Newcastle Light Rail

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https://twitter.com/RevitalisingNCL/status/1060751103468261376

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https://twitter.com/ScotMacDonald1/status/1067202605162541056

[verbatim9]

This is great. I like the new recharge tech at stations. Hopefully it performs well. I guess when the line is extended to Mereweather later catenary would be needed? This recharge tech ideal for smaller distances.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/RevitalisingNCL/status/1069734354924929024

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Newcastle Herald --> Traffic workers maintain presence at Stewart Avenue crossing on Newcastle light rail line

STEWART Avenue's light rail crossing will be controlled by traffic workers until the community adjusts to the changed traffic conditions of trams crossing the road.

Workers have been patrolling the crossing for the past few weeks whenever a tram moves into or out of Newcastle Interchange on the western side of the road.

Traffic signals are operating at the crossing and it is the only part of the light rail line where traffic workers are still in place during testing.
The Newcastle Herald understands there had been some issues with cars banking up on Stewart Avenue across the light rail tracks.
Having traffic controllers at the crossing has also helped light rail drivers as they learn to operate trams across the busy north-south arterial road.

A Revitalising Newcastle spokesperson told the Herald the workers would remain in place during testing.
"Revitalising Newcastle is using traffic control at the Stewart Avenue light rail crossing during testing as a safety precaution while the community adjusts to the new traffic conditions," the spokesperson said.

"Revitalising Newcastle encourages all road users and pedestrians to be aware when moving around light rail, and to follow the road rules, traffic signals and signage."

Warning lines were also painted on Stewart Avenue in recent weeks as an enhanced safety measure.

The section of road was one of the city's most notorious pinch points before the removal of the former heavy rail level crossing.

Concerns were raised ahead of light rail construction regarding future congestion along the stretch of Stewart Avenue from King Street to Honeysuckle Drive.

Four sets of traffic signals operate on the stretch of road and the light rail will operate in synchronization with the nearby signals.

Revitalsing Newcastle has previously said trams would move through the crossing quicker than the time it took for a train to pass with boom gates, and motorists are waiting about 30 seconds for a tram to cross the road.

In peak periods, a tram will cross twice every seven and half minutes to arrive and depart from the interchange.

Doma Group's plans for The Store site also have a one-way vehicle access lane off Stewart Avenue for a kiss and ride drop off to the future bus interchange, and access to retail and office spaces.

[ozbob]

Newcastle Herald --> How Newcastle's light rail stacks up against the Gold Coast's 20km G:link tram

Transport Minister Andrew Constance can only hope Newcastle's light rail service proves as popular as the Gold Coast's.

The Newcastle tram is not due to start taking passengers until next month, but a NSW Auditor-General's report has already strongly rebuked the NSW government over the absence of planning before it announced the light rail project in 2013.

The 2.7-kilometre, six-stop line from Wickham to Newcastle East has been derided as a "toy train" by opponents, and the Auditor-General left no doubt its $368 million cost was unjustified.

But many Novocastrians, buoyed by the sight of the sleek red tram sliding along the city's streets, view it is a symbol of a city on the move after years of stagnation.

Eight hundred kilometres up the coast, the Gold Coast's G:link offers a case study in how light rail can work in a mid-sized city, albeit one approaching double the population of Newcastle.

"The G", as it known by locals, runs for 20km from Pacific Fair shopping centre, which is twice the size of Westfield Kotara, to Helensvale, where it connects with the heavy rail line north to Brisbane.

It is powered by overhead wires and has 19 stations. For Opal card users, it costs adults $3.20 a trip, or $2.56 off-peak, to travel the 44 minutes from one end to the other.

The Gold Coast's narrow geography, bumper tourist numbers and 1.7 per cent annual population growth rate have contributed to the tram's popularity.

Queensland government annual reports show it carried 6 million people in its first year, rising steadily to 8 million in 2016-17.

Patronage jumped to 9 million in 2017-18 after a 7.3km second stage of the line, from University Hospital to Helensvale, opened in December 2017, in time for the Commonwealth Games.

The Queensland government and GoldLinQ, the consortium that runs the tram, say it has consistently attracted patronage above expectations, and the federal government has committed $112 million to help pay for extending it 6.4km south to Burleigh Heads.

The ultimate vision for the network includes a 14km extension beyond Burleigh to Gold Coast Airport and Coolangatta and a western spur to Robina shopping centre.

The estimated construction cost of the existing line is well beyond $2 billion, and the extensions will add another $3 billion to the project. 

The G:link may have been embraced by passengers and politicians alike, but 2016 Census data suggests it has not necessarily succeeded in getting Gold Coast workers out of their cars.

The proportion of commuters driving to work rose from 72.6 per cent in 2011 to 73.7 per cent in 2016, two years after the tram started.

The ratio of bus commuters fell from 2.0 per cent to 1.6 per cent in the same period, though the government has claimed a 25 per cent rise in overall public transport use since the line opened.
Build it, and will they come?

Back in Newcastle, it is more than 25 years since the government launched Honeysuckle Development Corporation with visions of a more modern, investor-friendly city.

For much of that time, the rebirth of Newcastle has been a slow burn.

But, with the light rail route open again to car traffic and the Spanish-made CAF trams now moving along the city's freshly landscaped main drag, the new Newcastle is beginning to take shape.

Undoubtedly, Liberal-National ministers will be lining up for photo ops next month to convince Sydneysiders their nightmare light-rail project will eventually deliver something useful.

The government thinks its $650 million Revitalising Newcastle program, of which the tram is the centrepiece, has already started fulfilling its purpose by sparking a construction boom in the CBD, including seven hotels on the drawing board.

A Newcastle City Council spokesperson said on Friday that the council had approved about $1.06 billion in development applications in 2018, up from $746 million in 2017, $924 million in 2016 and $426 million in 2015.

Spiralling property prices have no doubt played their part in that investment, but the government is claiming an early win for light rail.   

One significant difference between the Newcastle and Gold Coast tram projects is that the G:link was built to service existing attractions, including a casino, convention centre, hospital, large shopping centres and Griffith University.

It also passes the plethora of high-rise apartment towers in Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Southport, along with kilometres of beaches.

The Newcastle tram, on the other hand, has been built in the hope of stimulating investment, especially by opening up the harbour to the rest of the CBD.

It will take passengers past Newcastle University's growing inner-city campus on its way to the beach, but Hunter transport planner Ron Brown believes the CBD has a long way to go before offering the "gravitational pull" of Sydney and the Gold Coast.

    You've got to have a purpose at each end of the trip for people to be making the choice to use that service.
    Transport engineer Ron Brown

He argues Charlestown and Kotara shopping centres are doing a far better job of attracting people.

"The funnelling of movement isn't to and from the city. The commercial opportunities in the city have not yet reached the point where they're going to be providing the attraction," Mr Brown said.

"Obviously, that is something they are hoping to generate, so which comes first? You've got to have a purpose at each end of the trip for people to be making the choice to use that service.

"Several of the business people I've spoken to in town don't expect there to be any real outcome or benefit until we get the high-rise residential developments in place, which will create a new platform for the city to function."

The government has promised a business case this year on extending the tram into the suburbs, possibly to John Hunter Hospital via Broadmeadow.

But the exponential cost involved may keep any expansions on the backburner for some time, especially as there is a feeling within the conservative government that it has not received due credit for its work so far.

Newcastle's tram will be a novelty when it opens.

Whether it continues to attract passengers will determine if a state government of any hue is prepared to double down and extend it to anything approaching the new 12km services under construction in Sydney and Canberra, let alone Gold Coast's 20km line.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/AndrewConstance/status/1090774823310024706

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TfNSW --> It's a date - free community open day for Newcastle Light Rail on 17 February

The NSW Government has announced Newcastle Light Rail will launch with a free community open day on Sunday 17 February before standard services begin the next day.

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said the open day was a chance to celebrate the completion of Newcastle Light Rail and thank the community for their patience during its delivery.

"From Monday 18 February, Novocastrians will have a new way to get around the city with frequent light rail services running from 5am to 1am daily, Mr Constance said.

"The NSW Government is hosting a community open day before the service officially starts as a way to say thank-you for people's tolerance during construction, and to give them an opportunity to experience Newcastle Light Rail free of charge.

"The open day will be one big celebration, with something for all ages and tastes at unique events near each of Newcastle Light Rail's six stops.

"Light rail will run throughout the event, allowing people to venture from stop to stop, exploring the city in a completely new way."

Mr Constance said standard light rail services would start on Monday 18 February, marking an historic day for the city.

"From Monday 18 February, light rail taking passengers through the heart of Newcastle will be the new normal, marking a key moment in the city's revitalisation.

"With 4,000 new homes and almost 8,000 more jobs expected in the city centre by 2036, Newcastle Light Rail will play an important role in keeping this growing city moving, and reducing congestion well into the future.

"We've delivered this project faster than anyone anticipated, and it will be a proud moment for the Premier and me when services begin next month."

Keolis Downer Hunter Managing Director Mark Dunlop said the Newcastle Transport team will have boots on the ground to help passengers use the new service when it launches.

"As this is a completely new system, we anticipate there will be some minor kinks to iron out initially as passengers get used to it and as the last of the light rail vehicles are fully commissioned," Mr Dunlop said.

"We expect the service to improve daily as the system is optimised, and we're committed to helping our passengers get the most out of light rail."

For more information on Newcastle Light Rail visit: www.revitalisingnewcastle.nsw.gov.au

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[red dragin]

"is it a bird, is it a plane? No, it's middle aged, balding, superish man" 

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IRJ --> Newcastle light rail services start

REVENUE services on the 2.7km light rail line in the New South Wales city of Newcastle commenced operation on February 18 following a free community event held the previous day.

The line links Newcastle city centre and the public transport interchange at Wickham, replacing through heavy rail services from Sydney, which were controversially withdrawn in 2014.

Newcastle Light Rail is operated by Keolis Downer as part of the company's broader 10-year contract with Transport for NSW to operate light rail, buses and ferries under the Newcastle Transport banner.

The light rail line is 2.7km long with six stops. Services are provided by six battery-equipped low-floor CAF Urbos LRVs. In a first for Australia, the system is catenary-free, with the onboard energy storage system recharged in 23-second cycles.

"From Monday February 18, light rail taking passengers through the heart of Newcastle will be the new normal, marking a key moment in the city's revitalisation," says minister for transport and infrastructure, Mr Andrew Constance. "With 4000 new homes and almost 8000 more jobs expected in the city centre by 2036, Newcastle Light Rail will play an important role in keeping this growing city moving, and reducing congestion well into the future."

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https://twitter.com/railmaps/status/1098099591663120385

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https://twitter.com/The_Rail_Life/status/1122005626039570432

[Cazza]

[timh]

https://twitter.com/The_Rail_Life/status/1122005626039570432

Is the dwell time 45 seconds at every station? That seems like it would make things quite slow...

[ozbob]

Recent visit to Newcastle ..





























Photographs R Dow 30th June 2019

[ozbob]

To be honest, I am not convinced getting rid of the heavy rail into Newcastle itself was the right thing to do. 

That battle has been lost however.  The light rail is interesting because of the rapid charging etc.  It struggles to move the passengers in and out of Newcastle to the Interchange station as the trains could move 2000 pax no problem.  What I saw of the light rail it seems well done. Capacity is the real concern, they will have to get more trams and ramp up frequency I reckon.

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Train and Steam Tram in Scott Street, Newcastle, N.S.W. - circa 1920
https://www.flickr.com/photos/70994841@N07/43145503111

[ozbob]

Facebook ...

[Otto]

From Rail Express

Section of Newcastle tramline closed to cyclists after fatality

    oliver.probert@primecreative.com.au @oliverprobert More by Oliver Probert

October 16, 2019

Cyclists have been banned from a 340-metre shared section of Newcastle's tramline after a man died after falling from his bike there in July.

Danny Egan, a 51-year-old father of three, died after falling from his bike while crossing light rail tracks at the intersection of Scott and Pacific streets in the city's east, on the evening of July 10, 2019.

A new report following the fatal incident has found cyclists travelling westbound along Scott Street are required, at the intersection in question, to cross four separate tracks at an acute angle, found to be below the internationally recognised 60 degree minimum.

This creates a heightened risk of cyclists' wheels getting stuck in the tram tracks themselves – a risk which was identified prior to Egan's death, but was not considered as severe as the post-incident report found it to be.

The independent review just completed found the risk to cyclists along the section of shared track on Scott Street to be 'intolerable', higher than the 'medium' or 'high' assessment made in prior audits.

Transport minister Andrew Constance said the state government would adopt all eight recommendations made in the review, which was conducted by Transport for NSW.

"We extend our sincere condolences to Danny's wife and to his three children," Constance said. "While NSW Police are investigating the circumstances around the incident and will provide a report to the Coroner, Transport for NSW has also conducted a review to see what can be done to improve safety. The NSW Government will adopt all eight recommendations made in the review."

Following the report's release on October 15, cyclists are no longer allowed to access the 340-metre mixed running section of the Newcastle tramline along Scott Street as of October 16.

"Permanent signage will also be installed overnight to advise cyclists not to ride in that section of the light rail route," Centre for Road Safety executive director Bernard Carlon said.

Transport for NSW will now continue work with the City of Newcastle to identify an appropriate east-west cycle route through the city.

New warning signage and supporting road markings will be installed along the light rail network to assist bike riders to cross the tracks at a safe angle. Transport for NSW will also investigate new technologies to trial, which could in future help protect cyclists along the network.

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Rail Express --> Newcastle light rail celebrates one millionth customer

Newcastle's light rail service on Friday celebrated its one millionth customer since launching in February this year.

The customer, a regular light rail commuter, works in Newcastle CBD. He had tapped on at the Newcastle Interchange on his way to the Queens Wharf stop when he and fellow commuters aboard the next departing tram were presented with gift bags to mark the milestone.

Keolis Downer Hunter general manager, Mark Dunlop said that on average the light rail moves over 3620 people a day and over 46 per cent are connecting with bus, ferry and train, as part of an integrated journey.   

"We now have a truly integrated network for Newcastle with light rail, bus and ferry services in the city and it is encouraging more people to get on board public transport.

"The light rail makes it easy to connect with other modes of transport whether the ferry at Queens Wharf, buses adjacent to the Honeysuckle and Newcastle Interchange stops and trains to the Hunter and Central Coast from the Interchange."

NSW Upper House member for the Hunter, Taylor Martin, said that it was clear light rail had changed how people moved around the city.

"Novocastrians are making light rail part of their daily lives," Martin said.

"The light rail allows office workers to travel to nearby precincts quicker and easier to get to meetings or on their lunch breaks."

"Patronage has been steadily increasing on weekends and families are definitely taking advantage of light rail to get out and about to explore the Newcastle CBD during school holidays."

[Gazza]

It struggles to move the passengers in and out of Newcastle to the Interchange station as the trains could move 2000 pax no problem.

The DDs in NSW can indeed carry a lot of passengers, but like any terminus station, it's unlikely the trains are heavily loaded towards the end of the line.

[verbatim9]

I was fortunate enough to experience the LRT in Newcastle over the weekend. Pretty efficient. I stayed near Honeysuckle and caught it to the beach.

[ozbob]

It struggles to move the passengers in and out of Newcastle to the Interchange station as the trains could move 2000 pax no problem.

The DDs in NSW can indeed carry a lot of passengers, but like any terminus station, it's unlikely the trains are heavily loaded towards the end of the line.

Wrong in this situation.  They are as the heavy rail is now truncated from the city itself. It's a bit like truncating services from the west at Milton and then putting everyone on a tram to get to the City.  I spoke with a number of Sydney trains staff and locals.  At times the trams really struggle with the numbers that detrain at the interchange.  It means waiting for the next services.

[SurfRail]

Trains were never heavily loaded into Newcastle on s regular basis though.  The passenger counts were pitiful.  The tram runs 8 times an hour and is much more appropriate to the task especially since the "CBD" is much less busy than other parts of the Hunter nowadays.

[ozbob]

The day I went more passengers detrained at interchange than could get on the tram.

Several staff at the station said it often happens.  I had lunch at a local RSL and the a few there said the tram is good, but doesn't carry enough.  In time it will all settle down.

I rather like the rapid charging ... 

[verbatim9]

The day I went more passengers detrained at interchange than could get on the tram.

Several staff at the station said it often happens.  I had lunch at a local RSL and the a few there said the tram is good, but doesn't carry enough.  In time it will all settle down.

I rather like the rapid charging ... 

The rapid charging works well. I noticed though that the tram averages about 40kph max.  It's not a fast tram in respects to LRT in general where speeds can be up to 80kph. It must be the relatively short distances between stations as well as the overall distance of the line that makes the tram travel slower The tram itself could of been longer too, but people do squeeze in. Maybe just improved frequency off peak as time goes on?