Monorail: A sad indictment …

The sudden random idea to purchase the Sydney Monorail or somehow hope that it could be gifted to Hobart, is a sad indictment of the lack of future alternative transport planning in this state.
Whilst we are not against public transport improvements of almost any kind, the reality is that a few facts need to be checked before this should be considered seriously, and other proposals, in particular the Northern Suburbs Railway proposal, need to have priority first.

The Sydney Monorail is old and is to be replaced with a much more effective and user-friendly light rail network through Sydney’s CBD and nearby areas. Given the age of the trains, their small size and the fact that this would probably not be that cheap to install, it would seem more logical for Hobart to seriously prepare to implement it’s own light rail service.

This should start with the existing railway line, later creating the connections that are needed from the waterfront area, through the Hobart CBD and to North Hobart. If the monorail was popular there would be little of that capacity for growth.

Hobart is the only state capital city in Australia without a commuter rail service. It is time that this State Government made it clear that it wants the railway line reopened for passengers and to get it done. Politicians from all parties have claimed that they are in favour, yet nothing is happening.

Why?

The claim that the cost of introducing the service is out of reach is simply wrong. If it is not used then the railway will be pulled up and gone forever, and we will be forced to pay for hundreds of millions of dollars for improvements to the Brooker Highway.

Neither we nor the Federal Government can afford to keep building highways in all directions. The railway is the cheapest and most cost effective option. Let someone else have Sydney’s worn-out monorail, and Hobart have something new and useful.