Media release – Hobart Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group (HNSRAG), 2 May 2024
LIBERAL’S MINORITY GOVERNMENT HAS NO MANDATE TO DESTROY RAILWAY
The Hobart Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group (HNSRAG) today issued a reminder to the minority Liberal State Government that, after it lost 12% of vote in the recent state election, it has no mandate for its previously announced plans to destroy part of the Hobart Northern Suburbs Railway for a busway.
In the affected Clark electorate, the Liberals only got 27% of the vote, with just two MPs elected out of a possible seven. Voters would have made their choices for a large number of reasons, nonetheless the result certainly cannot be construed as an endorsement of their plan to tear up the railway. It was most concerning to note that the Premier claimed on election night that he would attempt to proceed with the Government’s 2030 plan, despite now clearly lacking a mandate for it.
HNSRAG President Toby Rowallan said, “We will be doing everything we can in this next term of government to try and stop this destructive plan. They have no business case for the busway and they have no true cost for it. They deliberately inflated the cost of rail in their reports and then the Premier deliberately inflated them even further with false comparisons in Parliament.”
“The result of the election shows that they were going down the wrong road with this busway plan. It will definitely cost more to rip up the tracks and lay down reinforced concrete than it will to upgrade the existing tracks. Noting too, that retaining the existing gauge for a commuter rail service has never been properly investigated by any of the Government’s reports, doubtless deliberately so, by an ignorant and antagonistic bureaucracy and an apathetic minister.”
“We urge the new minister for Transport, Eric Abetz, to throw away the destructive busway plan and get the trains running. Their planned stadium will fail without rail, and even if that does not go ahead, the congestion in the northern suburbs definitely needs the rail. We will be seeking meetings with all of the crossbench in the new Parliament, and also Minister Abetz, to ensure that they understand the strategic importance of the railway,” finished Mr Rowallan.
Roderick
May 3, 2024 at 14:29
I remember as a very young boy catching the train from Tunbridge to Burnie with my mother and siblings. It had eautiful carriages constructed of rare Tasmanian timbers and high backed black diamond pleated seats. After the change to the train at Western Junction to travel along the line to Burnie, it was if you were floating on the water of Bass Strait.
Now of course, the brightly coloured emissions from toxic industries flowing into the seas were a wonder. Apart from the enduring Tasmanian toxicity, the rail journey was mesmerising. Some years later as a primary school boy we lads were allowed to catch the train to Launceston, the Tasman Limited, a name entirely suited to the new and old government of Tasmania.
Even then, train enthusiasts would travel the world to experience the wonderful world of rail. Successive Tasmanian governments were responsible for the termination of rail, and they should and could reinvigorate an energy efficient and local and international tourism drawcard.
Mind you the current focus is on a big chocolate fountain, a priority of fools.
Andrew Heard
May 3, 2024 at 17:03
How does any Light Rail proposal handle end-of-trip car parking for park-and-ride patrons? Where is the space for stations and car parks along the transport corridor? If we’re not taking thousands of cars off the road then the whole scheme seems like a hugely expensive white elephant. Compulsory land acquisition?
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT, the bus option) could integrate seamlessly with the existing bus network, and thereby much reduce the need for extra car parking.