Set corridors aside for rail network - Canberra Times

S-Truck · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 9:46 pm

"Set corridors aside for rail network
Jack Kershaw
Thursday, 9 December 2004

The contention by Ian Byrne (CT Letters, December 7) that the time to build a rail network will come when Canberra is much bigger ignores a much larger issue.

If we fail to act until Canberra reaches total road chaos, it will cost an untold fortune to bulldoze existing infrastructure, bury it (as in Singapore), build a railway on massive stilts (as in Bangkok) or do nothing (as in Dublin) hoping traffic snarls will fix themselves.

Outer Sydney's green corridor (set aside over several decades when land was cheap) is an excellent example of far-sighted wisdom that our elected representatives should emulate in regards to a future ACT rail network.

Unlike the Gungahlin Drive Extension, people who build a house or a sports complex next to such a corridor would do so in full knowledge of government intentions.

Until needed for their advertised purpose, such corridors (if regularly cleared of excessive fuel) would make excellent firebreaks.

Graham MacafeeLatham In criticising what I was suggesting - an inner city light rail loop - Ian Byrne appeared to be referring to something different, inter-town light rail for commuters, similar to that promoted, but now apparently abandoned, by property developer Bob Winnell, between Gungahlin and Civic.

I think Bob also had his eye on exploiting "land capture" near the various stations along the way, as described by Newman and Kenworthy in their 1990s study on "urban villages" for Canberra - a concept somewhat at odds with our Y Plan with its large satellite towns having their own major employment centres.

I sort of agree with Ian's argument that his apparent concept of light rail may not be economically viable in the ACT until the population nearly doubles, because cars are so convenient.

However, the central area of our national capital is unique in character and content, with different transport needs, and the rail loop would appeal to the growing numbers of those who live, work, resort, visit, travel between buildings/sites, or study there, and who would probably not want to use a car for those purposes."

Light rail might be used in the Parliamentary Triangle according to the Nationjal Capital Authorities Burley Griffen Legacy plans. The selling of land to developers would fund the light rail.

Good

mjja · Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 8:41 am

Good to see someone at least slightly influential has the right idea.

Canberra is laid out quite different to most other cities - with commercial centres scattered throughout the residential ones instead of grouped together in clumps like most other places.

That would mean that the traditional heavy rail system for getting from the outer suburbs to the inner business district would not be the way to go.

I suggest a system of light rail routes taking people from near their homes to the nearest commercial centre (which is not far), and interchanging with a heavy rail system, with the station right in the middle of the commercial centre.

There would be (probably underground) heavy rail routes with a fast, frequent service which go from centre to centre, and the light rail would take you the last half kilometer.

Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"

Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)

Edith · Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 8:44 am

IMO Canberra was designed around road transport, a spread-out suburban style layout, with local activity centres for shopping and employment. A lot of land has been devoted to cars in terms of roads and car parks.

If population grows, the availability of land may come at a premium and if fuel prices soar, then a more compact city style of development will be required. Public transport might change from bus to rail but where will the transport corridor come from ? It will be hard to get the motorists to give up their road to build a tram line. Yes, we need to reserve the corridors NOW. They will be useful, even if they never get used for transport.

Dreams are not something to wait for
They are something to work for

S-Truck · Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 2:41 pm

mjja · Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 2:42 pm

Unfortunately if it keeps doing a pretty good job they'll be stuck with a car bound city. And that means problems down the track.

Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"

Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)

S-Truck · Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 2:43 pm

DavidB · Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 2:58 pm

S-Truck · Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 3:05 pm

S-Truck · Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 3:09 pm

Auxodium · Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2005 12:21 am

loud_noises · Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 9:44 am

monday · Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 11:30 am

The ACT would be well served by an intertown rail route from say civic to tuggers/greenway/calwell, civic to belco/kippax, branch off at oconner/dickson to Gungahlin, civic to Kingston/Queanbeyan (connection with existing SG network.

Perhaps, either two car L sets, or in the short term diesel electrics/hydraulics similar to hunter cars/sprinters/3000's... (although maybe the 620's could have a rebirth ... or better yet CPH's) he he he

"I know. Let's have everyone who enjoys having obstacles in their life, which they can overcome, go this way, and everyone whose insecurities sabotage their potential to overcome those obstacles go that way. "

Duffy · Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 11:57 am

GeoffreyHansen · Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:42 pm

If the line could theoretically be rebuilt between Kingston and Canberra Civic, would there be a market for a suburban service between those locations?

Also could Canberra consider an airport railway?

And how far is Queenbeyan from Canberra?

Thanks
Geoffrey

Duffy · Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:47 pm