It's funny watching public transport advocates bagging a government that
has done an epic amount for public transport and looking forward to its
replacement by a government that has a track record of doing sfa. It kinda
indicates that it's only about the colours of politics and not public
transport at all.
Tony P
On Thursday, 18 August 2022 at 22:29:59 UTC+10a...@... wrote:
> Nah, not with the clusterfuck of corrupt koala killers that's running the
> state, March 25 can’t come soon enough.
>
> And that’s without considering the Adventures of Secret Agent Scotty and
> the Million Mystery Ministries.
>
> Running out of scandals?
>
> You wish.
>
> Tony
>
> On 18 Aug 2022, at 16:59, TP histor...@...> wrote:
>
> Obviously poor old Granny is running out of "scandals". Have they noticed
> that, after the current orders are fully delivered, NSW basically has all
> the rolling stock it needs until the next round of lifecycle replacements?
> New country fleet locked in and in progress, interurbans largely completed,
> suburbans completed, metro second batches in progress, trams second batches
> in progress. Anything further beyond these is obviously waiting to see
> where the patterns of patronage land post-pandemic.
>
> Tony P
>
> On Thursday, 18 August 2022 at 13:55:54 UTC+10gregsut...@...
> wrote:
>
>>
>> https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/extra-trains-for-nsw-on-hold-amid-warning-of-investment-slump-20220809-p5b8dl.html
>> Extra trains for NSW ‘on hold’ amid warning of investment slump
>> [image: Matt O'Sullivan]
>> By Matt O'Sullivan https://www.smh.com.au/by/matt-o'sullivan-hvehy
>> August 18, 2022 — 5.00am
>> Key points
>>
>> - A strategic report by the state-owned Transport Asset Holding
>> Entity warns that its investment plan “tails off significantly” after 2025
>> to about $500 million annually.
>> - The “sensitive” report couches the “lack of future investment and
>> funding” as both a “challenge and an opportunity” for TAHE.
>> - Fixing corroded steel over-bridges in regional areas is one of the
>> “major challenges” the government is grappling with in maintaining the
>> heavy rail network.
>> - A government spokeswoman said more than $5.3 billion was being
>> invested through digital systems, infrastructure upgrades and new trains.
>> - Labor’s transport spokeswoman said there was a “real danger” that
>> passengers would end up with second-class services if the government cut
>> investment.
>>
>> Advertisement
>>
>> The NSW government has delayed long-term plans to buy extra passenger
>> trains as internal documents warn that investment in the existing network
>> will slump within the next few years.
>>
>> The strategic report by the state-owned Transport Asset Holding Entity
>> (TAHE) warns that its investment plan “tails off significantly” after 2025
>> to about $500 million annually, a sum which will largely be spent on
>> maintenance.
>> [image: Confidential documents show the government has put “on hold”
>> buying extra passenger trains beyond the existing commitments it has made.]
>>
>> Confidential documents show the government has put “on hold” buying extra
>> passenger trains beyond the existing commitments it has made.Credit:Brook
>> Mitchell
>>
>> It also shows that fixing corroded steel over-bridges in regional areas
>> is one of the “major challenges” the government is grappling with in
>> maintaining the state’s heavy rail network.
>>
>> The purchase of extra passenger trains is “on hold” beyond existing
>> commitments in a project known as “more trains, more services”, according
>> to the report, until there is greater certainty about patronage on the rail
>> network, which took a hit during the pandemic.
>>
>> The latest part of the “more trains, more services” project, which will
>> be delivered, includes the purchase of an extra 56 train carriages for
>> intercity services as well as a batch of new Waratah suburban trains. It
>> also involves an upgrade to a rail maintenance facility on the Central
>> Coast.
>> Related Article
>> [image: An artist’s impression of the new Spanish-built regional trains.]
>>
>> https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/another-multibillion-dollar-nsw-train-project-at-risk-of-delays-cost-overruns-20220629-p5axs0.html
>> ExclusivePublic transport
>> https://www.smh.com.au/topic/public-transport-610
>> Another multibillion-dollar NSW train project at risk of delays, cost
>> overruns
>> https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/another-multibillion-dollar-nsw-train-project-at-risk-of-delays-cost-overruns-20220629-p5axs0.html
>>
>> The “sensitive” report – completed in December – couches the “lack of
>> future investment and funding” as both a “challenge and an opportunity” for
>> TAHE.
>>
>> It says that “balancing and prioritising” future investment in the
>> transport network with “TAHE-led commercial development is a critical area
>> of focus”.
>>
>> The *Herald* recently revealed TAHE’s ambitious plan
>> https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/secret-plans-to-sell-rezone-and-develop-land-across-sydney-railways-20220614-p5atiw.html
>> to sell or redevelop land across Sydney’s rail network and morphing
>> into a big property developer to deliver more than $40 billion in
>> government windfalls.
>> Advertisement
>>
>> The warning about a looming drop in investment comes as the government has
>> put on ice
>> https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-told-to-put-high-profile-road-transport-projects-on-ice-20220530-p5app7.html
>> several large transport projects, including the Beaches Link motorway
>> tunnel
>> https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/lives-in-limbo-as-north-sydney-s-divisive-beaches-link-tunnel-stalls-20220602-p5aqp6.html
>> in Sydney’s northeast.
>>
>> Labor transport spokeswoman Jo Haylen said there was a “real danger” that
>> train passengers across NSW would end up with second-class services if the
>> government cut investment.
>> [image: One of the intercity trains at the centre of a stand-off between
>> rail unions and the NSW government.]
>>
>> One of the intercity trains at the centre of a stand-off between rail
>> unions and the NSW government.Credit:Tom Rabe
>>
>> “Any cuts will lead to fewer trains, fewer services, and to our rail
>> infrastructure becoming obsolete and unsafe,” she said.
>>
>> A government spokeswoman said more than $5.3 billion was being invested
>> in the “more trains, more services” program to deliver a range of benefits
>> for rail customers through digital systems, infrastructure upgrades and new
>> trains.
>>
>> She said the new intercity fleet would be progressively introduced on the
>> Central Coast and Newcastle line once an operating model was finalised and
>> crews trained. A timeline for them starting services on the Blue Mountains
>> and South Coast lines would be determined after more trains were delivered
>> and further testing completed.
>> Related Article
>> [image: Car emissions are the subject of a new industry campaign.]
>>
>> https://www.smh.com.au/national/revealed-car-industry-s-secret-emissions-plan-would-slow-electric-vehicle-uptake-20220805-p5b7pe.html
>> ExclusiveElectric cars https://www.smh.com.au/topic/electric-cars-1mqf
>> Revealed: Car industry’s secret emissions plan would slow electric
>> vehicle uptake
>> https://www.smh.com.au/national/revealed-car-industry-s-secret-emissions-plan-would-slow-electric-vehicle-uptake-20220805-p5b7pe.html
>>
>> The new intercity trains
>> https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/negotiation-breakdown-threatens-to-keep-new-rail-fleet-in-mothballs-20220608-p5as9q.html
>> remain at the centre of a prolonged dispute between unions and the
>> government, which has resulted in months of various forms of industrial
>> action
>> https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/last-train-to-bondi-has-ripple-effect-on-small-businesses-commuters-20220810-p5b8p0.html
>> by rail workers.
>>
>> The confidential report by TAHE also warns that maintenance of
>> over-bridges on rail lines in regional areas “continues to be one of the
>> major challenges”.
>>
>> “Severe corrosion to structural members and fastenings is the primary
>> concern for the steel over-bridges. The load rating investigation projects
>> are underway and there is an increase in over-bridges with load
>> restrictions,” it says.
>>
>> In comparison, the overall condition of bridges and other infrastructure
>> on Sydney’s metropolitan rail network is deemed “average”.
>>
>> Regional Transport Minister Sam Farraway said he had “full confidence”
>> that the state’s country rail network was “well maintained”.
>>
>>
>>
>>
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