I think it's looking great now with all that ugly electrification clutter gone and accessible open space across to the waterfront! That's what it was all about. The tram will be a far more elegant solution for this part of town.

What those not familiar with Newcastle don't understand is that there is no longer a Newcastle CBD here as a focal point for a "grand railway terminus". Newcastle has decentred westwards, a trend that was happening for years and finalised by the earthquake. The east end is now about residential and the harbour/beaches, analogous to Sydney's eastern suburbs. There is no "railway tragedy" here, just a functional change in the urban environment and a transport adjustment that reflects that.

I think it's funny in the older video seeing the old 620 class being the only train moving around with a bit of oomph while the modern trains, rated at 145 km/h, crawl around like slugs at what looks like 45 km/h. A reminder of the good old days of NSW railways before it all went to pot.

Tony P