Rail Idea Leaves Station

[Buzz Killington]

Rail idea leaves station
BY MARK SAWA

A PEAK rail service for Queanbeyan could be down the track following a call for a study that would look at more effective use of the Canberra to Goulburn rail line.

Such a service would be part of a suite of measures aimed at improving future transport services between Canberra, Queanbeyan and Goulburn as population grows and traffic congestion intensifies.

Queanbeyan-Monaro Greens member Katrina Willis said the party had approached the NSW Government to undertake a feasibility study, which would assess a peak rail service along with a number of other strategies aimed at more robust integration of Queanbeyan and Canberra bus services.

The call for the transport assessment comes after February's community cabinet meeting in Queanbeyan where Ms Willis discussed her ideas with relevant ministers.

Since then she has raised these issues with Member for Monaro Steve Whan and the Ministry of Transport.

``We think we can make greater use of the existing infrastructure and if the service doesn't run all the way to Goulburn, then maybe only Bungendore,'' Ms Willis said.

``We would also like to see a service that allows people to take their bicycles on to the train.''

Ms Willis said the solution to more sustainable transport requires a mix of ideas and the first step will be to extract a commitment from those that can make it happen the NSW and ACT governments and Queanbeyan City Council.

She insisted that a cross-border taskforce was required to establish a forum where genuine discussions about transport between Canberra and its neighbouring cities and towns could take place.

``Without a serious commitment to improving services and planning, public transport will remain a last resort option instead of a first preference, condemning the community to more traffic congestion, noise and air pollution,'' Ms Willis said.

Although the State Government will now considered the Greens' proposals, it has not given any commitment to undertake a feasibility study at this stage.

Transport minister David Campbell told The Queanbeyan Age he was committed to working with border states and territories to improve transport links.

``If we receive any proposals for further improvements, we will be happy to consider them,'' he said.

http://queanbeyan.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/rail-idea-leaves-station/1489236.aspx

[Bus 400]

The only way that this would work would be if the rail line was brought closer into the city. But this would cut into Deanes a fair bit.

[Busnerd]

Why not just have a newcastle style rail line, get about 4, 2 car diesel trains and run a half hourly commuter service from canberra to goulburn?

[Irisbus Rider]

I've always said they ought to extend the CityRail Network to Canberra, which would increase the service frequency and patronage IMO.