australia’s urban passenger transit transport journal australia ta 2013 - November Volume 68 Number 11 $9.95 RRP Incl. GST

Features Moving The First Two Trams To The Gold Coast Light Rail Planning ACTION Timetable 2014 Commonwealth Election First Auckland EMU Sydney’s City Centre Access Strategy ISSN 0818 5204 Adelaide Electrification Print Post Approved pp299436/00152 Plus Regulars 321 322 TRANSIT AUSTRALIA 11/2013 2013 - November Volume 68 Number 11

contents transit Features australia ta australia’s urban passenger transport journal Moving The First Two Trams To The Gold Coast_____ 324 TRANSIT AUSTRALIA Sydney Light Rail Planning______328 Transit Australia Publishing GPO Box 1017, SYDNEY NSW 2001 Australia ACTION Timetable 2014______330 Internet: www.transitaustralia.com.au Commonwealth Election______331 Editorial Team: Editor in Chief: Tony Bailey First Auckland EMU______332 PO Box 192, BOTANY NSW 1455 Ph: (02) 9341 8700, Fax: (02) 8208 9956 Sydney’s City Centre Access Strategy______334 Email: [email protected] Editorial Advisors: Adelaide Electrification______342 Ian G Cooper, V M Isaacs, Stuart Keenan, L J Pascoe, R K Willson, Agnes Boskovitz Transit Newsfile Publisher and Business Manager: Hugh Ballment ACT______338 PO Box 114, CANTERBURY VIC 3126 Ph: (03) 9836 3338, Fax: (03) 9836 2647 ______338 International Fax: +61-3-9836 2647 Email: [email protected] Queensland______341 Advertising: Hugh Ballment Ph: (03) 9836 3338 South Australia______341 Subscription Manager: Ted McDonald GPO Box 1017, SYDNEY NSW 2001 Australia Tasmania______344 Ph: (02) 9659 7749, Fax: (02) 9659 7749 International Fa x: +61-2-9659 7749 Victoria______344 Email: [email protected] Western Australia______346 Book Editor: Victor Isaacs 43 Lowanna Street, BRADDON ACT 2612 Western Pacific______347 Ph: (02) 6257 1742 (after hours) Email: [email protected] New Zealand______347 Manuscripts invited for consideration South East Asia______348 Website Co-ordinator: John Clifton at The Little Website Company Pty Ltd Indonesia______348 www.tlwsc.com.au Layout and Design: Carl Segnit, Tecoma, Malaysia______348 Singapore______348 Annual Subscription 2014: Thailand______348 Australia Overseas Airmail, AUD (incl. GST) Asia/Pacific Zone # Rest of the World The Philippines______348 Personal $120.00 $150.00 $175.00 Vietnam______349 Corporate $145.00 $175.00 $200.00 # Asia/Pacific Zone incl. NZ, PNG, Fiji, Malaysia, India, Japan, China. Regulars Visa/Mastercard payments only (Mail or fax subscriptions as above): add 5% to annual subscription. People______330 Subscription rates are for a calendar year (Jan to Dec). Subscribers wishing to commence through the year either may have Letters______349 issues sent or adjust the amount accordingly.

Industry______349 Published monthly by Transit Australia Publishing, a division of the Australian Electric Traction Association (inc. Victoria) and an Associate Member of the Conferences______350 International Association of Public Transport (Aust. and NZ). Opinions expressed in Transit Australia are not necessarily those of Transit Australia Publishing or of Contributors______350 the Australian Electric Traction Association or its members. No responsibility is taken for the return of any unsolicited articles or photographs. The Editor retains the right to edit or reject all contributions. Responsibility for editorial comment is taken by the Publisher. Services Directory______350 Copyright 2013 Transit Australia Publishing and individually named persons. No unauthorised reproduction permitted in any form. Approval for reproduction must be sought from the Editor. AETA Notices ______350 Printed in Australia by Printgraphics Pty Ltd 14 Hardner Road, Mount Waverley VIC 3149 Trade Distributor: Wrapaway Transport Pty. Ltd. 36A 1/34 Fitzroy Street, MARRICKVILLE NSW 2204 Front Cover Ph: (02)9550 1622, Fax: (02) 9516 5625 Bombardier Transportation provided this ABN 44 542 252 212 photograph of one of the first two Gold Coast trams being landed at Port of on 10 September. After being conveyed by road to Opposite page the depot on the Gold Coast the cars were prepared for testing and one performed a test Stephen Miller photographed this Sydney bound V set as it run late in the evening of 30 September and climbed towards Zig Zag from Lithgow on Good Friday, 29 March. early the following morning, thus fulfilling an NSW TrainLink is currently applying new markings to the exterior announced ‘run before the end of September’ of these sets so that the long familiar blue and yellow ends will promise. soon disappear.

323 MOVING THE FIRST TWO TRAMS TO THE GOLD COAST

Moving the first two trams to the Gold Coast ‘motor’. The tram left Queen Street and was towed through the reverse curves up the hill to the depot, trucks detached, and at 0415 the tram was And their launch left on the flat for the night. It took over 90 minutes to travel the few hundred metres from Queen Street to the depot building on its own rails Text and Photographs by Garry Ford for the first time. Two trams were unloaded complete at the Port of Brisbane on 10 Owing to the traffic delays experienced by the first tram, there was some September and were to be moved to the Gold Coast over two nights. The doubt the second move would go ahead as planned on 13 September. In first tram had a movement permit from the Port of Brisbane, Fisherman’s the end it was decided to proceed, but not leaving the Port of Brisbane Island, to the Gold Coast at Queen Street and Wardoo Streets from 2200 until midnight. This time there were two lots of single line working onthe on 11 September to 0300 on 12 September. Motorway! It seems that no one had bothered to check on road work on the Pacific The first tram had its pantograph attached and was tested, ready for the Motorway and the first tram, with its police escort, was severely delayed official launch on Friday 20 September in two separate ceremonies. The by heavy traffic created by the work at Springwood. It was not until 0037 tram entered from the workshop/depot entry track, under its own power, that the tram arrived at Southport and the first wheels touched the rails into the tram washer from whence it exited in a golden misty smoke at 0229. showing the marketing slogan in the destination box: Get on board the G:. The official name of the system is G: Link but this is shortened toG Preparations for the arrival of the tram commenced in Queen Street at for advertising purposes. The advertising started on the airwaves almost 2200 with the arrival of the ramps, but work at the landing area did not immediately the slogan was launched and everything at the launch was commence until 2330 when Queen Street southbound was closed to branded with G: including the tables, and even the coffee in the cup! traffic and the fencing along the track moved to the footpath The launch on 20 September was the first of several functions to introduce The tram was backed up to the ramp in Queen Street from Wardoo Street. the trams to the locals over the ensuing months. It was pulled off the trailer by a roadside truck attached by a wire cable, and by gravity, as soon as enough of the tram was off the truck, and at least two brakemen rode in the tram operating the hydraulic brakes with an extension control with a truck at the rear as anchor. Progress down the Tram number two had just arrived at the Queen and Wardoo Streets ramp was extremely slow and it had actually moved around one metre intersection from the Port of Brisbane, under police escort, at 0200. before anyone realised it had started. It was around 25 minutes before it Despite the 20-axle trailer the tram still had a considerable overhang at was off the transporter. The ramp was in three sections.Once unloaded both the front and the rear ends of the trailer. The driver was preparing the tram was hauled by two Mack trucks, a Barnes-Autos truck towing to reverse park the rig through 90o degrees onto the end of the vehicle in the lead, and Heavy Haulage Australia’s Mack Titan as second unloading ramp, which is around 200 metres to the left of the picture.

324 TRANSIT AUSTRALIA 11/2013 THE YANDINA BLACK HOLE

At 0358 the big tow commenced and at 0402, as seen here, the first tram crossed Wardoo Street and left street running as it commenced the moderate grade on reverse curves from Queen Street up to the depot. It was this grade that necessitated the use of two prime movers.

At 0235 the tram was almost all on its home rails with only the last two sections of the seven-car unit still to touch down. This tram is builder’s number 4.

325 MOVING THE FIRST TWO TRAMS TO THE GOLD COAST

Above: GoldLinQ note regarding the running of trams. Note the operational branding G:link. Below: The first tram had just been inaugurated and the G:link brand launched after passing through the car wash seen in the background. The guests are inspecting the unit. The overhead is not catenary as the picture suggests. This is a change over from one overhead section to another, where one wire is lifted up beside the other wire in use, thus giving an appearance of catenary.

326 TRANSIT AUSTRALIA 11/2013 GOLD COAST LIGHT RAIL

Above: One of the several interior passenger information signs fitted throughout the length of the 43 m trams. This sign is not like those now found, for example, on Logan and some Brisbane buses, in that it appears to be two signs in one, side by side, enabling route information to be constantly displayed, while other messages are played beside it. TransLink has been experimenting with passenger information signs throughout its jurisdiction. Right: The driving compartment showing almost all the controls. To the far left of frame and only partly shown are manual controls for tram functions. In the centre is the main console showing tram status on the left side, main controls centre

Signalling • The new Boundary Street bridge • screen and programming controls on the right, with clipboard attached. February AN3 & PN test • 2011 Volunteer Awards 2012 $9.00 Other driving controls can be seen in the foreground. TM ARHSnsw Bookshop

Below: The tram is so long that this interior view seems to stretch to WA’s West-East BOOKS — MAGAZINES — DVDs — MODELS wheatbelt rail proposal China Southern Type infinity. The carrying capacity is 309, many of them standing, as the SDA1 locomotive multitude of grab rails show. The view is taken from the front operator’s Australia’s largest and best selection of local and door and the first of the six flexible sections and turntable is visible, as international railway and tramway magazines, are the second and third. books, DVDs, CDs and models... Central clock tower makeover Rio Tinto rail access road team Published monthly by the Australian Railway Historical Society (NSW Division)

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327 SYDNEY LIGHT RAIL PLANNING

Sydney Light Rail Planning from Action for Public Transport Inc. we attempt to provide comments from the potential users of the service, the passengers. As part of the public consultation process for the southeast , public consultations were held in early September. As part of We are disappointed that this initial project information provided by the consultation a number of documents were released which provided a TfNSW focuses almost solely on the physical location of the proposed number of discussion points, the most important noted by many being a rail tracks and platforms, and the effect that these structures might have plan to use no catenary in the planned George Street mall. on adjacent land-holders, businesses, other-vehicle traffic lanes and, extraordinarily, even car parking. Capacitor system for the trams Little information has been provided about the effect of the LRT service It seem that the Council of the City of Sydney, and TfNSW, have called on people, especially the facilities for passengers, how their diverse off- for a wireless operation in part of the proposed George Street Mall. vehicle requirements and movements might be managed, and the means This will involve the provision of expensive capacitors in the vehicles by which they might transfer between the LRT and other modes. This along with heavy batteries. No consideration seems to have been given has made it difficult for us to comment on the construction project, to showing the public photographs of modern systems in Europe which and the completed LRT service, from the viewpoint of the prospective have very light and nearly invisible overhead wiring which is also used passengers. to support street lighting and signs, thereby reducing the amount of street furniture required. Adelaide has already established this as a practice as Members of the exhibition team have explained that while detailed has the Gold Coast and evidence of both can be seen in photographs analysis of pedestrian and passenger movements is ongoing; there is regularly published in Transit Australia. no requirement for such detail to be incorporated into the EIS process. While this may be the legal position, it limits our ability to comment on CAF, the selected tram contractor, has what it calls an ACR system, for the human aspects of both the construction project and the finished LRT Charge Accumulator, and details can be seen at: service. http://www.caf.es/en/ecocaf/nuevas-soluciones/tranvia-acr.php Given this lack of detail, we are obliged to make some assumptions. We The system is only currently in use in Seville and Zaragoza in Spain. offer the following broad observations. The recharge at each stop is by raising and lowering the pantograph to 1 - GEORGE STREET PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT a short section of wire. CAF claim a 20 second recharge time, possibly We do NOT support the provision of a ‘catenary-free’ power supply, on twice as long as a good tram dwell should be, but it is possible this may the grounds that it would represent unnecessary capital expenditure on not include the time to raise and lower the pantograph. the LRT vehicles and increased running and maintenance costs. There is also a risk of reduced reliability, given the complexity of the power For a general overview and comparison of the various ‘catenary free’ supply to the vehicles. In our view, modern overhead power supplies are systems, see: very unobtrusive. http://www.luascrosscity.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/ 2 - RAWSON PLACE NA0004SystraReport.pdf As there is no detail as to how the diverse pedestrian and inter-modal Action for Public Transport Response passenger movements are to be managed at this site, we must express our APT has kindly supplied details of their input, as attached below. concern for pedestrian amenity and safety. In September 2013 the NSW government’s transport planning agency, 3 - MOORE PARK WEST TfNSW, released documents and staged public exhibitions of its plans We fully support the cut-and-cover tunnel, both on visual amenity for a new LRT system between and Randwick/Kingsford. grounds and because it preserves the playing fields for the 1200 students Public submissions were invited, for consideration in the preparation of at Sydney Boys High School. The need to minimise ‘land-take’ from the an Environmental Impact Statement for the project. In this submission Centennial Parklands is also a growing community concern. We assume

John Beckhaus photographed a first generation Sydney LRV, Variotram 2101, as it approached Central Station on 25 June 2008. The new City and South Eastern Light Rail will return trams to Eddy Avenue underneath the bridge.

328 TRANSIT AUSTRALIA 11/2013 SYDNEY LIGHT RAIL PLANNING a tunnel might also facilitate grade-separated crossings for pedestrians at west of the Clara Street intersection. We understand the platform-grade the Moore Park platforms. compliance difficulties associated with this site but urge the designers to persevere with innovative ideas in order to harvest the long-term benefits. 4 - MOORE PARK PLATFORMS TfNSW staff informed us that tram and pedestrian movements will be 9 - UNSW ANZAC PARADE STOP grade separated for major events, but there is insufficient detail available The anticipated long-term expansion of UNSW to the west side of for us to make informed comment. We feel that the ~300 m distance Anzac Parade should justify centre-of-road platforms at this site, with a from the Football Stadium to the platforms will be seen by the public as pedestrian underpass. Small retail outlets in the subway would enhance excessive. the amenity. There could be significant accumulated travel time savings by not requiring trams to leave and re-enter centre-of-road running using 5 - LANG ROAD INTERSECTION traffic signals, as is presently planned. In an earlier submission we suggested that grade-separation might be justified at this location, based on the accumulated timesaving for 10 - OTHER OPERATIONAL MATTERS passengers. Exhibit staff have assured us that the present signal phases LRV Priority for buses are adequate for the light rail movements. We are disappointed that LRV priority at signalised intersections has not 6 - ANZAC PARADE/ALISON ROAD INTERSECTION been raised in the exhibition. While it may not be an essential input into We understand this intersection is presently operating at capacity and the EIS process, it is nevertheless, in our view, an essential component wonder how the LRT movements are to be accommodated. of the LRT system, especially given the importance of minimal travel times to the success of the LRT service. The apparent slothfulness of 7 - RACECOURSE STABLING FACILITY the existing LRT service as it crosses George Street does not present a Consideration should be given to incorporating provision for an air-rights positive image for LRT. We are informed that trams currently development over this facility, as an alternative, or at least as an offset, spend 17% of their service time halted at traffic lights. for the large scale and widespread building proposals currently being Wynyard Easement canvassed by the Centennial Parklands in their euphemistically titled ‘Vision Statement’. We suggest the preservation of an easement between the former Wynyard Station Platforms 1 and 2 and George Street via Wynyard Street, for a 8 - HIGH STREET - ADDITIONAL STOP. possible future LRT connection from George Street to North Sydney/ There would be many timesaving benefits for visitors to the hospital Crows Nest via the Sydney Harbour Bridge. and the Belmore Road shops from an additional stop in High Street, just 11 - SUMMARY On 29 August 2007 Scott Mitchell photographed a future member We support the CSELR project, and the improved travel experience of the second generation of Sydney LRV, Velez Malaga tram 001 at a which the completed service should bring to Sydney, but we remain time when Scott could not imagine that he might see the tram again in deeply concerned about the current lack of detail available regarding Sydney. This CAF Urbos2 vehicle arrived in Sydney early on the morning pedestrian and passenger amenity and movement. of 4 September and is now in an attractive red and white livery and will reportedly be numbered 2108.

329 ACTION TIMETABLE 2014

ACTION Timetable 2014 emissions and assist the ACT Government to reach its mode share target of 16% for public transport by 2026. On 13 September Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Mr Shane Rattenbury, invited the community to provide feedback on A comprehensive brochure with maps and specific proposed changes proposed changes to ACTION’s bus service. Mr Rattenbury said that for each region of was available from all Canberra Connect ‘The new network has been developed based on patronage data from the Shopfronts, ACT public libraries and online at timetotalk.act.gov.au. MyWay system and feedback from bus passengers and drivers. The entire Residents could provide feedback by completing an online survey or network has been reviewed with a focus on providing more direct routes, picking up a hardcopy survey from the same locations. better connections and increased frequency. To allow for increased The consultation closed on 14 October. frequency and more direct routes there does need to be some trade-offs. For example, to make services more direct, the walking distance for some people to get to a bus stop might be increased. The new network still meets the minimum requirement in the Transport for Canberra policy with 95% of residences being within 500 metres of a bus stop as the crow PEOPLE flies’. Lawyer Mr Michael Klug and former Transport Minister Mr John ‘In addition, it is proposed that, while the Red and Blue Rapid evening Mickel have been appointed to the Rail board. Mr services will continue, late evening suburban services with low passenger Klug will be chairman. Mr Klug and Mr Mickel will replace Ms numbers will finish earlier allowing for more services during the day Merren McArthur and Mr Dawson Petie. when there is higher demand’ stated Mr Rattenbury. Mr Klug is a leader in the area of Alternative Dispute Resolution. He has practised law for over 35 years and recently concluded his Highlights of the proposed new network for 2014 include: third term as Partner in Charge of the Brisbane office of Clayton • A new service linking Molonglo to Woden and Cooleman Court Utz. Mr Klug is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company with a peak hour Xpresso to the City, which will support increased Directors. residential development in the Molonglo Valley; Mr Mickel served as a Member of the Queensland Parliament • A new Rapid service between Gungahlin and Belconnen; for almost 14 years, during which time he spent three years as • A new service for Hume; Speaker and held numerous ministerial portfolios, including • Improved services between Erindale and Woden; Transport. He retired from politics at the March 2012 election and • Improved services to the airport and surrounding business park recently reviewed Trade and Investment Queensland. precinct; Public Transport Victoria has appointed Ms Carolyn De Gois • Increased Xpresso services between Weston Creek and the City, as Chief Information Officer ahead of a ‘complete review’ of its including an Xpresso direct to the City from Cooleman Court; and IT operations. Ms De Gois was formerly the head of the Victorian • Improved services into the Parliamentary Triangle, including two IT Strategy and Performance practice within KPMG. Prior to that new dedicated morning peak services from Woden and services she was an associate partner within IBM Global Business Services. from Gungahlin, which now extend into the Triangle rather than PTV is undertaking a complete review of IT platforms and terminate in Civic. organisational structure to met PTV’s business objectives. Mr Rattenbury stated that proposed changes to the service build on other In August 2012, Les Pascoe photographed 336, a Custom Coaches investments such as bus priority measures, bus station and stop upgrades, bodied Scania, at the Tuggeranong Hyperdome while it was operating new buses, NXTBUS, and light rail. a Route 66 service from Woden via Erindale Centre, Chisholm and Increasing the frequency of services should encourage more Canberrans Bonython. Route 66 is one of a number of services throughout to get out of their private vehicles and on to public transport. This in Canberra that will be discontinued if the proposals are implemented in turn will contribute to the ACT Government’s goals of reducing carbon their current form.

330 TRANSIT AUSTRALIA 11/2013 COMMONWEALTH ELECTION

Commonwealth Election 7 September 2013 Tony Bailey Urban transport policies NEW! For the first time in a number of Commonwealth elections there were Tracing Trams virtually no urban transport policy announcements. Labor mainly stuck Through Sydney with already announced items, while the Coalition stuck to its already Jim Longworth announced ‘no Commonwealth funds for urban transport’. Both parties did make a number of promises regarding road funding. $49.95 Australasian Railway Association The Australasian Railway Association, ARA, intensified its campaigning on issues of critical importance to the rail sector in the lead-up to the 2013 Federal election, by launching a ‘5 Platforms for Change’ campaign on 15 August. ARA Chairman Mr Lindsay Tanner highlighted the industry plan of at a function. ‘The nation’s rail industry is one that contributes billions of dollars to the Australian economy, employs more than 100,000 Prahran and people in metropolitan and regional Australia, moves millions of people Malvern in our cities and transports one billion tonnes of freight each year. It is for that reason that we deserve a say in the direction we are headed.’ Tramways Trust Ian A. Brady When speaking on the priority of urban rail funding, Mr Tanner expressed concern over the risk of cutting federal funding for state projects and $59.95 called for greater investment in integrated transport systems that link our roads, rail and ports. ‘Lack of federal funding for passenger and light rail networks will effectively put the brakes on our nation’s economic development. The average passenger train can take 525 cars off the road, Tasmania’s that’s 3.2m vehicle kilometres annually. With statistics like these, why Trolley Buses on earth only invest in roads that create more congestion, more accidents Ian G. Cooper and more carbon emissions. States across Australia are ready to make the move on to rail, but they cannot do it without support at each level $69.95 of government. The ‘5 Platforms for Change’ document is available on the home page of the ARA website www.ara.net.au Liberal/National Costings The Liberal/National coalition released its election costings on 5 September and these reaffirmed that the only transport infrastructure that the Coalition would support would be roads. These would be funded Launceston at 80% by the Commonwealth and 20% by the appropriate state. The Municipal Coalition also announced the withdrawal of Commonwealth funding for: Transport • Melbourne Metro Rail 1911-1955 • Brisbane Ian G. Cooper • urban rail projects $54.90 • Tonsley project in Adelaide • Perth Airport rail planning Tram images Election result of a journey The Liberal/National Party coalition had a substantial win in the House of through Australia Representatives, with the now usual failure by either major party to win and New Zealand a majority in the Senate. Hugh Ballment Deputy Prime Minister and National Party Leader Mr Warren Truss was $39.95 announced as Minister for Infrastructure. Comment Urban public transport is now in a parlous situation as far as Commonwealth funding goes. As usual no one seems to accept that spending money on roads does affect urban public transport, and in a negative way. The worst affected states will be those that have been collecting most Mind the from the Commonwealth, with NSW amongst those least affected as Curve! the only Commonwealth payments have been for ‘rail freight’ projects that will improve urban rail operations. The Freight John D. Keating Corridor works will continue. $27.45 The likely long term effect may be that in a future campaign public transport spending could become a major issue. PO Box 114, Canterbury, Victoria 3126 Australia Phone: 03 9836 3338 Fax: 03 9836 2647 331 LETTERS

First Auckland EMU Photographs supplied by Auckland Transport

Interior and exterior photographs of the first of first Auckland EMU set inside Wiri Depot just after delivery. Details of the train are available at: http://transportblog. co.nz/2011/10/10/ electric-- technical-details/ http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/New_ Zealand_AM_class_ electric_multiple_unit

332 TRANSIT AUSTRALIA 11/2013 333 SYDNEY’S CITY CENTRE ACCESS STRATEGY

Left: Details of the proposed bus corridors and stop precinct areas in Sydney City Access Strategy.

Below: One place that will be affected by the Sydney Access Plan and South Eastern Light Rail will be Eddy Avenue at Central where on 5 July 2009 Derek Rogers photographed State Transit 1328, an O405NH CNG bus with Custom Coach Citaro body as it worked a Route 378 service to Railway Square and was waiting to turn out of Elizabeth Street into Eddy Avenue.

334 TRANSIT AUSTRALIA 11/2013 SYDNEY’S CITY CENTRE ACCESS STRATEGY

Sydney’s City Centre Access Strategy loading zones. Underutilised off-street car parking will make up the difference for motorists; On 11 September the NSW Government released Sydney’s City Centre Access Strategy, the first detailed plan showing how people will enter, • A connected network of separated cycleways, including extending exit and move in and around the CBD over the next 20 years. More than the current Kent Street cycleway south to Liverpool Street, two 630,000 trips are made into the city centre every weekday and this will east-west cycleways on Liverpool Street and King Street and increase by about 150,000 trips a day by 2031. Some 92% of trips are building a new cycleway down Castlereagh Street and Pitt Street, made on foot within the CBD, and the strategy will make walking easier to improve safety without compromising access for other modes in by providing better signage, de-cluttering footpaths, reducing waiting the city centre. The College Street cycleway will be removed; times at traffic lights and improving safety, along with a 40 km/h speed • Transfers at a new midtown interchange precinct on Park Street limit in some parts of the city centre to improve road safety. for smoother journeys as well as enhanced interchange precincts at Major items in the strategy include: Wynyard, Central, Circular Quay and Martin Place; • Light rail from Circular Quay to Central, continuing to Randwick • Improved east-west movement of traffic and buses through the city and Kensington; centre; • Better bus priority to reduce impacts on other road users, including • The metro rail system along the underground Second Harbour two north-south priority bus corridors on Elizabeth/Castlereagh Crossing, providing a more than 60% increase in services to the Streets, York/Clarence Streets and an east-west priority bus CBD; corridor on Druitt/Park Streets; • Short term improvements for rail passengers through improved • More pedestrian zone such as George Street between Hunter and capacity at existing CBD stations and new timetables; Bathurst Streets and reducing pedestrian congestion and delays in critical areas; • Taxi ranks in better locations; • 40km/h speed limits in parts of the city centre; • Access to more late night travel options on public transport, including new bus services and longer hours of service; • Preserved access for motorists by optimising traffic bypass routes, including getting more through traffic into the Cross City Tunnel, • A City Centre Transport Taskforce – a permanent specialist team and establishing priority routes for motorists around the city centre based at the Transport Management responsible for the smooth on streets such as Hunter and Margaret Streets, Wentworth Avenue operation of city centre transport 24/7; and College Street and Sussex and Kent Streets; • Improved access to the development at Barangaroo with the • Changes to parking in the city centre, with reallocation of some completion of Wynyard Walk, expanded ferry services including a on-street parking spaces to create more room for taxi ranks and new ferry hub at Barangaroo and new bus and cycle routes; and

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335 Details of the proposed Park Street interchange in the CBD and its relationship to the CSELR and other bus routes.

• Maintaining access for service and delivery vehicles and promoting • Several routes will be connected to operate as through-routed more deliveries outside peak hours and using off-street loading services to reduce the overlap of bus services on city centre streets docks; and the need for bus layover in the city centre; and Major Changes to Bus Routes • Victoria Road bus routes that currently use George Street and The city centre bus network will be redesigned to establish an easy to terminate at Circular Quay will either continue through the city understand, all-day network of high frequency bus routes. The redesign is centre via Druitt Street and Park Street to layover outside the city designed to address congestion and capacity constraints in the short term centre or terminate at Wynyard. but also responds to the future role of light rail and the integration of bus and light rail services. Some benefits of these changes are: The long discussed midtown interchange precinct will be established in • Turns at critical intersections are minimised within the city centre, Park Street and much of the change will be designed around this. improving intersection performance for all users. This change will Some of the changes include: bring specific improvements for articulated buses that currently cause delays at certain intersections due to their length; • Turning movements will be substantially reduced at the Elizabeth and Park Streets intersection. This will help simplify bus • Trials of double deck buses are currently underway to assess movements through the city centre; potential benefits across the transport network; • Existing routes will be configured to operate more efficiently through the city centre; • Concentrating more buses on fewer streets, reducing impacts on other road users and making the bus system easier to understand; • Sydney Harbour Bridge services to Railway Square will operate via the Cahill Expressway, Bridge Street, Castlereagh Street • Major bus stops located within interchange precincts at Town Hall, southbound and Elizabeth Street northbound; Wynyard, Central and Circular Quay, and also at Martin Place • The remaining bus routes that enter the city centre via the Sydney and Museum. These interchange precincts will connect different Harbour Bridge will use York and Clarence Streets and either transport modes such as rail, light rail, ferry and bus; terminate at Wynyard or the QVB adjacent to the Park Street Key interchange precincts providing increased comfort, for all interchange; • passengers through improvements such as de-cluttering walkways, • New bus routes will run to Barangaroo and Walsh Bay via the city providing new shelters, better signage and the provision of real centre and midtown interchange precinct; time information; • Approximately every second bus service on main bus routes entering the city centre via Broadway will only operate • Other bus stops outside the interchange precincts rationalised to to Central. This will reduce the number of buses unnecessarily improve bus travel speeds and improve passenger understanding of entering the city centre. The remaining services will continue to the the network; and northern end of the city centre via Elizabeth Street northbound and • Priority bus corridors developed with enhanced bus lanes and Castlereagh Street southbound; dedicated stopping bays. They will improve travel time and • All bus routes that service the Southeastern suburbs will only use reliability along Elizabeth Street/Castlereagh Street, Park Street/ Elizabeth Street en-route to and from Circular Quay; Druitt Street and Clarence Street /York Street.

336 TRANSIT AUSTRALIA 11/2013 SYDNEY’S CITY CENTRE ACCESS STRATEGY

Redefined Bus Network Cars will still be able to access 60% of George Street. In addition, The bus network set out in Sydney’s Bus Future will have a simplified residents, emergency vehicles, and certain delivery vehicles will retain network to the city centre, rationalised stops and will be easier to access to the pedestrian area at certain times of the day. There will be understand. consultation with the taxi industry to investigate the best way for taxis and hire cars to access late night activity precincts including the George A clear, three-tiered network will replace the 15 different types of bus Street pedestrian zone. services that exist today. Service frequency across the three tiers will be optimised to improve the base level of service and to serve customers’ Beyond the pedestrian zone of George Street, there will be general traffic travel needs at different times throughout the week. Passengers will lanes on either side of the light rail. Motorists will still be able to travel experience fast, frequent connections on high demand routes, easy east-west along all cross streets in the pedestrianised zone, as well as connections to other public transport services and direct journeys between other north-south streets within the city centre. all major centres, including the Sydney city centre. When complete, the changes will: Investigations will be made into the potential to use double deck buses • Benefit pedestrians through providing a more amenable and safe instead of articulated buses where they can reduce congestion and provide environment; a better service. • Establish George Street as the geographical and cultural spine of Benefits for passengers will include: the Sydney city centre through the reinvigoration of street activity; An increased number of Metrobus-style services running through • Benefit all modes travelling east and west across the city, including the city centre, better linking major travel destinations; and • pedestrians, buses, and general traffic; and Access to more destinations within and outside the city centre • Benefit light rail customers through seamless access to new stops. through improved connections at interchange precincts. • Rail Improvements BRT Sydney’s Rail Future sets out a strategy for improving the rail network Investigations to determine the best way to provide fast, reliable and serving the Sydney metropolitan area. The focus of the first stage is flexible transport on key corridors throughout Sydney will address implementing operational efficiencies that make the most of the existing continued growth in demand and changing needs. system. A staged approach will be taken to introducing BRT on targeted high demand routes. In the long term, it may be possible to convert these Immediate operational priorities include: routes to light rail in areas with high growth and density. Key high- • Timetable changes to introduce more services and standardised growth corridors servicing the city centre that will be investigated for stopping patterns, commencing with the introduction of the 2013 BRT and light rail include: timetable; • Road; • Improved management of boarding and alighting train dwell times • Victoria Road; at stations, particularly at Town Hall; • Anzac Parade between Kingsford and Maroubra or Malabar; and • Improved information available to passengers; The . • • Platform redesign, including de-cluttering to make passenger Extensions to bus services will be supplemented with improvements in movement entering and exiting platforms easier; and service frequency and connections to the existing and future light rail • Better incident recovery management through improved operations network. and digital train radio systems. City Centre Pedestrian Access On a typical weekday, almost half of all people travelling into the city Transport for NSW and the City of Sydney will develop and implement a centre arrive by rail, and demand will increase. Over time, capacity at city pedestrian improvement program including: centre rail stations will be increased through: • Improvements to the quality and condition of footpaths including Central: paving, shelter and urban design; • Reconfiguration of the concourse and improved interchange • De-cluttering footpaths by rationalising street furniture, signage arrangements between all platforms; and and commercial activity such as street vending; • Dwell time management. • Reducing pedestrian delays and congestion at intersections through prioritisation of pedestrian phases at traffic lights; and Town Hall: • Improving signage to support walking in the city centre. • Enlargement of platform space; These improvements will make walking faster and easier and will • De-cluttering of concourse space; encourage more people to walk for a broader range of purposes. • Optimised connections between the concourse and light rail on Streets that are prioritised for improvements are: George Street; and • Pitt Street, beyond the existing pedestrian mall, north to Bridge • Dwell time management. Street and south to Park Street; Wynyard: • Margaret Street between York Street and George Street; • Better interchange facilities for rail and bus passengers at the • Hunter Street between George Street and Castlereagh Street; station and at Barangaroo; • King Street between Sussex Street and Phillip Street; • Station refurbishment; and • Market Street between Kent Street and Elizabeth Street; • Station upgrade in the longer term. • Park Street between Kent Street and Elizabeth Street as part of the Circular Quay: mid-town interchange precinct; • Bathurst Street between Kent Street and Elizabeth Street; • Better wayfinding and layout to enable easier interchange between ferry, bus, light rail, rail and taxi. • Liverpool Street between Kent Street and Pitt Street; and • George Street between Goulburn Street and Bridge Street. Museum: The CBD and South East Light Rail project will change the face of the • Improved station entries and new lifts to provide access between city centre. George Street will be pedestrianised between Bathurst and station entries and the concourse and between the station concourse Hunter Streets. The changes will create a more pleasant and accessible and platforms. environment for pedestrians moving around the city centre. The light rail stops will be designed to minimise their impact in this area. 337 TRANSIT NEWSFILE

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY • The definition of peak will be expanded under ‘punctuality’ to take into account changing travel patterns, reflecting a CANBERRA recommendation of the Auditor General and ensuring that Canberra Buses ‘punctuality’ will be measuring 70% of journeys as opposed to less than 50% ‘on-time running’. This means the operators will have From 9 September, 20 buses commenced a trial of the NXTBUS real to meet reliability targets for longer periods each day. -time information system, primarily on the Red, Route 200 and Blue Rapid, Route 300, services. The system uses GPS to track buses and The new ‘punctuality’ results will be published alongside on time provides passengers with information on how far away their next bus is, running on the and NSW TrainLink websites, backdated and whether it has a bike rack or is wheelchair-accessible, via bus stop from 1 July. Sydney Trains CEO Mr Howard Collins and TfNSW are displays, text, online or over the phone. It will also give passengers on the also considering reducing the 5 minute buffer during which a train is bus next-stop announcements. considered on-time. Real-time display screens were erected at Civic bus station, with others Sydney to follow. ACTION is working on replacing 3100 yellow bus-stop signs around Canberra, with the new signs to display the bus stop’s ID and a Sydney’s 21-30 year olds are switching from cars to public transport an analysis of new travel figures from the NSW Bureau of Transport number to text to receive real-time information to a telephone. Previously Statistics shows. The generational shift to public transport is not announced plans to have NXTBUS fully rolled out by December have confined to well-serviced inner areas but also in outer Sydney, where been delayed because of equipment installation delays. The aim is now public transport is patchier. The transformation in travel patterns, to have the fleet fully operational and the system fully installed by the experts and surveys say, is likely caused by the cost and inconvenience of start of school in 2014. maintaining a car but also the widespread use of mobile devices, which are more attractive on public transport. Ten years ago, people aged 21 to NEW SOUTH WALES 30 in Sydney drove themselves on about 53% of all trips on an average Punctuality measuring weekday. That share fell to 45.5% in 2011-12. Among people aged 31 On 11 September it was announced that there is a new way of measuring to 40, the mode share of driving trips fell from 64.2% to 60.2% in the decade. Sydney residents in their 40s and 50s are also driving less but the reliability of Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink services in the form the trend is not as pronounced and residents in their 60s and 70s are, on of a ‘punctuality’ measure, which replaces ‘on-time running’ as the average, driving slightly more. main reliability indicator for the operators, although both measures will continue to be published. The changes include: ‘The whole value proposition of a car is not what it used to be for young people,’ said Dr Garry Glazebrook, of the University of Technology, • Trains will no longer be counted as on-time if they skip stops; Sydney. ‘It’s not the ticket to freedom it once was … and, in the inner • Punctuality figures will not be adjusted for force majeure, such as suburbs, it is almost a menace because you can’t find somewhere to park.’ significant weather events; The breakdown of the BTS figures shows that in the inner west, the • Trains which change runs in mid-journey will not be considered as share of weekday driving trips fell from 41.8% to 33.3% in a decade. on time; and By contrast, the share of train trips rose from 13.1% to 24.8%. In St George and Sutherland, the share of driving trips for people in their ACTION is introducing new bus stop blades 20s dropped from 60.2% to 52.3% in the decade. Train trips more as shown in this example photographed by than doubled from 8.5% to 18.3%, while bus trips also increased. In Les Pascoe. Note the use of SMS facilities to Fairfield and Liverpool, the share of driving trips for those aged 21 to get next bus arrival details. 30 dropped from 71.6% to 56.6%. The share of train trips rose from 4.3% to 13.6%, while bus trips rose from 0.4% to 7.6%. The area is an exception to the trend. In the past decade, car use among people in their 20s has increased, while public transport use has risen only marginally. The BTS urges some caution with the statistics, particularly in areas with low overall numbers. But the trend is there. Official surveys show avoiding the problem of parking is the main reason people choose to travel by public transport during the week. Other common reasons include that public transport is cheaper than driving a car, it can be faster than commuting by car, it can be less stressful and it offers time to read or work. For people who drive during the week, the biggest reason in the BTS surveys is that it is more convenient than public transport. Other reasons focus on the inadequacy of public transport in Sydney: it can be indirect; too slow; does not go where people want to go; or the timetable is unsuitable. Driving remains the most common form of transport in Sydney, responsible for 68% of total trips. But the mode share has declined steadily in the past decade, while many young people have also stopped getting licences. Earlier analysis by the BTS shows that the share of 25-year-olds without a licence has dropped by 10% in a decade. Dr Glazebrook said the trends showed governments should concentrate funding on public transport services. He criticised incoming Prime Minister Mr Tony Abbott’s position of not spending money on public transport, only motorways. ‘Most of the growth in future travel demand will not be for driving’, he said. International Fleet Review 3-11 October NSW Minister for Transport Ms Gladys Berejiklian announced that more than 5,000 extra public transport services were to run during the International Fleet Review in October, with more than 1.7 million

338 TRANSIT AUSTRALIA 11/2013 TRANSIT NEWSFILE visitors expected during the event. The Review marked the centenary of performance standards. As well as customer service improvements and the entry of the RAN into Sydney Harbour in 1913. A series of events stronger on-time running requirements, 63 new buses will be added to took place across Sydney with 16 tall ships from around the world sailing fleets as operators take over their regions from mid-2014. These buses into Sydney Harbour on 3 October, followed by more than 40 Australian are additional to the more than 200 new buses announced in the 2013- and international warships the next day. The Minister claimed that this 14 State Budget. There were almost 30 tenders received for the four was the biggest transport event since the Sydney Olympics. contracts. On 5 October hundreds of thousands of people visited the shores of The new bus contract holders and the contracted service improvements Sydney Harbour for a 30 minute Fireworks and Lightshow Spectacular include: set off from multiple points on the water and around the Sydney Harbour Bridge, along with moving beams of coloured light and image a) Liverpool, Glenfield, Ingleburn, Bringelly and Hoxton Park projections on the sails of the Sydney Opera House. More than 1,100 region extra rail services and more than 4,000 bus services were operated during Contract awarded to: Ingleburn Bus Services, operating as Interline. the whole event, especially on 5 October. Some of the special services Approximate number of buses: 100 included dedicated buses between Kings Cross station and Garden Approximate number of journeys per year: 2.5 million Island for Navy Ship Open Days. There was also a dedicated train shuttle Service improvements under the new contract include: between Central and Bondi Junction from 0600 to 1400 from 6-10 • 19 new buses on the first day of operation; October. • Improved customer service measured through detailed reporting Other events during the same period were the Manly Jazz festival on 5-7 systems monitored by Transport for NSW; and October, Epsom Handicap horse racing at Randwick Racecourse on 5 • A commitment to high on time running performance – 95% of October, the NRL Grand Final at Olympic Park on 6 October and the buses must leave on time. Parramasala Festival at Parramatta on 4-7 October, all of which added b) Blacktown, Rouse Hill, Castle Hill, Dural and Parramatta region additional patronage to the network. Contract awarded to: ComfortDelGro , operating as A special website was opened to provide transport information for the Approximate number of buses: 500 event, which also displayed a daily map showing special road closures, Approximate number of journeys per year: 11.5 million clearways, public transport services and vantage points. Service improvements under the new contract include: Sydney Buses • 26 new buses on first day of operation; • Improved customer service measured through detailed reporting Warringah Bus study systems monitored by Transport for NSW; On 7 September Fairfax Media released details of some of the submissions • A commitment to high on time running performance – 95% of made to the Government’s ‘BRT pre-feasibility Study’ of Warringah buses must leave on time; Peninsula bus services and how to improve them. Most of the options • Extra bus services on 17 routes; floated by the State Government have been criticised as ‘inadequate’ by • Improved running times on 42 routes; and North Sydney Council and some residents. • Improvements to North West T-way services to more evenly The study examined five options between Mona Vale and the City. It distribute services included a two-lane tunnel from Spit Junction to the Warringah freeway, c) Lakemba, Mortdale, Punchbowl and Roselands region establishing 24-hour bus lanes and widening the Spit Bridge to six lanes Contract awarded to: while potentially closing it to marine traffic. It also canvassed an east- west option between Chatswood and Dee Why, including widening Approximate number of buses: 70 Warringah Road and improving access to the Chatswood interchange. Approximate number of journeys per year: 800,000 The study concluded that a package of bus measures was Service improvements under the new contract include: feasible. • 4 new buses on first day of operation; • Improved customer service measured through detailed reporting Of the north-south options, North Sydney Council supported only the systems monitored by Transport for NSW; and tunnel solution, because it would not require abolishing street parking on Military Road. But it cautioned that bus services on the Spit-Military • A commitment to high on time running performance – 95% of Road corridor must not be cut. It described the study as ‘inadequate’ buses must leave on time because it did not consider other transport modes, including heavy and d) Campbelltown, Narellan and Camden region light rail, or take a long-term strategic approach to ‘adequately cater to Contract awarded to: Neville’s Bus Services, operating as Busabout the growing population’ of the northern beaches, which is set to increase Approximate number of buses: 100 by 45,000 by 2036. About 9600 passengers and 210 buses enter the city Approximate number of journeys per year: 2.5 million from the northern beaches between 0700 and 0900 on weekdays. Service improvements under the new contract include: The Neutral Bay Chamber of Commerce said the Harbour Bridge and • 14 new buses on first day of operation; Wynyard already fail to cope with the volume of buses and the study • Improved customer service measured through detailed reporting did not address the problem. It would also campaign against a loss of systems monitored by Transport for NSW and parking. • A commitment to high on time running performance - 95 per Warringah Council strongly supported a BRT system in both directions. cent of buses must leave on time If only one option is pursued, it preferred the east-west solution, which would complement a proposed northern beaches hospital and give access Sydney Light Rail to alternative public transport options at Chatswood. The first of the second hand trams from Spain was placed on the tracks Transport Minister Berejiklian has said the Government is considering in the Haymarket on the morning of 4 September after a two-hour ‘all options’ for a BRT network. However TfNSW said the Government operation, which commenced at 0200. Despite earlier media reports it had no plans to widen the Spit Bridge and that the NSW Long Term now seems that there are four, not three, second hand trams, the first one Transport Master Plan considered a range of measures for the corridor, being a CAF Urbos2 vehicle. and that work was under way to relieve congestion for buses entering the city from the Harbour Bridge. A proposed State Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) Amendment (Light Rail) 2013 (the draft SEPP) will amend the State Second round of Sydney bus contracts Environmental Planning Policy (Infrastructure) 2007 (Infrastructure An announcement was made regarding these on 29 August. The contracts SEPP) to clarify planning pathways related to light rail by including light are for five years, with a three year right of renewal subject to meeting rail purposes within the definition of rail infrastructure facilities. This 339 TRANSIT NEWSFILE will allow for the undertaking of preliminary investigative works, such The community had Sutherland has been given the opportunity to as survey, geotechnical and contamination investigations, for future light comment on plans for a multi-storey commuter car park with around rail projects in NSW and the CBD and South East Light Rail Project. 340 spaces near Sutherland Station. The proposed car park will provide a ground floor car park for the exclusive use of Sutherland United Services Sydney Trains Club, with commuter spaces on the upper levels. Subject to planning Some further details have surfaced of the Airport Rail Line capacity approval, construction is expected to begin in 2014. improvement project. The possible future high level service requirements North West Rail Link of the Airport Line is in the order of 18 to 20 trains per hour. The By mid-September construction of the Tunnel Boring Machines had original design was for 12 an hour and current operation is eight per commenced at NFM Technologies in Lyon, France. Most of the TBMs hour. The Airport Line Capacity Improvement Project consists of the will eventually be shipped to Port Botany while the huge cutter heads are following: to be shipped to either the Port of Newcastle or Port Kembla, where they • Traction power supply upgrade to support the increased peak train will be transported to Sydney on the back of a heavy lift semi-trailer as a numbers on the Airport Line; wide load. Each of the four machines will: • Fire safety engineering and thermal management upgrades, to • Weigh more than 900 t; support the increased number of services whilst meeting required • Be made up of 38 large pieces and fill ten shipping containers; criteria; and • Be built using components from across Europe, with the complex • Signalling upgrade to accommodate the additional services and and precision components designed and pre-assembled in France controlling the number of trains in a section of track at any one then sent to China where steel structures like the cutter heads and time and deliver the agreed final service level signalling system back up trailers will be made; capacity. • Be assembled and tested overseas before being pulled apart and Flemington Station has been added to the list of those where planning shipped to Australia; is underway for a major upgrade. Among the options being considered • Take about eight weeks to re-assemble when all the parts arrive in for Flemington Station are a new family accessible toilet, lifts, new Sydney; stairs to the platforms and upgrades to lighting and CCTV, along with • Be purpose built to cut through Sydney sandstone at a rate of improvements to the interchange and the pedestrian bridge. about 120 m a week on average; and, On 17 September public copies of the 20 October timetable were • Be staffed by a team of 15 people on every shift, operating 24 released. The associated publicity announced that there are more than hours a day seven days a week. 1000 additional services a week, some 220 of the being the full time weekday service on the . Services are now more consistent and evenly spaced, with many suburban stations receiving Stephen Miller photographed this bound clock-face services 10 or 15 minutes. Some stations closer to the CBD Route 334K service as it departed Kendall on 19 September. In the receive ‘turn-up-and-go’ services, with trains leaving every three to four background in this NSW Lower North Coast Town is a piece of public art minutes in the peaks. Printed copies were available from 23 September. that is almost universal in cities, suburbs and towns that existed at the The Olympic Park to Lidcombe shuttle service now runs at 10 minutes start of the Twentieth Century in the form of a World War I memorial. headways for a large part of the day, seven days per week. Busways 6881 MO is an MAN with Custom Coaches body.

340 TRANSIT AUSTRALIA 11/2013 TRANSIT NEWSFILE

QUEENSLAND By about this time the last girder had been placed on the Nerang River Bridge, which was ready for tracklaying. Brisbane The print media on the Gold Coast in early September contained a Underground bus stations could be built under George and Adelaide report on project progress. By late September trial running was to Streets in the CBD, as part of a council plan to reduce city congestion. commence. The trial trips are also testing safety precautions and training BCC has released details of a proposed $260m underground city bus drivers, many of whom will not have heavy vehicle or public transport loop, contained in Council’s pre-feasibility study into the Suburbs 2 City experience. New drivers are only required to hold a full Queensland car . Under the plan, the new stations would connect the existing licence and on-the-job training will be provided. Before the opening in Queen Street and King George Square underground stops. The study June 2014 builder KDR says that there is still much to be done such also investigated a dedicated bus link from Adelaide Street to South as track laying, landscaping, driver recruitment, safety testing and trial Brisbane and a tunnel under Adelaide Street to Fortitude Valley at an runs. The depot at Southport officially opened just before the first car estimated cost of $2.2b. arrived. The 24-hour a day control room, the maintenance facilities and In the wake of an earlier announcement by the Premier of plans for a wash bays will all be at the depot. Staff in the control room will handle ‘Brisbane Underground’ system incorporating rail and bus services, BCC calls from the emergency phones at each station and will be able to see said that the two strategies would complement each other. The Premier’s each tram and station platform in real time. proposal also removes the need for a new city bus bridge connecting A network of 400 CCTV cameras will monitor the 13 km line, all Adelaide Street and South Brisbane, first proposed in 2005. trams and specific points along the route. There will be no formal safety education program surrounding the launch of the light rail system but Brisbane Trains GoldlinQ says that people will be encouraged to be cautious when The contract for the delivery of the next order of EMUs should be walking, driving or riding near the line. If people are aware and follow awarded before Christmas. The New Generation Rolling stock, NGR, the road rules, they will be safe. project entails the delivery of 75 six-car trains. It was put out to tender A team from Bombardier Transportation is working at the GCLR’s in 2011, and was recently narrowed down to two bidders, Bombardier headquarters in Southport to develop the software and systems required and a consortium including Mitsubishi. It was announced earlier this to operate the trams from the control centre. The software will run the year that the project would be funded through an ‘availability payment’ operating system, control its equipment and monitor tram movements. PPP, rather than a lump-sum payment. The system will also control equipment across the corridor, such as fans, If this happens construction of a planned maintenance facility for the escalators and lifts. It will also control the power supply, allowing an new trains, in Wulkuraka, would begin early in next year. operator to isolate sections of the and turn the power off or on if required. The operators will be able to use the system to track Gold Coast Update tram positions along the corridor and gather information about on time operation. This information will be used as input to the dynamic A key to Gold Coast City Council’s plans to ease traffic congestion on the timetable, which is used to update live public displays at stations, city’s roads remains BRT. The Council’s draft transport plan incorporates allowing passengers to see estimated arrival times of the next tram. The 13 BRT routes to coincide with the LRT starting next year. The Council software will also help control the CCTV cameras along the corridor. strategy also recommends a review of fare zone boundaries and creating The team has commenced the first phase of testing the systems and will family and tourist ticket packages. However transport authorities feel continue throughout the year, entering a more intensive period when these fare structures are complex and will require more talks. The trams begin testing. Department of Transport and Main Roads felt that the delivery of a high-frequency bus network would be difficult to achieve by 2014. TransLink also prefers the initial planning focus only on four routes: Broadbeach to Tweed Heads, Helensvale to Griffith University, Robina Adelaide to Broadbeach and Nerang to Surfers Paradise. Adelaide Buses The Council is seeking seven extensions to the light rail network by 2031. These include Gold Coast Airport, Biggera Waters, Robina along with Bus performance figures for the January to March 2013 quarter have been Main Beach to The Spit, Parklands to Parkwood and Surfers Paradise released by the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. to Bundall. Transport and Main Roads had supported extending light All contract areas met their benchmark performance targets during the rail south from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads as a priority. However, quarter, with the exception of the North South contract area. Minister Scott Emerson signalled the northern heavy rail link was more important. Transport and Main Roads also recommended that any LRT Light City Buses, which has the contract for the North South area, has extension be dependent upon significant private sector investment. been fined $19,200 for not meeting all of its benchmark performance targets for the period. Changes introduced in May, transferred eight In the preparations for the Commonwealth Games, Council officers routes in the North South contract area to an another. The overall data are completing a range of transport studies including new park’n’ride for the quarter shows there were considerable improvements in driver stations, transit malls and ‘potential enhancements’ to light rail. quality, vehicle cleanliness and condition as well as customer service and Meanwhile, Transport and Main Roads are working on a Commonwealth driver behaviour. The quarterly data is compiled from more than 2000 Games network, which involves allocating existing road space or ‘Games on-bus audits. DPTI monitors performance and works with service lanes’ for athletes and spectators. Buses would be the major transport to providers to improve the quality of bus services. venues, with light rail used in a ‘supporting role’. Gold Coast Light Rail Adelaide Trains From 7 September GoldlinQ began powering the overhead. A publicity The first EMU set, 4001, made what was apparently its first test run campaign to inform the public of the dangers was conducted. between Seaford and Noarlunga Central on 5 September. It apparently The ship with the first two trams arrived at Port of Brisbane’s Fisherman ran both ways on the Down track. Island on 8 September, and the trams were unloaded on 10 September. The Royal Adelaide Show was held on 6-14 September this year and, The second tram was in the depot on the morning of 14 September. as well as the usual bus services the new Wayville Station was used for On 20 September Bombardier Transportation publically presented the a rail service, despite the rest of the Noarlunga Line being closed. An first FLEXITY 2 tram for the system at a ceremony to mark the launch inspection on 9 September revealed that two trains were running at 15 of the new branding for operator franchisee, GoldLinQ. A further six minutes headways from the City via the rebuilt Noarlunga Down line, trams are on their way to Australia, with the remaining trams to be unloaded and loaded at the Wayville Down platform, then departed delivered by early 2014. south to the crossover and reversed onto the Up Noarlunga line to 341 TRANSITAdelaide NEWSFILE Electrification Photographs by Tom Wilson on 15 September

Above: Looking north from Lynton Terrace Bridge, just north of Seaford Station, towards Adelaide, showing the crossovers and overhead. Left: Seaford Meadows Depot, looking south east from Saubieres Road, with the main line to Seaford on the right. Below: Seaford Meadows Station, the one intermediate station on the extension, looking north towards Adelaide. The main lines are on the left, and the depot access track is on the right. The shed at Seaford Meadows Depot can be seen over the top of the station footbridge. New housing development is on the left.

342 TRANSIT AUSTRALIA 11/2013 TRANSIT NEWSFILE

Above: Looking south over the Onkaparinga River at the rail bridge, now fitted with its overhead electrification equipment. Left: Brighton Station with its new overhead, looking south and away from Adelaide, towards the three-track station from the Beach Road pedestrian crossing, the location of the 1913 - 1976 Brighton Station. The existing station was built in 1976 as part of the extension to Christie Downs and several years later, Noarlunga Centre. Brighton Station is a short- working train terminus about half way between Adelaide and Noarlunga Centre. Below: Seacliff Station, looking south and away from Adelaide from the Wheatland Street crossing past the down platform. When the line was duplicated and extended in 1976, Seacliff Station was split so that the platforms were on the departure side of the crossing.

343 TRANSIT NEWSFILE proceed to the city. A substantial team at both Adelaide and Wayville VICTORIA was overseeing all of this. Loading was light at mid-morning; both trains were three 3000-class cars. Jumbos have been used in previous years but Geelong with the Noarlunga line closed, ample 3000s were available. VicTrack called tenders, which closed on 16 October, for the design, By 15 September electrification seemed to be virtually complete south of procurement, supply, construction, installation and commissioning of Noarlunga Central, while the overhead seemed to be almost complete as signalling for the new Grovedale Station. far north as Brighton. At the same time double track was visible on the Tonsley Branch between the junction and Daws Road. Melbourne The Belair Line closed for overnight works to allow for Noarlunga Line Growing pains in Melbourne’s fringe suburbs have led to calls for electrification works, for two weeks from 16 September. There will be council population targets and for an independent body to manage more evening off-peak restrictions and weekend line closures in the infrastructure planning in the city’s growth areas. New Bureau of coming months for further work. Statistics data confirm that Melbourne is home to the four postcodes with It was announced on 18 September that the Noarlunga Line would not the fastest population growth in the nation, with South Morang, Point reopen for diesel train operation be the promised end of the month. Cook and Tarneit more than doubling their populations in the five years Diesel rail services on the Noarlunga line will regrettably be unable to 2012. South Morang has grown by more than 38,000 people since to resume in September. It was stated that the contractors involved in 2001, about the size of a regional town. But rail lines, roads and schools, installing the new signalling systems were not as complete as it should have not always accompanied the sprawling housing developments. Dr have been. The substitute bus service is continuing to run until the Carolyn Whitzman, associate professor of urban planning at Melbourne line reopens. The rail substitute buses are now free of charge until the University, has studied the south western municipality of Wyndham Noarlunga line services resume. and said the residents of the nation’s fastest-growing council area faced tremendous work-life balance issues. One-third of the population travel more than two hours to and from work each day and the area will need TASMANIA one or two new schools every year for the next 20 years to keep up with On 3 September the Minister for Sustainable Transport, Mr Nick McKim, current growth. It is a similar situation in South Morang and Mernda unveiled one of four new Metro articulated buses. The new buses replace in the municipal area of Whittlesea, which needs $764 million spent four 27-year-old articulated buses and continue the modernisation on roads alone. The State Government says it has reforms under way, of the fleet under Metro’s bus replacement program. Metro currently including the better use of mandatory contributions from developers. meets DDA requirements for accessible public transport with 65% of Dr Whitzman said councils, including those in inner and middle-city services accessible. The new buses cost $2.72m, which was funded from suburbs, should be given population targets to ensure more growth an additional $3.25m provided to Metro by the State Government for occurred in areas with established infrastructure. ‘One mechanism to infrastructure improvements. ease some of the strain from taxpayers is to build more housing where A three-month statewide fares revenue protection program trial began there is already transport, jobs and infrastructure’, she said. on 9 September with police officers acting as authorised officers to Whittlesea City Council has called for a politically independent body check and enforce payment of fares. Hand-held Greencard devices to oversee infrastructure development in Melbourne, pointing to the are being used to check boarding and trip information of passengers failure of previous strategic plans to outlast changes in state governments. using a Greencard. Visual checks of paper tickets and passes will also Whittlesea’s director of advocacy and communications, Mr Griff be conducted including passenger eligibility for concessional travel. Davis, said the outer suburbs had suffered from the short-term focus The trial is intended to determine the extent of fare evasion and under of governments. He said the $6 billion to $8 billion pledged for the payment across the network. It was noted that some passengers may not east-west link should be used to fund urgently needed rail extensions, be aware they are breaking the law, for example if they are travelling including the link from South Morang to Mernda. further than the default trip on their Greencard or if their entitlement to a fare concession has changed. The change of bus contractors in Melbourne has resulted in sights such Tasmania’s Seniors were offered a free Greencard until 7 October and as this Ventura liveried vehicle operating a Route 305 service were able to travel free for a week from 1 October. All Seniors Card at Doncaster photographed by Bob Wilson on 15 August. The bus is a holders were able to travel free on all Metro buses on 5 and 6 October. Scania L113 CRB with a body.

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Fishermans Bend retail development, as well as important civic and community facilities. The initial vision for this major expansion of the Melbourne CBD has A second Metro station may be located further west within Wirraway. been released for public viewing, with a number of items of transport An integrated approach to transport will encourage interchange from planning mentioned. rail stations to other sustainable modes of transport, including walking, Melbourne’s existing CBD will be connected to the Bay through the cycling, bus and tram networks. development of a new civic spine, extending from Collins Street, over Potential priority projects include: the Yarra River and through to Garden City. • Major public squares around potential Metro stations; As the primary public transport route to and through the Fishermans • Higher order commercial and retail concentrations around tram Bend precinct, the new civic spine will become a ‘main street’ and focus stops and potential Metro stations; for intensive development and activity. The design of the new civic • Fine grain street network and pedestrian routes within a spine will give priority to walking, cycling and public transport, and be 10-minute walk of future stations; punctuated by a series of distinct urban squares and spaces that become • Identify and protect future land requirements for potential a focus for public life. stations; An extension of the Collins Street tramline could be built in two stages, • Link cycling corridors within close proximity of future stations to as Fishermans Bend develops. The Collins Street tram extension will promote intermodal connectivity; include: • Develop a package of bus network and service improvements for • A new pedestrian, cycle and tram river crossing; the early stages of development; • A new pedestrian, cycle and tram bridge over the M1 Freeway; • Identify, protect and secure future land requirements for street widening along public transport corridors; and • A series of public spaces and squares at tram stops; • Streetscape enhancements in Ingles Street. • Giving priority to tram operations to ensure fast and reliable services; Melbourne Ferries • Identify, protect and secure future land requirements for street widening and public transport services; and The Westgate Punt, which ferries cyclists across the low end of the Yarra • Streetscape enhancements and greening. River each day, has been spared from scrapping after a Government In the longer term, Melbourne’s underground rail network is proposed review found that patronage is growing. Patronage has risen this year to to extend into Fishermans Bend, providing an important high capacity an average 103 passengers a day, up from 72, with a total of more than connection to the and broader rail network. Eventually, a 40,000 boardings since the service returned in October 2011. Cycling new Fishermans Bend Station will be located along the civic spine near group Bicycle Network Victoria said the punt is not being used as heavily Ingles Street, providing a catalyst for higher density commercial and as it could be because of a lack of connecting bike paths. A recent survey of cyclists found the punt was highly valued and more than 96% of passengers said they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the service. At Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station on 14 March Bob Wilson photographed the locomotive as it waited out its last journeys, for the Melbourne Trains class was withdrawn by the end of April. By 9 September Platform 2 at Springvale was closed as part of the level crossing replacement program. Since the project began in June the responsible alliance has been undertaking works such as relocating services, installing concrete pilings for retaining walls and changing turning lanes in preparation for the excavation of the new rail cutting and the installation of the bridge over Springvale Road. Platform 2 is closed while preparatory work is undertaken for the new cutting. Road closures and some interruptions to rail services occurred between 20 and 29 September to allow construction of the bridge deck that will span the new rail cutting. Buses replaced trains where necessary and detours were in place when roads were closed. Melbourne Trams In August met its punctuality target, achieving 82.83%, and service delivery target, achieving 99.13%. Yarra Trams has introduced a new tone to indicate that an on-board announcement is about to be made. Parking spaces and lanes of traffic along major Melbourne tram routes should be removed to ease growing congestion in the CBD, and the Premium Line Project, which would see dozens of parking spaces and several car lanes vanish along Route 96 from St Kilda to Brunswick, should be expanded to other routes to speed up trams, according to the Accessing Our Cities report. The report, by the Tourism and Transport Forum and consultants Booz & Company, also recommended giving pensioners free off-peak travel, extending opening hours of shops and libraries and holding more special events after hours to encourage commuters to delay their journey home and spread the evening peak. It also urged governments to consider the pros and cons of road pricing like a London-style congestion tax. TTF Deputy CEO and Transport Policy Director Mr Trent Zimmerman said congestion would cost Melbourne almost $7b per annum by 2020. Melbourne has one of the slowest tram networks in the world, with trams travelling at an average 345 TRANSIT NEWSFILE speed of just 10 km/h through the CBD and sharing the road with other • Significant bridge works at Nicholson Street and Hopkins Street, vehicles 80% of the time said Mr Zimmerman. He added that there Footscray; were two ways to speed up trams. ‘You give them greater priority at • Ongoing construction works to upgrade Sunshine and Footscray traffic lights but secondly, segregate the tracks, which is where you need railway stations; the road space. That mix with general traffic, along with the dead time • Extensive track and signalling works to connect the existing when you are stuck at traffic lights or just stuck in traffic, causes the line to the new Link tracks in Deer Park; system to creak to a slow pace.’ Mr Zimmerman said that community • Installation of beams and a deck pour at Christies Road bridge, consultation, particularly with retailers, would be needed. ‘At the end of Ravenhall; the day, it is in Melbourne’s interest to have a tram system that works • Signalling works at the Robinsons Road (Deer Park) and more effectively. In some ways, the tram system today is slower than it Fitzgerald Road (Ardeer); was 50 or 60 years ago,’ he said. ‘Getting the tram system moving has to • Level crossings and upgrade works at pedestrian crossings between be a priority and that brings benefits to the entire community.’ Sunshine and Deer Park; Infrastructure works • Structural work on the freight flyover in Footscray; • Extensive retaining wall works and utility installation works; and Yarra Trams renewed overhead wires in Royal Parade, Parkville on 1 • Remote upgrades to train control systems. September, when Route 19 trams operated as Route 19a between North Coburg terminus and Stop 19 at Brunswick and Sydney Roads. Buses Regional Victoria replaced trams between Stop 19, Brunswick and Sydney Roads, and Stop 2, Collins and Elizabeth Streets, travelling via Royal Parade and The restoration of Maryborough Railway Station has been recognised Elizabeth Street. with a UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage. Yarra Trams undertook track extension works in Victoria Harbour Docklands on the evening of 13 September. During the work Route WESTERN AUSTRALIA 48 trams operated as Route 48a between North Balwyn and Stop D15 Perth at Batman’s Hill/Collins Street, which is approximately 400 m from Perth Trains Victoria Harbour terminus. There was no bus substitution for this last distance. Belmont Park station on the Armadale line closed on 13 October at the As part of the program of modifications in preparation for the arrival of end of the winter racing season at Belmont Park Racecourse. Belmont the E Class cars, in August and September the safety fence at seven stops Park is one of only two special event stations on the Perth system and is on Nicholson Street was extended. little used. Closure is for the development of the new station to serve the new sports Perth Stadium to be built on former Burswood Golf Course During track maintenance on Bourke Street service changes were in place land. Shuttle vehicles will serve Racegoers from Burswood station until from first tram on 5 October to last tram on 6 October. City bound the new station is opened in 2018. All Thornlie line services previously Route 86 and 96 trams operated via La Trobe Street in both directions stopped at Belmont Park on race days but there were few passengers for instead of Bourke Street. the racecourse. Because of track renewal and accessible stop construction on Elizabeth Street service changes were in place from first tram on 5 October to The WA budget includes a $2 parking fee at all metropolitan railway last tram on 9 October. During the work city bound Route 19, 57 and stations from 1 July 2014. Transport Minister Mr Troy Buswell has 59 trams terminated at Stop 6, Franklin Street. Passengers travelling likened it to ‘a gold coin donation’ for the use of the car parks. There between Flinders Street Station and La Trobe Street were advised to has been a backlash from commuters and communities with the latter catch a Swanston Street tram, a La Trobe Street/Queen Street bus or a concerned about parking in streets close to stations. City Loop train. Public Transport Authority Tenders Fleet Closed on 17 August: Engagement of a RailSys modelling specialist It is now being reported that the entry into service of E Class trams will to assist in the operational evaluation of the current network and to see amendments to services that will see no W Class in public service test future service scenarios. This will entail an assessment of current except on the . and future proposed infrastructure capacity, operational reliability, Car E 6002 was test running by 29 August. rolling stock performance and rolling stock requirements. The RailSys modelling specialist will report to the PTA’s Route Utilisation Strategies. In March 2013 the PTA undertook an operational assessment of the proposed Thornlie line extension to determine the long term capacity of The first section of the RRL project to be completed, Melbourne the rail network to meet future demand. The commissioned consultant Southern Cross station platforms 15 and 16, was tested with the developed a RailSys model to evaluate this capacity using a static model operation of trains of Vlocity and Sprinter Diesel Multiple Units, on 11, assessment focusing on the project area, the existing network impacted by 13 and 14 September. These platforms will come into use with a new the proposal and Perth Station. The PTA now seeks to extend this work timetable on 1 December. to cover the rest of the network including the Midland and Fremantle The section of the RRL from South Kensington to Sunshine is expected lines as well as the proposed Airport link and Yanchep extension. The to come into use form July 2014, involving new timetables for the RailSys modelling specialist will: Ballarat and Bendigo lines. The new line from Deer Park West via • Complete the development of the PTA’s RailSys model to enable Tarneit to West Werribee will open in 2015, involving a radical new static and dynamic simulation of services across the network, timetable for the Geelong line. In other words, timetables for all parts including the proposed rail links identified in the draft 20 year of the V/Line network, except the North East and Gippsland lines will public transport plan; and be different. • Undertake modelling of various network and operational There was an 11 day full occupation for the project from 3-13 October. proposals of the Perth passenger railway network. Bus replacement services ran during the closure on the Sunbury line Closed on 5 August: Provision of high pressure cleaning services for between Albion and Footscray, and coaches replaced trains on the Ballarat various stations on the network. A total of 34 stations are in the proposed line between Ballarat and Southern Cross Station and the Bendigo line 2013/14 work schedule and further stations will be incorporated into between Sunbury and Southern Cross Station. Major works undertaken the annual work schedule at the discretion of the PTA. The services during this period included: consist of industrial cleaning by use of high water pressure methods to • Continued works to remove two level crossings at Anderson Road, remove all dirt, dust, cobwebs, chewing gum and debris from buildings Sunshine; and structures.

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Closed 10 August: Perth Stadium transport project, main cable route Electric Trains relocation. Relocation of approximately 2 km of the Armadale line main The first train went through initial testing at Wiri. The next two will railway signalling and communications cable route and some associated arrive together in November then two a month until November 2014. cabling to facilitate the new track layout. The works shall include the From December 2014 there will be four per month arriving until all 57 supply, installation and testing of all required materials. are delivered around July 2015, which is earlier than originally planned Future Operations because CAF opened an additional production line. The first three trains will undergo testing for 3-4 months, after which trains 4-9 are expected Tender documents for the tenders listed above, for the modelling to take about two months to test, followed by about 4-5 weeks before specialist and cable relocation have revealed some interesting theories being ready for service or for training. Testing will take place at night or regarding the shape of the future system. during some weekend shutdowns when there are no other services. Driverless trains are suggested as one option for the system, whilst others The first passenger services are timed for April 2014 on the Onehunga include trains at two-minute headways, more stations and the ability to Line, as some seven trains are required for this. Services will follow on line up trains end to end to help disperse crowds from the new football a line-by-line basis and only when there are enough trains to replace all stadium. The documents specifically seek private sector information on of the services on a line at once to avoid mixed running where possible. new technologies that would allow the PTA to future-proof its signalling, Following Onehunga the Manukau services should start in mid 2014. indicating a need to accommodate network expansions and changes, The Southern Line will follow at the end of 2014 and the Western Line including more automation. Other information in the documents show in 2015. new signalling would need to handle an airport link, stations at Aubin A safety campaign was launched in the first week of September to warn Grove, Karnup and South Perth, and extending the Joondalup, Armadale the public that they will not get a second chance if they get too close and Thornlie lines. As well as shorter headways the signalling would have to the overhead that powers the city’s new electric trains. KiwiRail, to provide for the efficient dispersal of crowds from the football stadium, Auckland Transport and Transdev have developed the advertising which could include nine-car trains. campaign. Its message is particularly aimed at the youth market. The campaign will make use of social media and supported by posters and WESTERN PACIFIC billboards, newspaper, radio and magazine advertising. NEW ZEALAND The first train was officially unveiled at Wiri Depot on 12 September Auckland when it was announced that driver training was to start in October. Auckland Buses Christchurch Some shoulder bus lanes on the Northwestern Motorway closed on 16 Christchurch Trams September as part of the NZ Transport Agency’s long-term development The Christchurch tramway reopened in mid-October after a winter of the Western Ring Route road project. increase in the speed of restoration of tracks, installing overhead and New bus lanes are expected to open in stages from 2015 as the project repainting trams. The initial route starts at the top of New Regent Street; progresses. weaves through Cathedral Junction, across Cathedral Square to the Canterbury Museum and return. Problems in accessing parts of Armagh Auckland Trains Street mean that it will be March 2014 at the earliest before the full There was a major update on the electrification, presented on 4 ‘loop’ is available. Extending the route down Oxford Terrace through September: to the Re:Start Mall could be complete by May next year. All trams will have video displays to show visitors what inner-city spaces looked like Signalling before the earthquakes and what they could look like in the future. There is a possibility of extending the route to the Manchester/High/Lichfield The signalling and train control systems were completely installed and Streets corner where business activity is increasing. are operational. Some 18 months earlier there was an average of over 100 faults a month to the signalling system, points or other control A restored Car from Invercargill will feature on the reopened equipment. This is down to about 50 a month and is expected to go tramway. lower. This number includes many small issues that may not affect passenger services. Still to be completed is the automatic train protection Hamilton system. Almost two-thirds of Hamilton’s bus routes are failing key benchmarks Traction according to a report that argues that regional council-controlled bus services are unsustainable. The region’s mayors have balked at KiwiRail said that their contractors have now completed all of the suggestions that ratepayers put more money into the bus network, saying stanchion foundations and have over 70% of the stanchions in place, underperforming services need to be restricted. The report said that the some 2785 out of 3825. There will eventually be 550 km of overhead region needed to move toward a more ‘demand-led’ service, with the wire on the network and so far 355 km have been installed, about 65%. current level of bus services ‘not financially sustainable’. Hamilton’s bus Still to be done are the Western Line from Mt Albert to Newmarket, network has 26 routes and makes up 90% of Waikato’s public transport Newmarket to Britomart, the Eastern Line from Westfield to Britomart services. The report found that 16 Hamilton routes were either marginal and some around Papakura. KiwiRail also says that 90% of the earthing or poor when it came to peak passenger numbers and the proportion of and bonding of elements in and around the rail network is complete the service cost met by its users. Bus patronage has risen from 1.7 million while they are 60% of the way through installing the screen on bridges trips in 2002-03 to more than 5 million trips in 2012-13. to help prevent access to the overhead. Over the weekend of 7-8 September wiring was completed on the 15 km Westfield to Wiri section and this was followed by the successful A three-week Spring to the Street transport challenge for people to use energisation and short circuit testing of the Wiri EMU Depot, which alternative transport in the Wellington region started on 9 September concluded on the evening 10 September. with people encouraged to leave their car behind and use public transport, walking, cycling, and carpooling. The challenge involved Operational Preparedness individuals or teams keeping track of every non-recreational trip they KiwiRail have decided that they will not be maintaining the overhead make, with prizes for those who earn the most points. As part of the and will be contracting the work to another company, with negotiations challenge, the first Open Street Sunday was held on 22 September and currently under way. included music and food stalls. 347 TRANSIT NEWSFILE

Wellington Trains Under BSEP, aimed at expanding public bus capacity and improving bus service levels, the Singapore Government will pay for the 550 buses From mid-September real time passenger information displays were while public transport operators will pay for another 250 buses. Giving a introduced across the Wellington region, beginning with the Johnsonville one-year report on the programme, LTA and public transport operators line before expanding region-wide by the end of the month. The GPS SBS Transit and SMRT said in total, 111 existing bus services, or two in information will also be available online, via text message, and through every five basic bus services, have been enhanced and 14 new bus services the call centre. The same technology was introduced on Metlink introduced. These improvements have enhanced the connectivity of buses in 2011 and 2012. Singapore’s bus network and shortened waiting times by three to five minutes for some existing bus services. Based on analysis of ticketing and SOUTH EAST ASIA GPS data, the program has also reduced the number of bus services with INDONESIA regular overcrowding during peak period by about 40%. LTA said that most of the rest of the buses that the Government has agreed to add will be introduced by the end of 2014 instead of 2016 As part of a plan to convert buses to operate on CNG, the Jakarta and it will be encouraging the bus operators to further augment the administration has signed a contract with the state-owned oil and gas bus supply. LTA will also work with private bus operators to introduce company PT Pertamina, which will ensure the fuel supply. Pertamina short workings during the peaks. This includes localised routes in has prepared refuelling stations and four mobile refuelling units to estates that take residents to nearby transport nodes. These services serve Jakarta buses. The city is in a tender process to procure 450 CNG will complement the existing feeder bus services operated by the public Transjakarta buses and 800 minibuses by the end of this year, and transport operators. Nine further City Direct services will be introduced another 1,000 and 3,000, by the end of 2014. The administration is also from January 2014. The Government will review the BSEP after 2014 preparing to convert 3,000 three-wheeled taxis every year to use gas, and to see what other improvements are needed. gradually convert all official cars as well. Medan THAILAND Two high-speed trains, running the 42 km between Medan and Kuala Namu International Airport (KNIA) in , were put into Alstom has been awarded a contract to extend the Mass Rapid Transit service last month. The trains were manufactured by Woojin Industrial Authority of Thailand’s existing Green Line. Alstom will participate in System Co Ltd in South Korea and arrived on 30 August. Each train has the works to design and build the trackwork and the third rail power four cars for a total load of 172 passengers. Another two trains arrived collector from Bearing to Samutpakran Station as well as the depot that at the end of September. Each train can run at speeds of up to 100 will house 40x3 car trains for the extended line. The extension will add km/h. Since the opening of the airport on 25 July Railink has operated nine stations from Bearing to Samutpakran at a total length of 12.6 two trains, each with five cars that can hold up to 308 passengers. The km and aims to carry up to 57,000 passengers per day. Construction is current trains make 10 round trips a day, with the first train departing to begin at the end of 2014 and be completed in 2017. This project is Medan at 0400 At the moment there are about 3,200 daily passengers. part of Thailand’s program to improve its public transport infrastructure and better address growing traffic congestion issues. With more than MALAYSIA 3 million cars and nearly 3 million motorcycles in Bangkok, the Thai Penang government has decided to invest in infrastructure development programs with some 55 projects, of which 31 will be dedicated to Penang main bus service, Rapid Penang, has received 80 new Scania Rail transport. The Green Line, better known as the Sukhumvit Line, buses to expand its current fleet of 320 vehicles. Another 120 new buses currently extends from Mo Chit, located close to the popular Chatuchak will be delivered to RapidPenang by August next year. The 120, which Weekend Market to Bearing in the . will include 40 double-decker 12 m buses, will replace 120 Chinese buses currently in use. Bangkok is adding five more bus routes to suburban areas of the capital to provide greater access to the Airport Rail Link. The plan is the result SINGAPORE of public requests and ongoing complaints of bus shortages. The new Singapore routes will suit those travelling to 3 Airport Link stations at Makkasan, Lat Krabang and On-nutch. The Singapore Land Transport Authority has appointed McConnell Dowell South East Asia (SEA) Private Limited and SK E&C (Singapore) THE PHILLIPINES to complete construction works for three Downtown Line 2, DTL2, stations following the insolvency of the earlier contractor Alpine Bau Manilla GmbH, which was awarded the contract for design and construction Rebidding of the Light Rail Transit , LRT-1, expansion project of the stations in September 2009. McConnell Dowell (SEA) Private has been deferred to next year, with a Cabinet official admitting that the Limited will complete the construction of Sixth Avenue and King Government ‘stumbled’ with regard to the largest PPP ever offered in the Albert Park stations and associated tunnels, while SK E&C (Singapore) country. The National Economic and Development Authority, NEDA, will complete the construction of Tan Kah Kee Station and associated Board, chaired by President Benigno S. C. Aquino III, has yet to approve tunnels. a new auction schedule said a Government briefing. Only three PPP With an expedited work schedule, DTL2 should be completed by mid- deals have been successfully auctioned since the centrepiece program was 2016. launched in late 2010. Construction works at the other nine DTL2 stations are progressing A team from the Department of Transportation and Communications, on schedule, LTA stated. Excavation works at all the stations have been DOTC, has been to China as part of post-qualification procedure for completed while base slab concrete works are substantially completed the acquisition of new trains for the Metro Rail Transit, MRT-3. They for most of the stations. Overall stations and tunnels are roughly visited CNR Dalian Locomotive & Rolling Stock’s manufacturing plant 50% complete. All 12 stations are expected to achieve basic structural to guarantee that the firm can produce the 48 LRVs for the project. Also completion by 2014, following which electrical, mechanical works and the DOTC has hired a consultant to review the terms of the bidding test running of trains will be carried out. for the MRT-3 project to find out if it had favoured particular bidders. Apparently the Czech Ambassador claimed that a group had tried to By early September the LTA had added 248 new buses under a Bus extort money from the Inekon Group in exchange for the supply contract Service Enhancement Program, BSEP. This is nearly half of the 550 buses to provide trains for the MRT-3 expansion program that involves the that the Government pledged to add to the public transport system. acquisition of 48 new trains.

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DOTC is studying various ways of addressing the public transportation problem in , including the creation of a Metro system. The INDUSTRY feasibility study is being funded by the Japan International Cooperation On 5 September Reliance Rail made its final debt drawdown on Agency, JICA, the Japanese agency in charge of official development the Waratah train project, which is now fully funded. This means assistance programs. The proposal is still very new and a skeletal system that the NSW Government may not need to make a payment in running underneath EDSA, the key thoroughfare of Metro Manila, may 2018 that it promised last year to enable finance to continue. The be pursued. Government is now debating selling its share of the project. DOTC is also studying the possibility of implementing a BRT system, Primary school students can now gain an insight into science but is faced with the problem of limited road space. BRT is likely to be and engineering after the launch of the Gold Coast Light implemented before the Metro. Feasibility studies for BRT systems in Rail science resources, which have been jointly developed by three Metro Manila areas: C5, Ortigas and Quezon Avenues, are being GoldLinQ and Benowa State School; the resources consist of finalised. nine online lessons. Minister for Education, Training and Employment John Paul VIETNAM Langbroek said the resources were developed with the help of Da Nang Benowa State School teachers for students to experience science. Gold Coast Light Rail science resources episode list: Marubeni is to conduct a pre-feasibility study for a proposed metro in Da Nang. • Wheels in motion; • Wash without waste; • Trams powering up; • Growing with science; • Saving our planet; • Speedy, steady and safe; LETTERS • Making materials work: concrete; AETA 70th Anniversary • Making material work: rail; and • Understanding the environment. The Australian Electric Traction Associated (South Australian Division) wishes a Happy 70th birthday to the Victorian Division and may you Yarra Trams has selected IBM to improve day-to- day tram continue to advocate our cause to ‘Move people not vehicles’ and operations and passenger experience. The IBM software enables advocating the development of electric transit within a balanced transit Yarra Trams to draw insights from the large volumes of data system for the next 70 years. from its trams and infrastructure to better understand how the tram network is operating. With IBM Smarter Infrastructure Roger Wheaton (President) technology, Yarra Trams has been able to consistently exceed David Beres (Secretary) its key performance measurements around tram service and AETA SA division. punctuality. TA August 2013 back cover An ARA Disability Policy Working Group has been formed with the aim of providing the ARA with advice and technical support TA should investigate the provenance of the artwork it was given by relevant to the provision of accessible services to people with PR types for the August rear cover. Only two parked cars are shown on disabilities. Priorities of the Group include: Scott Street Newcastle and none on Wharf Road, is parking really to be banned? How will TfNSW prevent parking on all the lawns shown? • Securing legal recognition of the Code of Practice through Where and what are the tree shrouded buildings across the harbour? Has an amendment of the DDA. there been an attempt to disguise, or sanitise, the industrial nature of • Applying for an extension of the exemptions from the AHRC the background? Will sanitising extend to demolishing ugly buildings in • Developing a ‘national’ disability app for iPhone and Scott Street and Wharf Road? No form of ground pick-up is shown. What Androids has happened to the overhead? There is no fencing of the track. What Please contact Rhianne Jory, Associate Director Environment speed will trams do? How will elapsed times from Hamilton compare and Regulation on [email protected] for more information on the with present trains? Group and its work program. The people of Newcastle and all NSW rail users may have been sold a To assist the Australian Rail Industry in meeting the increasing fake. It might even turn out to have pneumatic tyres and have to dodge demand for rail services as well as Commonwealth and reverse parking motorists. Jurisdictional government goals, the Industry needs timely, relevant and effective applied research. The recently established Eric Tierney Australasian Centre for Rail Innovation, ACRI, will take rail By email research forward for the industry when the current CRC for Rail A close examination of the illustration on the rear cover of August TA Innovation concludes next year. shows that the artist has recognised the need for a power supply for the ACRI will undertake or facilitate targeted, applied research trams. The overhead is suspended in cantilever fashion from the white and strategic analysis to solve issues raised by Rail Industry poles located between Scott Street and the tramway. A contact wire is participants or other entities, whether with a commercial visible above the nearest tram. Ed. or public policy interest in the rail sector or transport sector more broadly. ACRI will link to the best research capability both domestically and internationally. This will be achieved by a combination of strategic research partnerships and where Transit Australia Website appropriate other specific research capabilities. Transit Australia Publishing books are now able to be ordered An independent Board, Chaired by Former Deputy Prime Minister online from the Publications page. Mr John Anderson will have oversight of the work undertaken by The list of abbreviations and acronyms that appear in TA from ACRI. time to time is now permanently on the website. ACRI will begin full operation during 2013/14 and was officially Back Issues Indexes have been updated and all Indexes from 1997 launched at the 10th World Congress on Railway Research in to 2012 may be downloaded from the website. Visit... Sydney last month. Further enquiries can be directed to Lauren www.transitaustralia.com.au Sullivan at [email protected]

349 SERVICES DIRECTORY AETA NOTICES

MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES Membership enquiries are welcomed to the contact person in each Division, as listed below. People in other areas should contact their nearest Divisional Secretary. NEW SOUTH WALES DIVISION Meets on the third Friday of each month except December, at Stone Hall, 181 Blues Point Road North Sydney at 8.00 pm, the venue is a short walk from North Sydney Station. Members and visitors are assured of a warm welcome, Contact: Robert Henderson, GPO Box 1017 SYDNEY NSW 2001: Ph: (02) 9486 3828 VICTORIAN DIVISION Meetings are on the second Saturday in the month between April and October at Museum commencing at 1330. Information re outdoor meetings Transport Collectabilia between December and March will be advised later. Enquires Hugh Waldron 03 9889 5140. PO Box 114 Canterbury Vic 3126. NEW! All titles from On November 8 we will be off to Williams Landing Station then by bus to Point Cook. Meet at Southern Cross Station in Transit the waiting room at the end of platforms 5 and 6 at 4 pm. Australia QUEENSLAND DIVISION Publishing are Meets on the last Friday of even numbered months (for December contact the Secretary), contact: Neil Douglas, 12/36 Your online shop available for Hillardt St., ROBERTSON, Qld 4109; Ph. (07) 3875 1090. for enthusiasts purchase SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION and collectors online here. Normal meetings are held bi-monthly on 4th Friday February to October at 7.30 pm at Fennescey House, 33 Wakefield St Adelaide. Contact either David Beres (secretary) (08) 8266 6115 e-mail: [email protected] or Roger Wheaton (08) www.permanentway.com.au 8331 9043 for details. Postal address PO Box 8162 Station Arcade SA 5000 www.electrictraction.org.au ACT TRANSIT GROUP CONFERENCES Meets on the second Thursday of each month at the Ainslie The 10th International Conference on Transport Survey Football Club, Wakefield Avenue, Ainslie at 1830. Contact Methods - Leura, NSW - 16-21 November 2014. David Cranney on 0421 174 951 or [email protected] https://www.regodirect.com.au/isctsc10 AusRAIL PLUS 2013 World Congress on Railways Research (WCRR) - Sydney CONTRIBUTORS Exhibition and Convention Centre, Darling Drive, Darling Harbour abcnews.com.au, ACT Government, Action for Public Transport, NSW, 25-28 November 2013 Australasian Bus and Coach, Hugh Ballment, John Beckhaus, www.ausrail.com or www.wcrr2013.org David Beres, Bob Carey, CityRail, John Clifton, Ian G Cooper, UITP- 4th MENA International Congress and Showcase - In Department of Transport Vic, Jim Donovan, Fairfax Digital, partnership with RTA Norbert Genci, Ian Hammond, John Hoyle, Albert Isaacs, 21-30 April 2014 – Dubai, United Arab Emirates Victor Isaacs, P Jacono, Dean Jones, KiwiRail, Ted McDonald, http://www.uitp.org/events/events-calendar.cfm Allan Miles, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Minister for Transport It-Trans – Karlsruhe, Germany, 18-20 February 2014 – The NSW, Minister for Transport Qld, John Morphett, Alan Mortimer, international conference and exhibition on IT Solutions for Public Transport. news.com.au, Paul Nicholson, Parramatta City Council, Les Pascoe, S Pasfield, John Prideaux, PTV, RailCorp, Railway www.it-trans.org Gazette International, David Revis, Rod Smith, South Australian Government, Greg Sutherland, The Jakarta Post, The New Zealand Herald, TransLink, Peter Trevor, Phil Tumber, UITP Australia/New Zealand, V/Line, Hugh Waldron, Brian Webber, Roger Wheaton, David Whiteford, Alan Wickens, Bob Wilson, Opposite Page Harold Winthrop, Trevor Woolley, Yarra Trams On 3 February Scott Martin photographed a three car set which had terminated in the Platform 1 at Newport Station with an up shuttle from Williamstown and was preparing to head into Rear Cover the stabling sidings. Meanwhile another three car Comeng set was Adelaide Citadis tram 202 was heading for the city at Goodwood waiting for a six car Siemens set running a down Werribee train as an up Belair train approached led by 3028, with track work to arrive in Platform 2 before whistling out with the next Down under way in the dive taking the Noarlunga lines under the Belair Williamstown shuttle train. and Interstate lines when photographed by Ian Hammond on 25 July.

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