new light rail option between Wickham and Newcastle is potentially only the beginning of a light rail system or Newcastle and the region. $10m will be allocated to explore the potential for this link to be the basis for light rail linking the CBD with surrounding suburbs, beaches and the broader Hunter region," NSW treasurer Mike Baird said.

The government announced its vision for Newcastle last year – including the removal of the heavy rail line between Wickham and Civic so the city would not be divided from its harbour-front.

The government said the light rail package has the potential to be the catalyst for addressing Newcastle's transport needs.

"This will go beyond a mere revitalisation. It will effectively be the rebirth of Newcastle as a modern city ...and will unlock its potential as a vibrant place to live and visit," Baird said.

[ozbob]

Brisbane is fast becoming the odd one out ...

Bus tunnels are not going to do it ...

[ozbob]

ABC Newcastle --> Newcastle Port sold to pay for light rail

[BribieG]

I moved from Bribie Island to the Mid North Coast of NSW last year, haven't been on the forum.

Newcastle is our major "big smoke" here and I'm becoming quite familiar with the place, and also the current heavy rail line from Wickham into the CBD - I use it often when I'm down there. The current rail lines are total overkill for the traffic nowadays, and an eyesore, but with reasonably frequent trains during the day it's a really handy way of going from one end of Hunter Street to the other, or getting within spitting distance of the beach if heading in from a motel etc in the West of the city.

However just ripping out the current lines and replacing them with light rail, apart from freeing up some real estate and beautifying that part of town, seems pretty pointless to me from a commuter's point of view. The line is heavily used by commuters heading into Sydney or the Central Coast and if the light rail only goes as far as Wickham, a lot of current commuters will have to change once or even twice to get on the inter city train.

Maybe a big park and ride at Wickham, or similar at Broadmeadow with the LR extending to that Station and the Sydney trains terminating there would be a good idea. I see from the article that it could be extended in the future.

Edit; of course another fairly significant rush of commuters come in from the Hunter to work in the Newcastle CBD, from the likes of Maitland etc. They also currently ride heavy rail right into Civic.