News & Discussion: Public Transport Contracts, Service & Policy

[rubberman]

The idea of not having to lay rails or any kind of other "track" in existing road sounds tempting, let's not forget how well Grenfell/Currie Streets have been holding up with buses. Running something the size of a tram on a normal city road isn't going to go be some panacea of cost savings.

If they are supposed to run on roads but with a ride as smooth as a tram on rails, I assume they need new special road laid.

I think the lane in which it is running will need to be constructed in concrete to prevent the wear and tear of buses on a bitumen surface. Will add somewhat to the cost but still be a heck of a lot cheaper than light rail.

Is it cheaper? Has it been proven? Is it reliable?

Wouldn't trolley buses do the same thing with proven technology, and presumably cheaper vehicles?

I'm all for trying new things, but only if the numbers stack up. Like I say, how is this better than a trolley bus? Incidentally, trolley buses were originally called "trackless trams" too.

[ml69]

If they are supposed to run on roads but with a ride as smooth as a tram on rails, I assume they need new special road laid.

I think the lane in which it is running will need to be constructed in concrete to prevent the wear and tear of buses on a bitumen surface. Will add somewhat to the cost but still be a heck of a lot cheaper than light rail.

Is it cheaper? Has it been proven? Is it reliable?

Wouldn't trolley buses do the same thing with proven technology, and presumably cheaper vehicles?

I'm all for trying new things, but only if the numbers stack up. Like I say, how is this better than a trolley bus? Incidentally, trolley buses were originally called "trackless trams" too.

All good questions that need to be asked and answered.

As far as I'm aware, the system has only been piloted in one Chinese city at this stage.

You'd want to see the system implemented in a few different cities over a number of years to examine the pros and cons of daily operations, before considering adopting it here.

But in my opinion it could be a game-changing transport innovation.

[PeFe]

Article from In Daily discussing the road lobby's power versus the public transport lobby.

Adelaide's public transport users need a more powerful voice
OPINION

It’s no wonder that public transport users are the bottom of the policy pile when the best-connected and most well-resourced transport lobby group in South Australia represents motorists.


Buses in the traffic queue on Morphett Street.

This might be the Adelaide media equivalent of shooting Bambi, but it’s time to question whether the RAA – an organisation that represents motorists – is the best organisation to guide debate on the city’s growing traffic congestion.

Every year the organisation releases congestion data for Adelaide’s key road routes, along with its prescription for what needs to be done to fix the problem. Last week, it neatly timed the release to coincide with street closures for the city’s V8 race – the most frustrating week of the year for Adelaide motorists.

Full article : https://indaily.com.au/opinion/2019/03/ ... ful-voice/

[claybro]

Article from In Daily discussing the road lobby's power versus the public transport lobby.

Adelaide's public transport users need a more powerful voice
OPINION

It’s no wonder that public transport users are the bottom of the policy pile when the best-connected and most well-resourced transport lobby group in South Australia represents motorists.


Buses in the traffic queue on Morphett Street.

This might be the Adelaide media equivalent of shooting Bambi, but it’s time to question whether the RAA – an organisation that represents motorists – is the best organisation to guide debate on the city’s growing traffic congestion.

Every year the organisation releases congestion data for Adelaide’s key road routes, along with its prescription for what needs to be done to fix the problem. Last week, it neatly timed the release to coincide with street closures for the city’s V8 race – the most frustrating week of the year for Adelaide motorists.

Full article : https://indaily.com.au/opinion/2019/03/ ... ful-voice/

Very good question raised. But no one else seems to be publicly agitating for better transport, road or otherwise. The former state government had some grand ideas, but no concrete plans. The Libs will pay lip service to PT, and just continue what has already commenced for roads. At least the RAA is highlighting a lack of action re transport in general, and I don't get the idea they are particularly adverse to PT.

[mawsonguy]

Article from In Daily discussing the road lobby's power versus the public transport lobby.

Adelaide's public transport users need a more powerful voice
OPINION

It’s no wonder that public transport users are the bottom of the policy pile when the best-connected and most well-resourced transport lobby group in South Australia represents motorists.

This might be the Adelaide media equivalent of shooting Bambi, but it’s time to question whether the RAA – an organisation that represents motorists – is the best organisation to guide debate on the city’s growing traffic congestion.

Every year the organisation releases congestion data for Adelaide’s key road routes, along with its prescription for what needs to be done to fix the problem. Last week, it neatly timed the release to coincide with street closures for the city’s V8 race – the most frustrating week of the year for Adelaide motorists.

Full article : https://indaily.com.au/opinion/2019/03/ ... ful-voice/

To quote from the RAA submission on the Integrated Transport and Land Use Plan https://www.raa.com.au/community-and-ad ... d-use-plan:

RAA acknowledges the importance of sustainable transport options including the integration of cycling and walking as vital components of the transport framework. RAA supports measures outlined in the Plan to create an expansive cycling and pedestrian network which provides safety for all users. ... RAA is supportive of public transport within both urban and regional areas of the state, and within an overall integrated planning and land use context.

I strongly suspect that the majority of Public Transport users also own a car.

[ChillyPhilly]

The RAA certainly aren't anti-PT. On many occasions they've advocated for improved public transport.

[Nathan]

They're not anti-PT, but they'll never argue for PT at the expense of cars.

[Eurostar]

Well park n rides reduce the time on roads , the yearly mileage and the risk of crash for RAA customers, therefore reducing the customer's premium.

Marshall & Co should be securing funding for the Main Western and Inner West lines electrification

[Verbatim9]

I read an article on the Grange line how it should be converted to Light Rail. I definitely agree. It would be cheaper to run. It could then be extended to Westlakes Shopping centre. The Outer harbour and Belair Line should be electrified ASAP. The Belair Line should be extended Murray Bridge and the Seaford line to Aldinga and Victor Harbour respectively.

[SBD]

I read an article on the Grange line how it should be converted to Light Rail. I definitely agree. It would be cheaper to run. It could then be extended to Westlakes Shopping centre. The Outer harbour and Belair Line should be electrified ASAP. The Belair Line should be extended Murray Bridge and the Seaford line to Aldinga and Victor Harbour respectively.

Suburban trains (especially as they are broad gauge, but timetabling too) can't be run further than Belair until the interstate freight has been rerouted somewhere else such as the GlobeLink corridor near Truro if that doesn't turn out to be too long. There's also the issue that the Southeastern Freeway has been upgraded (Heysen Tunnels etc) and now buses on the freeway will easily outperform trains on the winding Adelaide Hills alignment for anywhere past Bridgewater.

I expect there are several more pressing big-ticket infrastructure items to fund before commuter rail to Murray Bridge reaches the top of the pile.

From a regional development perspective, I'm not sure we want commuters travelling to Adelaide from Mount Barker and Murray Bridge anyway. It would be much better to encourage employment in those towns so that people who live there can be employed there, and the kids in the schools there expect to be able to grow up and have meaningful jobs in the district.

[claybro]

From a regional development perspective, I'm not sure we want commuters travelling to Adelaide from Mount Barker and Murray Bridge anyway. It would be much better to encourage employment in those towns so that people who live there can be employed there, and the kids in the schools there expect to be able to grow up and have meaningful jobs in the district.

Having said that, the regional rail upgrades in Victoria have provided a boom for such places as Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong. These centres are now a commute from Melbourne, and far from just becoming dormitory towns, the additional influx of residents who maybe do commute, has created employment options for building services and trades, retail, health and education, to service all the extra residents and home building activity. The windy track is often mentioned as a reason not to run trains, but I wonder if there has been any study done to diverting the train to the centre of the freeway past Bridgewater. Expensive I'm sure, but so is building freeways to cater for never ending North and South sprawl.

[OlympusAnt]

It will always be faster to drive from Mt Barker. The slow meandering up and down the hill just isn't worth it. The curves are too sharp even for 80km/h.

[Goodsy]

From a regional development perspective, I'm not sure we want commuters travelling to Adelaide from Mount Barker and Murray Bridge anyway. It would be much better to encourage employment in those towns so that people who live there can be employed there, and the kids in the schools there expect to be able to grow up and have meaningful jobs in the district.

Having said that, the regional rail upgrades in Victoria have provided a boom for such places as Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong. These centres are now a commute from Melbourne, and far from just becoming dormitory towns, the additional influx of residents who maybe do commute, has created employment options for building services and trades, retail, health and education, to service all the extra residents and home building activity. The windy track is often mentioned as a reason not to run trains, but I wonder if there has been any study done to diverting the train to the centre of the freeway past Bridgewater. Expensive I'm sure, but so is building freeways to cater for never ending North and South sprawl.

How about building railways to cater for the never ending north and south sprawl. A fast line following the standard gauge alignment to Mallala would make much more sense than a line up the freeway to Mount Barker, and it's on flat ground

[OlympusAnt]

The government just announced that school down at Aldinga. Finish the railway line. The corridor is there.

[SBD]

From a regional development perspective, I'm not sure we want commuters travelling to Adelaide from Mount Barker and Murray Bridge anyway. It would be much better to encourage employment in those towns so that people who live there can be employed there, and the kids in the schools there expect to be able to grow up and have meaningful jobs in the district.

Having said that, the regional rail upgrades in Victoria have provided a boom for such places as Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong. These centres are now a commute from Melbourne, and far from just becoming dormitory towns, the additional influx of residents who maybe do commute, has created employment options for building services and trades, retail, health and education, to service all the extra residents and home building activity. The windy track is often mentioned as a reason not to run trains, but I wonder if there has been any study done to diverting the train to the centre of the freeway past Bridgewater. Expensive I'm sure, but so is building freeways to cater for never ending North and South sprawl.

I think Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong also have their own significant industrial bases. Murray Bridge has Thomas Foods planning to rebuild and expand, and another abattoir too. Tailem Bend has The Bend motorsport park, I believe there are plans for more solar power stations in the area, Monarto has several warehouses and the Globelink proposal eventually includes an airport which would employ lots more people.

Overall, the state would be better off with a bunch of regional cities, then we could look at whether there are economies to be gained from creating/improving the regional intercity railways (I don't know if passenger rail on the Globelink route would be viable against buses on the freeway). Whyalla and Mount Gambier have (small) campuses of UniSA. Telepresence possibly means that soon students might be able to do almost any degree remotely, so a campus at Murray Bridge and other regional sites might be possible too.