Tag Archives: Strategic Planning

Labor’s High Speed Rail proposal – too far, or not far enough?

Posted on 2 January, 2022 by Alex

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese today announced that Labor would “make fast rail connections between Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle a reality” and establish a High-Speed Rail Authority if it wins government in next year’s federal election. Unfortunately, it’s hard … Continue reading →

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Sydney Metro West gets a mega CBD interchange and Star Casino hits the jackpot, but no southeast link

Posted on 4 July, 2021 by Alex

Two more pieces in the Sydney Metro West puzzle were revealed in the recent announcement by the NSW Government of the location of the remaining stations on the line – Pyrmont and Hunter Street. The announcement itself was not a … Continue reading →

Posted in metro, Planning, Public Transport, Rail, Sydney Metro, Sydney metro area, Transport, Western Sydney | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Why are motorways good but fast trains bad for regional cities?

Posted on 22 September, 2019 by Alex

While I was overseas a few months ago in Tbilisi (among other things looking at the city’s transport systems) I read The Conversation article by Todd Denham and Jago Dodson – Regional cities beware – fast rail might lead to … Continue reading →

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Update: Sydney West Metro station plans firm in NSW election refresh

Posted on 6 March, 2019 by Alex

It’s always easy to know when there’s an election on the way in Australia, especially in NSW, as all parties commit to new projects big and small. Top of the list are new infrastructure projects – hospitals, roads, and, increasingly, … Continue reading →

Posted in metro, Planning, Public Transport, Rail, Sydney metro area, Transport, Western Sydney | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

NSW High-Speed Rail: following Victoria’s example?

Posted on 17 December, 2018 by Alex

The announcement by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian that the NSW government “would start work on a fast rail network in the next term of government” has already been criticised as being a repeat reading from a very hackneyed script. True to form, the announcement … Continue reading →

Posted in Infrastructure, Population, Public Transport, Regions, Sydney metro area, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Bradfield, 75 years on – part 5: using Bradfield’s abandoned tunnels – trains, trams or tourism?

Posted on 3 October, 2018 by Alex

I had intended to write a postscript to my series on the ideas of the engineer John Bradfield and their impact on Sydney in commemoration of the recent 75th anniversary of his death on 23 September 1943, but the NSW … Continue reading →

Posted in Bradfield, Infrastructure, metro, Public Transport, Sydney metro area, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Bradfield, 75 years on – part 1: the Science of Engineering

Posted on 31 July, 2018 by Alex

Recently I spent 10 minutes or so at Sydney’s busy suburban Strathfield Station while changing trains in the evening peak hour. As I waited I watched the synchronised dance across the station’s eight platforms as double-deck trains arrived, disgorged commuters, … Continue reading →

Posted in Growth, History, Infrastructure, Sydney metro area, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Sydney Metro’s commercialised future

Posted on 17 May, 2018 by Alex

What if the NSW government set up a new state-owned business corporation and handed it sweeping powers that duplicated those of several established authorities, including the power to prepare strategic plans, buy, develop and sell land, run other businesses (including bus services) and, incidentally, … Continue reading →

Posted in Infrastructure, Planning, Public Transport, Sydney metro area, Western Sydney | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Labor’s different track on the Sydney Metro – part 2: possibilities and practicalities

Posted on 15 May, 2018 by Alex

In my last article I looked at the broader political and policy perspectives of NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley’s recent announcement that if Labor wins the 2019 State election it will “accelerate the construction” of the Sydney Metro West line, scrapping current Government … Continue reading →

Posted in Public Transport, Sydney metro area, Western Sydney | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Labor’s different track on the Sydney Metro – part 1: politics and priorities

Posted on 7 May, 2018 by Alex

Recently the NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley announced that if Labor wins the 2019 State election it will “accelerate the construction” of the Sydney Metro West line and scrap current government plans to convert the Bankstown to Sydenham rail line to form part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Public Transport, Western Sydney | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments