On 30/03/11 09:09, Jones, Richard wrote:
>

> A few years back, former Transport Minister John Watkins, at an event

> which I attended, said that the (then) government was most definitely

> opposed to light rail. I didn't notice much change in this stance in

> following years and with the continuous succession of Transport

> Ministers. The State Treasury was also anti-rail in all forms and

> opposed major heavy rail extensions. I note that the chief of State

> Treasury has been stood down following the revelation that the coffers

> have been plundered.

>

> The big worry seems to be that Gladys Berejiklian, the Transport

> Minister elect, does not seem to have much of a grasp of how a

> complicated rail system such as we have in Sydney is compelled to

> operate. There seems to be an opinion that we have trains standing

> idle in peak periods, which certainly is not the case. She is to meet

> with "people involved with the rail system" during this week, so it is

> hoped that she talks to the right people.

>


They also need to stare down treasury who have been busily inflating
rail cost estimates.

Then of course, for any thing that gets past that stumbling block, the
bidders bid to the price they know they can get, not their best price.

I wonder if the quality of the work on the current East Hills line
expansion works and the SW rail link reflect the price, or are we
getting a cut price job at a premium price ?

I still think it's a terrible waste of money even engaging consultants
to look at Broadway to Sydney Uni light rail. All the transport minister
has to do is go for a walk down Broadway her self. (And then catch a bus
the other way - using the departmental car and driver is cheating)