ARTICLE: Trams on track for return to suburbs under Coalition plan

[#Metro]

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/state-election-2011/trams-on-track-for-return-to-suburbs-under-coalition-plan-20110223-1b5np.html?from=smh_sb

This was announced today. BRT could do the route until LRT construction was started.

ALMOST 50 years to the day after the last tram in Sydney made its final journey, the Coalition will announce the return of light rail to the suburbs.

The opposition's transport spokeswoman, Gladys Berejiklian, will today release plans for a light rail line from Circular Quay to the University of NSW. The plan would restore trams to Anzac Parade, which was designed specifically for light rail.

There will always be a need for high capacity surface transport.
And this is by the Coalition!  Surprise!!!

[#Metro]

The Coalition policy, citing data from the Gold Coast light rail project, says trams can carry 10,000 passengers an hour, giving them more capacity than buses.

Randwick council, UNSW, the Australian Turf Club and three hospitals in Randwick are signing a memorandum of understanding to support the light rail extension to the east.

Even more (double this) if you put them into Class A ROW.

[colinw]

Surprise, surprise, those tram lines ripped out all those years ago were necessary after all.  I would not be surprised to see many of the key routes of the former Sydney system return in modern LRT form, as LRT extensions are so much more affordable than pie-in-the-sky metros.

There's a lesson for Brisbane here as well.

[#Metro]

What are the chances that existing track could be uncovered and re-habilitated?

[ozbob]

What are the chances that existing track could be uncovered and re-habilitated?

Nil I would suggest.

[colinw]

It has been done in the US - the McKinney Avenue Streetcar in Dallas, which uncovered and used track that had been disused since the 1950s. I believe only a relatively small amount of original track was usable, and the entire thing has since been relaid.

Brisbane track may be a different proposition, since so much of it was laid in mass concrete - a tramway laying technique which originated in Brisbane incidentally.

[mufreight]

Uncovering track that has been buried to bring it back into service poses problems, the level would be below that of the adjoining road surface which would then need to be lowered effectively requiring the total reconstruction of the road way, a rather costly process while digging out only the section required for the new tram/LR tracks might be difficult it would be far more cost effective than a complete rebuild of the road and would enable the new tracks to conform to any changes in the alignment of the road.

[Stillwater]

My heart skipped a beat when I read 'Trams on track for return to suburbs under Coalition plan', only to realise the circumstances applied to Sydney and not Brisbane.  Let's hope that the LNP in Queensland sees merit in a effective and frequent public transport network for Brisbane and SEQ, and devises a strong PT position before the next state election.  Viewed in a purely political sense (even though it makes economic and transport sense) upgrading the Doomben line would be a no-brainer, to borrow an Ozbob saying.  Duplication of the Sunshine Coast Line (where the LNP hold all seats bar one, and it is held by an Independent) is another case where the juxtaposition of political, transport, economic and social benefits is of particular interest to the Opposition.  

[colinw]

Similar reaction here.  Will Brisbane be the last capital city to get its act together and implement a modern LRT or tram system?