Sydney’s future transport plan: the controversy continues

By Jennifer Perry

Media reports have suggested that if the study finds light rail a viable option it could potentially undermine the case for the controversial CBD Metro.
The government’s announcement that it would examine a loop up George Street and down Hickson Road via the new development at Barangaroo was made less than a fortnight after ruling out the light rail plan, it was reported.
Campbell said that the government is “determined” to achieve an outcome from the cost study into the possible extension of the light rail network, and for that reason it will “cooperate with [inner-city] Councils” and include the George Street loop in the study.
However, this will delay the process while an expanded request for proposals is developed and re-submitted, he said.
“It’s important that the councils come on board and assist us to get on with the job now and not allow any further delay,” Campbell said.
However a spokesperson for EcoTransit Sydney, a long-term advocate for light rail in Sydney, told Rail Express that to their knowledge, Councils were completely unaware that a tender had been drawn up and advertised “until we advised them of it, having seen it come up in a tender search service”.
“Several of the Councils only contributed money on the basis that the study would be guided by them, the present delay has been caused by the decision to ignore this condition,” the spokesperson said.
The Government’s announcement of the George Street inclusion in the light rail study was welcomed by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who said that light rail would “transform” central Sydney into a pedestrian friendly, efficient transport corridor that “people would actually enjoy using”.
Rather than seeing Sydney’s light rail and CBD Metro as an either/or situation, a City of Sydney spokesperson told Rail Express that the light rail would “complement” the Metro, along with transport links to north-west and south-west Sydney.
“This must be part of an integrated transport plan including heavy rail, light rail, metro, buses, ferries, taxis, cycleways and pedestrian links,” the spokesperson said.
Not surprisingly, NSW Opposition Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian wasn’t so welcoming.
“The fact that the...Government didn’t conduct a feasibility study into light rail in the CBD and Inner West before it announced the CBD to Rozelle Metro further highlights its complete incompetence and inability to plan major public transport projects,” Berejiklian said.
“An extension of the light rail network through the city and into the Inner West is far less costly and further strengthens the already overwhelming case for dumping the flawed $5.3 billion CBD to Rozelle Metro.”
EcoTransit Sydney believes that light rail is a far better alternative than the proposed CBD Metro because it “costs much less, can be built much faster and has better accessibility characteristics”.
“It is likely that if it came to a vote we would see larger public support for a network of smaller, cheaper trains that can be up and running in the time it takes to finance and build a stand-alone line with much bigger, much more expensive trains,” the spokesperson said.