I didn't know that the cost:benefit ratio was so poor. Well that
pretty-much seals it until (if) Adelaide's economy comes more to life one
day. With such a tentative hold on attracting patronage out of cars,
Adelaide would do best to concentrate on corridors where they can offer
something that has a strong power of attraction. One of these is the O Bahn
with its ability to whip people in and out of more distant suburbs quickly
and another is the South Terrace to Entertainment Centre corridor of the
tram where a very strong downtown circulator and P+R patronage has been
gained. I gather that these are respectively the first and second
most-patronised public transport corridors in Adelaide.

I don't know whether similar gains are possble anywhere else by bus or
train. The city suffers from low-density, a relatively low level of
activity and ease of parking. Buses can handle most of the present and
future possibilities. The potential for further tram lines just doesn't
seem to be there, though I think the Liberals were onto something in
talking of extending the downtown circulator function which is the only
part of the tram system that has been successful - the Glenelg line
remaining in its long sleep.

Sometimes I think that SA is embarked on some sort of suicide mission with
its "green power" fetish. Fine in theory and as a long-term goal, but
closing down coal-fired power stations prematurely and sending prices
skyward and reliability down is death for attracting industry and
investment, not to mention the terrible effect on ordinary people. Now I
can't see any new coal-powered stations being built in Australia because
they won't take the risk of Labor/Green governments getting into office at
some stage and nixing it. What a right royal mess Australia has got itself
into indulging these fantasies. Countries like Germany can afford to play
with these ideals because they can fall back on drawing energy from
surrounding countries that have retained their common-sense, but Australia
is stuck all on its own in the South Pacific. Those photos a while ago of
the stalled blacked-out trams in Adelaide with buses still running all
around them sums it up pretty-well. You want electric transport - you need
reliable electricity.

Tony P

On Tuesday, 17 July 2018 18:15:55 UTC+10, Mark Skinner wrote:
>

> The previous government undertook an economic analysis as part of the

> (incomplete) business case for Infrastructure Australia. It was never

> released. The benefit:cost ratio for the North Terrace extension was a poor

> 0.7. So, it's not unreasonable to assume that the extension to North

> Adelaide was much worse, since the cost per kM to North Adelaide was far

> higher.

>

> With such a poor ratio of benefits to costs, it's not hard for an

> unsympathetic government to scrap the whole thing. Or for a less than

> competent government not to be able to lower costs to make it worth while.

>

> The previous Labor government favoured trams, but did not have the wit to

> do it economically well enough. The new Liberal government has neither the

> wit nor the inclination. Though, that does mean the taxpayer isn't saddled

> with something uneconomic.

>

> If anyone wants to see trams running, they need to be thinking of ways to

> reduce the gold plating, and increase the benefits.

>

>

> Mark Skinner

>

> On Tuesday, July 17, 2018, Graham Jaunay prof...@... <javascript:>>

> wrote:

>

>> It is the current govt's policy not to extend trams. They are car

>> orientated and use arguments like trams clog up roadways. I suspect even

>> the plans to crate a city loop and Nth Adelaide extension will not happen

>> under this govt.

>>

>> Graham

>>

>> On Tuesday, 17 July 2018 14:21:15 UTC+9:30, Prescott wrote:

>>>

>>> Somebody is claiming on the bus forum that the SA govt has said they

>>> won't be building any more tram extensions. Have any Adelaidians heard

>>> anything like this?

>>>

>>> Tony P

>>>

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>