SMH Transport articles

dwb · January 10, 2015, 18:24:44 PM

The irony being if Sydney allowed/promoted intermodal travel they wouldn't need to many different caps

ozbob · January 12, 2015, 06:18:39 AM

Sydney Morning Herald --> Pedestrian Emily Greenwood run down by cyclist

ozbob · January 12, 2015, 09:13:22 AM

Sydney Morning Herald --> Building more roads is not 21st century thinking

ozbob · January 16, 2015, 03:27:22 AM

Sydney Morning Herald --> ACT parking-fee plan to encourage use of buses

ozbob · February 14, 2015, 08:32:41 AM

Sydney Morning Herald --> Transport lobby calls for new rail lines to Parramatta, Bondi Beach

ozbob · February 16, 2015, 02:54:56 AM

Sydney Morning Herald --> Government: Paramedics help keep Sydney trains on time

ozbob · February 16, 2015, 05:46:21 AM

Sydney Morning Herald --> Crisis looms for Sydney train commuters

#Metro · February 16, 2015, 06:07:56 AM

It might be too late. Can Sydney build out of the mess? Doubt it. The figures being thrown around $20 BN etc are just crazy dollars! And that is just on rail systems, health and education costs are going to go through the sky in the future as well. I honestly don't see how State Governments are going to fund things into the future, I just can't see it happening.

For reference, Gina Rinehart's entire wealth is $20 BN. If you took all her money it would still not be enough to pay for even some of the projects being talked about.

#Metro · February 16, 2015, 06:29:10 AM

Well, for Sydney:

1. Look at ripping out seats. Maybe standing room only on the bottom carriage, seats for longer distance pax on the top.

2. Peak hour fare increase. Not popular but does the job.

3. Fix bus network to carry more people on the buses, taking pressure of trains. Sydney has a dog's breakfast bus network, if they analysed it they would probably find waste and inefficiency galore.

4. Look at taking lanes from the Harbour Bridge for second rail crossing. Radical, but might be much cheaper than a $10 BN new crossing, and when you have no $$, everything should be on the table.

Heavy infrastructure solutions are being priced out of existence and are seeming more and more unrealistic.

ozbob · February 16, 2015, 06:31:25 AM

Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane all heading to a terminal gridlock ..

Meanwhile Abbott et al. pontificate on more roads that have not even been properly evaluated.

The reign of Abbott is drawing to a close ...

#Metro · February 16, 2015, 06:37:05 AM

I believe that in the future it will simply not be possible to build major infrastructure - road or rail. The costs are just totally astronomical, when I see numbers like $20 BN here, $10 BN there, these are numbers that belong in the next universe. To put things in perspective, the Australian Government chews through about $450 BN each year (includes transfer payments to states).

Even if the money could be found, it takes half a decade or so to build the thing and get all the rollingstock etc. Too long.

This is dubai - pax off the plane get a bus between terminals. Look at the bus, it is like a metro train on wheels, go inside, NO seats, standing room only. All the seats have been ripped out.

colinw · February 16, 2015, 12:22:18 PM

I've used that transfer bus at Dubai. It is horrendously uncomfortable and not even remotely suitable for journeys of more than a couple of minutes.

From your earlier post:

Quote
4. Look at taking lanes from the Harbour Bridge for second rail crossing. Radical, but might be much cheaper than a $10 BN new crossing, and when you have no $$, everything should be on the table.

I have long wondered why Sydney doesn't consider returning the former tram lanes (eastern two lanes) to rail service, along with quadruplication of the north shore line as far as Chatswood.

Basic picture I am thinking here is take the automated metro trains from the NWRL down to the former tram platforms at Wynyard via the Eastern Lanes of the bridge. Would require considerable track amplification on the north shore line, a new rail over road flyover in the vicinity of Milsons Point station, and would result in a very much slower (but cheaper!) line than tunnelling all the way from Chatswood.

If more road capacity is needed, then build a much cheaper 2nd road tunnel under the harbour, with suitable tolls of course.

Gazza · February 16, 2015, 13:23:23 PM

Quote from: LD Transit on February 16, 2015, 06:37:05 AM
I believe that in the future it will simply not be possible to build major infrastructure - road or rail. The costs are just totally astronomical, when I see numbers like $20 BN here, $10 BN there, these are numbers that belong in the next universe. To put things in perspective, the Australian Government chews through about $450 BN each year (includes transfer payments to states).

Even if the money could be found, it takes half a decade or so to build the thing and get all the rollingstock etc. Too long.

This is dubai - pax off the plane get a bus between terminals. Look at the bus, it is like a metro train on wheels, go inside, NO seats, standing room only. All the seats have been ripped out.

But wouldn't tax revenues be higher in the future too....Everything inflates together.

ozbob · February 16, 2015, 16:31:05 PM

Sydney Morning Herald --> Call for debate over Sydney Trains: Bankstown Line or Parramatta Metro?

techblitz · February 18, 2015, 06:55:21 AM

Sydney Morning Herald --> Transport minister Gladys Berejiklian 'distressed' over footage of double amputee crawling up train station stairs

ozbob · February 18, 2015, 15:17:54 PM

Sydney Morning Herald --> Mike Baird promises $300 million to untangle Sydney's roads

colinw · February 18, 2015, 16:56:05 PM

$300 million? What'll that do, rejig a couple of intersections?

ozbob · March 06, 2015, 16:19:32 PM

Sydney Morning Herald --> Secret plan to carve up Sydney rail network

SurfRail · March 06, 2015, 17:40:30 PM

The comments on that article are just laughable.

Somebody has suggested that if the signals fail all trains should just be driven on sight with radio calls. Somebody else has suggested trains be upgraded to 10 cars because the Indian Pacific can traverse the signalling blocks (ignoring the fact it traverses several at a time and doesn't stop anywhere). Somebody else is criticising the NWRL because no provision was made for freight.

And I think we have a hard time up here.

ozbob · March 13, 2015, 14:18:28 PM

Sydney Morning Herald --> Opal access? New car parks for Western Sydney stations could be restricted to rail commuters

pandmaster · March 14, 2015, 02:25:05 AM

Quote from: ozbob on March 13, 2015, 14:18:28 PM
Sydney Morning Herald --> Opal access? New car parks for Western Sydney stations could be restricted to rail commuters

Hmm... more car spaces = reduced congestion, hey?

What a waste of funds. I very much doubt people are parking at train stations and not catching PT. I am sure people are parking at their local station at 5:30AM just to go to the local shops!

For the alleged party of markets, offering a scarce resource for free is inconsistent. All I need to say regarding an alternative to this plan is to look at Perth.