Govt buys light rail company - Monorail to be pulled down

Started by Buzz Killington, March 23, 2012, 06:19:32 PM

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Buzz Killington

Media Release - Barry O'Farrell MP

The NSW Government has bought the company that owns the light rail and the monorail, enabling the efficient delivery of future light rail extensions and clearing the way for the removal of the monorail to accommodate the new convention centre at Darling Harbour, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell and Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian announced today.

"This is good news for Sydney - it delivers certainty for business wanting to invest in the Darling Harbour precinct and allows the efficient development of the light rail network," Mr O'Farrell said.

"The monorail is not integrated with Sydney's wider public transport network and has never been truly embraced by the community.

"While it has been a controversial part of Sydney's history for more than 20 years, the monorail is reaching the end of its economic life and the NSW Government cannot justify costly upgrades like the purchase of new vehicles required to keep it running.

"This decision paves the way for the development of a world class Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct as the NSW Government gets on with the job of making NSW number one again."

Under the deal, the NSW Government has purchased Metro Transport Sydney (MTS) for $19.8 million and – for now – the operation of light rail and monorail services will continue as usual as per the contract with Veolia.

The removal of the monorail will occur as soon as feasible after obtaining the necessary approvals and consulting with stakeholders.

Ms Berejiklian said the simplified contractual arrangements would make it easier for the Government to expand the light rail network in the future.

"The NSW Government is committed to expanding light rail and extending the Inner West Light Rail to Dulwich Hill.

"This purchase gives certainty to transport planners and will ensure light rail is fully integrated with the wider public transport network.

"The Light Rail Strategic Plan – examining the feasibility of extending the light rail network through Sydney's CBD, to the University of Sydney and the University of NSW – will be completed in the middle of this year, and the government looks forward to examining its findings."

smitho


route56

it was prob easier to just keep running it, than incur the expense of dismantling it. i'd imagine there were also contracts in place that meant it had to keep operating at some level.

it was bizarre to use. it was like several kombi vans being towed along.

smitho

Coincidentally, this is the 50th anniversary of the monorail system made famous by the 1962 Seattle World's Fair...Baby Boomers will recall all the hoopla that swent along with that.

Link below includes a video ride on the Seattle monorail and includes shots of some of the futuristic structures built for the Seattle Fair.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/picturethis/2017834534_50yearsoftheseattlemonorail.html

From memory, one of the early 60s Elvis films was based around the Seattle World's Fair.

Buzz Killington

Simon Corbell has poo-pooed the Tuggeranong Community Council's calls to bring the Monorail to Canberra

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-28/act-government-rejects-monorail-purchase/3918422?section=act

Read the other day that Hobart are also interested - if they can have it for free.

Sir Pompously

Good, there is no point brining a second hand, well used Monorail that is difficult to get parts for and would be difficult to replace the trains without getting new track in the process (Or even to buy new track to extend).

I disagree with Simon Corbell though on one thing, speed. The monorail in Sydney only has a speed of 40km/h, however I believe its design speed is much more and there are monorails around the world which do have the ability to travel quite fast.