The Future of Urban Transport

Along with urban rail increases over 5 years (34 per cent in Melbourne down to two per cent in Sydney), light rail is up over the last five years to 2006-07 Melbourne up 16 per cent (to 155m passengers), Sydney(LR and monorail) up 22 per cent (to over 7.5m) and Adelaide down (2-m in 06-07) from 2001-02, but should be up again in 2007-08, as paying fares were up 15 per cent in six months after opening the Adelaide extension in October 2007.

As noted by the Australian Financial Review (April 24, 2008, Adelaide has seen the light), the Property Council of Australia noted the tram extension "has opened the city right up … [and] had created a significant interest in property development" and favoured extending the tram line to Port Adelaide. Such a further extension could be facilitated by the concrete gauge convertiable sleepers installed in 2002 to the Outer Harbour.

It is worth noting that in 1950, the Sydney tram system was longer in route kms (route miles in those days) than the Melbourne one. Also during the mid 1940s, trams in Australian cities moved over one billion passengers per year.

Big question: will Sydney get any light rail extension?

The (Daily Telegraph April 6 2008) noted the NSW Government was considering a 4.1 km $135m light rail service running from Circular Quay to Central Station via The Rocks by 2011. This was to provide direct access to a redeveloped East Darling Harbour project (Barangaroo) as opposed to running trams down George Street. Also under consideration was a long-proposed extension of the existing light rail system from Lilyfield to Summer Hill.

Who would like to run bets that either the Federal and/or NSW budgets will reflect the fact that higher oil prices are here to stay and so more money on rail and upt may be a better option than more money on roads.

regards, P.
10 May