News & Discussion: Public Transport Contracts, Service & Policy

[ChillyPhilly]

I think a dedicated bus lane with some upgraded infrastructure has strong merit for Anzac Highway. The urban form, especially along the northern side, is dense enough to support some higher capacity transit options. It could be feasible to have a semi-Curitiba style bus lane.

[Brucetiki]

Not a good day for the Seaford line - power failure lasting hours, and still unresolved

[electrictechron]

Not a good day for the Seaford line - power failure lasting hours, and still unresolved

do they not have a backup source of power to at least get the trains to the next station?

[phenom]

Not a good day for the Seaford line - power failure lasting hours, and still unresolved

do they not have a backup source of power to at least get the trains to the next station?

Didn't look like it, TV news showing trains stopped across road intersections... not good.

[metro]

Diesel trains are still rolling along just fine, the DPTI are probably thinking this makes a very strong case for not electrifying the rest of the rail network. Wont be long until they start talking about converting the A-City trains to Diesel.

[Brucetiki]

Not a good day for the Seaford line - power failure lasting hours, and still unresolved

do they not have a backup source of power to at least get the trains to the next station?

Didn't look like it, TV news showing trains stopped across road intersections... not good.

The train wasn't stopped across an intersection - it was close enough for the boom gates to triggers, and were subsequently down for a few hours. To rub salt in the wound, that crossing was Brighton Rd.

But you're right in that there was no backup to get trains to the next station, with passengers evacuated by ladder and then told to walk back to the nearest station.

3000's eventually shunted them to safety.

[rubberman]

And these people are going to design a tram system?

[electrictechron]

And these people are going to design a tram system?

Exactly. I'm surprised they couldn't even do the electrification right considering they had 5 years to do it!

[Llessur2002]

Hopefully something will eventually come of this.

Budget 2016: $50 million to be allocated to city infrastructure projects

The Federal Government will allocate $50 million towards supporting new infrastructure projects for the nation's cities in next week's budget.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's plan will see the Commonwealth help broker finance for state and private infrastructure projects, rather than providing direct grants.

The funding has been characterised as a down payment to kickstart a new model for funding infrastructure in Australia.

Some of the projects the Government has suggested could be funded this way include:

A fast rail line to the planned Western Sydney airport
The Melbourne Metro rail project
Adelaide light rail
The Brisbane cross-river rail
A Perth to Forrestfield airport link

Under the plan, the Commonwealth would guarantee loans for infrastructure project, meaning if a private company or state government defaulted on the loan for a project the Commonwealth would have to cover it.

Cities Minister Angus Taylor acknowledged it involved risk.

"It's risk worth taking, it's good risk if you like," he said.

"What we have at the moment is not just low interest rates, but we have a Prime Minister who's uniquely capable of understanding investment and making good investment, we've seen that in his past."

The proposal has got the backing of the business community in Western Sydney, a key battleground in this year's federal election.

Western Sydney Director of the Sydney Business Chamber David Borger said while it was still an idea, he was hopeful it would attract investment for a new airport fast rail.

"I think this is quite visionary, we have an infrastructure backlog going back at least 30 years," he said.

"What the Government is doing is being a bit innovative around finding new ways to finance the things we haven't been able to afford in the past, we really haven't kept pace with population growth, our cities are becoming more and more congested, not more connected."

He said it has been difficult to get projects off the ground.

"We have not been able to find ways, Commonwealth or state, to fund the projects that will make our cities work, so what the Government seems to be saying is it's giving a green light to the notion of long term debt financing using bonds," he said.

"Now that basically means interest rates are very low, they're super low at the moment, now is a good time to start locking in these visionary, transformative projects like a fast rail link to Badgerys Creek Airport."

[phenom]

Now is definitely the time to lock in low borrowing rates but while it sounds good to have state and private groups fund it, it's not.

The Federal Govt can borrow at a lower rate than any State Government and certainly lower than pretty much any private borrower. It's stupid (and purely political) to try and get that debt off their books but to guarantee the loans.

It just means the taxpayer pays more than they need to on the debt and if/when it goes pearshaped, that debt will be loaded straight back onto the Federal Govt ledger. But in the meantime they can pretend the debt is only blowing out fast rather than really fast...

There's also the problem that by remaining at arms length (but again, guaranteeing that debt) they (and therefore the taxpayer) stands more likely to get screwed over because there's less control. If you're still on the hook for the debt, at least exercise as much control as possible to ensure it gets used properly.

That said, I guess the politics of this are either 'broker' deals with Federal guarantees or wait another 20 years for the tram network to expand... or, you know, wait for local councils to fund the expansions in their areas

[OlympusAnt]

Hopefully this isn't down to sub standard design and doesn't become a regular occurrence.

[electrictechron]

Seaford and Tonsley lines are back finally with electric trains and the Grange train is up and running as well.
According to Adelaide Metro the problem was a 'circuit breaker' in the Lonsdale substation.

[I Follow PAFC]

SEAFORD LINE PASSENGERS: services between Brighton/Seaford have been #cancelled until further notice due to damage caused by severe weather.

http://adelaidemetro.com.au/Announcemen ... re-weather

[monotonehell]

SEAFORD LINE PASSENGERS: services between Brighton/Seaford have been #cancelled until further notice due to damage caused by severe weather.

http://adelaidemetro.com.au/Announcemen ... re-weather

...and are now back to normal after the roof sheeting that was blown into the overhead wires was cleared and the lines inspected for damage.

[Vee]

Adelaide to trial smartphone payments for public transport
3 month proof of concept.

ITNews:
http://www.itnews.com.au/news/adelaide- ... ort-436267