Transport Minister Must Act Before 2010
In the light of NSW Transport Minister's admission that his department is 'battling' with overcrowding on the rail network, public transport advocacy group, EcoTransit Sydney, is asking John Watkins to fast-track the extension of light rail from Lilyfield to Dulwich Hill.
EcoTransit spokesperson, Leah Mason, says that they are concerned about waiting almost a decade to address rapid increases in patronage.
"Rail patronage has already breached targets set for 2016, and there is almost nothing on the table that will assist with managing this increase until 2015. The proposal that we have put to the Transport Minister operates in its own corridor, and could be ready to take more than a million trips off the road and the trains by the time of the next state election," said Ms Mason.
EcoTransit Sydney's request for the matter to be considered urgently is also influenced by the abandonment of improvements to congestion on the CityRail network that were included in the North West Rail Line plans. Crowding at CBD loop stations such as Town Hall has already made headlines in the last year.
"Dangerous overcrowding on the CBD stations was going to be addressed by the North West Rail Link, but the improvements have been abandoned with the rail line and will not be a part of the new proposal for a North West Metro. In the absence of expansions of these stations, we must consider what can be done to take the pressure off these stations before someone gets seriously
hurt," said Ms Mason.
"The light rail extension to Dulwich Hill would create a connection between Lewisham and Dulwich Hill railway stations providing integration with the Bankstown and Parramatta lines, and allowing passengers to transfer between these lines outside of the CBD," she said.
Ms Mason also said that while EcoTransit Sydney were pleased to hear that there are plans to increase bus numbers and train services, the organisation remains unconvinced that the current network capacity can be significantly expanded without investment in permanent infrastructure.
"There is only so much room on the roads and on the existing rail network. More trains will help, but more buses will just add to the road congestion. Our proposal is not affected by congestion on the roads. It is cheap, fast to build, and adds capacity - not just vehicles - to the existing network. It should be given priority, " said Ms Mason.