Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
  Greg Sutherland

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Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
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Post https://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1062503#p1062503 by *Newcastle Flyer https://www.busaustralia.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=273* » Wed May 13, 2020 6:06 pm

^^ Now closed Carlingford Line steepest part was about 1:37 (ie: about 2.7%)!
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Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
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Post https://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1084436#p1084436 by *Glen https://www.busaustralia.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=348* » Fri Nov 26, 2021 7:29 pm

From the Newcastle Herald:

*Newcastle light rail services suspended after mechanical issue
*Sage Swinton

Light rail services suspended after mechanical issue

Newcastle light rail services have been suspended until at least Monday due to a mechanical issue.

Keolis Downer shut down the services from 5pm on Thursday after inspections of the fleet identified the mechanical problem. Buses are replacing the trams while they are out of action.

"The fleet has been suspended as a precaution until inspections are completed," a Transport for NSW spokesperson said.

"This issue is unrelated to the cracking issues identified in the Inner West light rail fleet."

Sydney's Inner West tram line is out of action for at least 18 months due to cracking in all 12 of its Spanish-made CAF light rail vehicles.

Keolis Downer uses similar CAF vehicles in Newcastle but said last month that it had found no problems with its fleet.

The Transport for NSW spokesperson said Keolis Downer aimed to have some trams running by Monday.

"Obviously, as investigation works progress over the weekend we will be able to provide customers with a more accurate update in coming days," the spokesperson said.

"We will keep customers informed as we progress and when services resume."

Labor seized on the suspension of services as another example of government failure in procuring transport infrastructure.

"This is the NSW government's second light rail fail in a month," shadow transport minister Jo Haylen said. "As if we needed more evidence to build transport infrastructure here in Australia."

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp said the vehicle fault followed the discovery of cracking in the light rail tracks early last year.

"Novocastrians were promised the world with this light rail and they've been delivered a dud," he said.
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Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
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Post https://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1084499#p1084499 by *ScaniaGrenda https://www.busaustralia.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=21230* » Sun Nov 28, 2021 5:44 pm

Given the rarity of the Light Rail being out of service in Newcastle, I figure I'd note down my observations for today.

Okay so went and caught the Light Rail Replacement Buses today, only two out at a time when Replacement Bus 1 reaches the Queens Wharf stop, the other is just departing from the Interchange.

The Buses Can't be tracked on any real time feed

This possibly ties into the above, currently there is no need to tap on the replacement buses with your Opal card or contactless payment nor pay for the Journey. When the bus reaches the Queens Wharf replacement stop on Bolton Street (Stop ID 230070) It would make walking down to Queens Wharf tedious just to tap off so I can't see enforcement of payments being done unless they enable it on the replacement buses.

The Buses used were two Volvo B8RLE Bustech VST's (2802 and 2819) from Newcastle Transport. So it appears it is Newcastle Transport replacing the LR, makes sense.

Given the small size of the Newcastle Light Rail Network, there really isn't a Replacement route number for the replacement bus. The Destination of the buses just say "Light Rail Replacement".

The sole Marshall was only there from 9 through to possibly a little after 10 this morning.

TransportNSW Trip Planner doesn't really advise where the replacement stops are, nor is there any Signage. These are the Stops for the Light Rail Replacement Bus;

Newcastle Interchange Stand A (Stop ID 230233) Newcastle Interchange Replacement Stop
Hunter St at Steel St (Stop ID: 230222) Replacement stop for Honeysuckle Station
University House, King St (Stop ID: 230048) Replacement stop for Civic Station
King St at Perkins St (Stop ID: 230040) Replacement stop for Crown Street Station
Bolton St before Church St (Stop ID: 230070) Replacement Stop for Queens Wharf Station
King St at Bolton St (Stop ID: 230039) Replacement stop for Newcastle Beach

Hopefully some of this Information is useful or helpful, especially the part about where the replacement buses stop. Trip Planner was otherwise just telling me to walk and catch a service bus when I'd try to input anything about the Light Rail Station.