News & Discussion: Trams

[Spotto]

I assume it would be a vote winner for inner city voters

Unfortunately, I’m guessing the general energy would be “But what about our trees and street parking?!”

[ChillyPhilly]

I'm hopeful there'll be an election surprise, but not confident.

[Waewick]

I assume it would be a vote winner for inner city voters

Unfortunately, I’m guessing the general energy would be “But what about our trees and street parking?!”

I thought or think you could sell it as cost of living.

It's a bit hard being in North Adelaide of course

It is cheaper to take PT

[Nort]

Do we think there is any potential Fed money for a tram ?

Or are we not a state that has enough focus ?

I assume it would be a vote winner for inner city voters

It wasn't enough of a vote winner at the 2018 state election, so doubt they'd see it as one now.

[SRW]

Tram heading down O'Connell and Prospect Road would be great because of the development it supports, but seems hard to justify Ward Street just for the golf course.

Especially as the clubhouse is likely to be relocated down to War Memorial Drive/Riverbank.

[rev]

Perhaps if there was a city loop for the trams, they could throw a line up Montefiore, maybe even through Wellington Square to the new aquatic centre.
Free trams at the end of cricket and footy games back into the city and beyond would certainly help ease the crush of people and move disperse them to other parts of the city quicker.
A tram stop at the War Memorial/Montefiore intersection would probably help bring bigger crowds to the tennis too.

[ChillyPhilly]

Do we think there is any potential Fed money for a tram ?

Or are we not a state that has enough focus ?

I assume it would be a vote winner for inner city voters

It wasn't enough of a vote winner at the 2018 state election, so doubt they'd see it as one now.

Trams weren't why Labor lost.

[Nort]

Do we think there is any potential Fed money for a tram ?

Or are we not a state that has enough focus ?

I assume it would be a vote winner for inner city voters

It wasn't enough of a vote winner at the 2018 state election, so doubt they'd see it as one now.

Trams weren't why Labor lost.

It's not about being why they lost, it's that it wasn't a powerful enough vision to make them win.

I look forward to the day that more tram extensions come and think they would be great for Adelaide, and was that was in the works now, but with how hard they pushed the vision then for voters to go meh, I think it's at least another term before they'll be ready for another go.

[rubberman]

It wasn't enough of a vote winner at the 2018 state election, so doubt they'd see it as one now.

Trams weren't why Labor lost.

It's not about being why they lost, it's that it wasn't a powerful enough vision to make them win.

I look forward to the day that more tram extensions come and think they would be great for Adelaide, and was that was in the works now, but with how hard they pushed the vision then for voters to go meh, I think it's at least another term before they'll be ready for another go.

I agree. The State’s finances are tight. So, while I think trams are slightly politically advantageous, they aren't worth it politically if the government is way ahead in the polls. Given the current state of the Liberals in SA, and the economy, especially paying for Whyalla, the ALP is far better off spending money elsewhere at present. Whyalla, South Road, Children's Hospital, all money sinks and high priority. Plus the spend on getting the trains back.

However, if the Liberals can make themselves more palatable, in an election or two, and those other projects are finished, then trams might be enough to push the ALP over the line at that time.

So, in my opinion only, the earliest opportunity would be 2030, with 3 years to build for the next tram extensions. But, if the Libs are still a mess, it could be 2038 and beyond.

[Waewick]

The federal election might also be precursor to the State election.

If Sturt does move away from the LNP, you would think that puts state seats within reach of Labor.

Perhaps some money towards PT to elevate congestion along roads line Magill, Payneham, The Parade and Kensington Rds could be an election sweetener.

[rev]

The Coalition leading in the polls, and even Dutton ahead I believe, now would be a good time for the state to get on to Albo to stump up some funding. Surely they still have the plans or have something on the back burner.
Congestion is only getting worse in Adelaide, would be a good sell to the public.
At the very least expand it into the west where Labor holds all federal seats to sure those up.

Would be good if got on the front foot..

[A-Town]

Congestion is only getting worse in Adelaide, would be a good sell to the public.
At the very least expand it into the west where Labor holds all federal seats to sure those up.

Would be good if got on the front foot..

An extension to the Airport would be a vote winner, but I don't think we'll see anything happening west until the Motorway is completed.

[Patrick_27]

Congestion is only getting worse in Adelaide, would be a good sell to the public.
At the very least expand it into the west where Labor holds all federal seats to sure those up.

Would be good if got on the front foot..

An extension to the Airport would be a vote winner, but I don't think we'll see anything happening west until the Motorway is completed.

The way I see it, Prospect and Airport are the vote winners based on socio economics of both areas, whilst any plans to go towards Norwood or Unley will lose votes. I believe that Norwood diversifying will shift this but Unley is definitely out whilst old money continues to rule that area, that said, Goodwood has a fairly robust community focus and sending trams down Goodwood Road might bring about some local support. Whatever and whenever the future of trams are decided, a few things are clear... The city loop should be the first priority so that any further expansions to the network can simply run off of that, there needs to be either a second or larger tram depot built and the current rolling stock will need to be replaced as they're now going on 20 years.

Given the Islington railway workshops are still operational, I would argue that it would work out cheaper longterm and be lucrative for our state to build these here rather than outsourcing inster-state or overseas, it's worked for Melbourne and given the lifespan of the Red Hens and other rolling stock built at Islington I think it's still well within our capability to provide for ourselves as a state.

[Spotto]

Given the Islington railway workshops are still operational, I would argue that it would work out cheaper longterm and be lucrative for our state to build these here rather than outsourcing inster-state or overseas, it's worked for Melbourne and given the lifespan of the Red Hens and other rolling stock built at Islington I think it's still well within our capability to provide for ourselves as a state.

The workshops are operational and have refurbished and repaired existing stock, but building brand new trams would likely be more economical if we can somehow combine efforts with Melbourne’s order of G-class trams being built in Dandenong.

Our network is both much smaller than Melbourne’s and less in need of a large number of brand new trams.

[ChillyPhilly]

I think it's important to remember that the Suburban Rail Loop in Melbourne had significant electoral impacts, including making safe Liberal seats marginal.

In Adelaide, we need to stop settling for mediocrity (that's the outdated Bug Country Town Mentality at play) and start demanding the best.

Better transportation for the whole city is absolutely a vote winner.

Just need a genuine leader with balls to make it happen.

The government went on to win in a landslide, with an above-average swing to Labor in electorates set to benefit from the loop. Three of the eight seats Labor picked up at the election – Box Hill, Burwood and Mount Waverley – had new stations promised.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-n ... e-victoria