*Revealed: Light rail builder makes pitch to design, finance light
rail line on Parramatta Rd*
The builder of Sydney’s CBD light rail system is willing to design
and fund an extension of the network down Parramatta Rd in a move it
says could ‘transform’ the beleaguered road corridor and cut car
congestion.
David Barwell
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/journalists/david-barwell
Daily Telegraph, November 8, 2023 - 5:00AM
Central Sydney
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https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-sydney/revealed-light-rail-builder-makes-pitch-to-design-finance-light-rail-line-on-parramatta-rd/news-story/ed48846f804e48a751ce5e48d9651100#share-tools
NST
The builder of Sydney’s CBD light rail system is willing to design
and fund an extension of the network down Parramatta Rd in a move it
says could ‘transform’ the beleaguered road corridor and cut car
congestion.
Altrac is calling on the NSW Government to expand the city’s light
network by creating a new line on Parramatta Rd connecting key sites
including Central Station, the University of Sydney, RPA Hospital
and Leichhardt’s Norton St.
Concept images of the proposal released by Altrac have given a
glimpse into how the light rail line could transform the road
corridor which has long been considered a congested ‘blight’ on the
city’s landscape.
Altrac, the operator of the existing Sydney CBD and southeast light
rail line, has even expressed willingness to design, build and help
finance an extension down Parramatta Rd.
Duncan Edghill, chief executive of Altrac Light Rail, said a line on
Parramatta Rd would be a “natural extension” of the current network.
A concept photo by Altrac showing what a tram line on Parramatta Rd
could look like.
A concept photo by Altrac showing what a tram line on Parramatta Rd
could look like.
“Light rail is proven to attract new housing and more housing choice
and the line would enable workers and students to live within an
easy commute of jobs and schools along the route,” he said.
“The proof already exists that light rail can completely revitalise
the Sydney streetscape. George St has been vastly changed for the
better by light rail and Parramatta Rd can be transformed too.”
The proposed line would extend to Leichhardt, pictured here at the
Norton St / Parramatta Rd intersection.
The proposed line would extend to Leichhardt, pictured here at the
Norton St / Parramatta Rd intersection.
Concept designs by Altrac suggest the extended light rail line would
run in the centre of Parramatta Rd, meaning several traffic lanes
would have to be removed.
The removal of lanes could have major traffic implications for the
transport corridor which Transport for NSW figures show carries
about 59,000 cars each day.
Mr Edghill said the light rail on Parramatta Rd could “coexist” with
vehicles and help even reduce car congestion by providing commuters
with an alternative public transport option.
“As Sydney’s population grows, it will be unsustainable to have more
and more cars on Parramatta Rd – light rail will provide an
attractive alternative,” he said.
A light rail line could transform Parramatta Rd.
A light rail line could transform Parramatta Rd.
“Patronage will grow over time, particularly as more and more people
are able to live close to the light rail line.”
The total length of the proposed Parramatta Rd line would measure
11km – a similar size to the inner west light rail line – and could
also extend east from Central Station to the population growth
centre of Green Square.
Mr Edghill said the extension needed the NSW Government’s support
and approval and pledged that Altrac “stands ready to make it happen”.
The line could connect key sites including the University of Sydney.
The line could connect key sites including the University of Sydney.
The government, however, has yet to express any firm support towards
the project, with a Transport for NSW spokeswoman saying “there are
no current plans to extend the light rail to Broadway and Parramatta
Rd”.
Transport Minister Jo Haylen has previously said the government’s
focus was on extending the Parramatta Light Rail to Sydney Olympic
Park – a project estimated to cost $3.9 billion.
A concept photo of the Parramatta Rd light rail line.
A concept photo of the Parramatta Rd light rail line.
The Parramatta Rd tram proposal comes as the City of Sydney is set
to adopt Draft Access Strategy and Action Plan which names a light
rail line on the road as a key priority for the city’s future
transport system.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has approached Premier Chris Minns
and other government officials to encourage the NSW Government to
extend the light rail.
“Broadway has more traffic lanes than are required for existing or
projected vehicle movements and our proposal would redress the
imbalance,” a council spokesman added.
Altrac said its commitment to finance the project would include
covering construction costs, which would then be repaid by the NSW
Government once the line is operational.
An Altrac spokeswoman said it would enable the government to “spread
the costs” of the project and avoid having to pay upfront costs.
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#16,143 https://www.skyscrapercity.com/threads/sydney-light-rail-thread-l1-l2-l3.101560/post-186041097 · a moment ago https://www.skyscrapercity.com/threads/sydney-light-rail-thread-l1-l2-l3.101560/post-186041097
While looking at the Altrac website for more information on their Parramatta Rd proposal (there is none), I found this where they obviously regard it as some sort of achievement:
*Journey Time Improvements: A 20-Minute reduction in just two years *
Since the L2 (Circular Quay to Randwick) services commenced in
December 2019, ALTRAC has been able to deliver a near 20-minute
reduction in journey time even as passenger numbers have hit record
highs. As of June 2022, passengers are now able to travel the entire
length of the CSELR in just 35 minutes, which is an almost 50%
reduction from the 52 minutes it took in 2019.
This reduction has been enabled by the ongoing collaboration of
ALTRAC, Transport for NSW
https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/(TfNSW), Transdev
https://www.transdev.com.au/ and the City of Sydney
https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/, who have developed
innovative solutions to cut journey times despite growing light rail
adoption amongst commuters.
This is the first new tram project anywhere in the world that I've
seen where they couldn't predict what should be the proper journey
time at the outset of the project, but had to "feel" their way there
while in service. They obviously work in a bubble where they sought
no insight into tram operations elsewhere and they still haven't got
there, as the maximum journey time should be no more than 25
minutes. L1 is a similar corker.
It also provides a lot of insight into French competence. I remember
talking to a German tram engineer more than a decade ago who told me
that the French went it alone with their light rail revival,
reinventing the wheel and refusing to acquire any insight from the
experience of the European legacy operators. At the same time I was
talking to people in the Czech tram industry who told me that French
tram operations looked nice but were "very slow". It was futile
trying to explain this to anybody locally, where they were seduced
by glossy marketing.
Unfortunately, the French (together with the Spanish and Italians,
the three least competent tram manufacturing and operating
countries) got well-established on the commercial and marketing
front and it took a few years for the industries with the best
competencies (in Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Poland) to
catch up. In Australia, unless state governments established a
dialogue with Victoria (which they arrogantly haven't), they're not
in a position to judge whether they are accessing the best expertise
or not.
If a Parramatta Rd light rail came to fruition, I hope people
wouldn't mind the slower journey. In any case, it's unlikely to be
able to proceed north of Central as all the CBD north-south routes
are now fully accounted for.
This is the first new tram project anywhere in the world that I've seen where they couldn't predict what should be the proper journey time at the outset of the project, but had to "feel" their way there while in service. They obviously work in a bubble where they sought no insight into tram operations elsewhere and they still haven't got there, as the maximum journey time should be no more than 25 minutes. L1 is a similar corker.
It also provides a lot of insight into French competence. I remember talking to a German tram engineer more than a decade ago who told me that the French went it alone with their light rail revival, reinventing the wheel and refusing to acquire any insight from the experience of the European legacy operators. At the same time I was talking to people in the Czech tram industry who told me that French tram operations looked nice but were "very slow". It was futile trying to explain this to anybody locally, where they were seduced by glossy marketing.
Unfortunately, the French (together with the Spanish and Italians, the three least competent tram manufacturing and operating countries) got well-established on the commercial and marketing front and it took a few years for the industries with the best competencies (in Germany, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Poland) to catch up. In Australia, unless state governments established a dialogue with Victoria (which they arrogantly haven't), they're not in a position to judge whether they are accessing the best expertise or not.
If a Parramatta Rd light rail came to fruition, I hope people wouldn't mind the slower journey. In any case, it's unlikely to be able to proceed north of Central as all the CBD north-south routes are now fully accounted for.
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