Tag Archives: Strategic Planning

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 →

Posted in Fast Rail, Growth, Public Transport, Rail, Regions, Transport | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 , , , , , , , , | 2 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 , , , , , , , | 18 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

Sydney Metro West’s slow unveiling

Posted on 26 April, 2018 by Alex

The State Government’s continued gradual unveiling of station options for the Sydney Metro West line between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD is slowly revealing the final route, suggesting a middle path between a high-speed line and a traditional frequent-stopping metro. While … Continue reading →

Posted in Infrastructure, Public Transport, Sydney metro area, Western Sydney | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Sydney Metro – a better option?

Posted on 31 January, 2018 by Alex

After spending a large part of 2017 writing about transport issues and in particular the Government’s metro strategy, I had hoped to start 2018 on a different note. Retired transport bureaucrat and planner Dr Dick Day’s thoughtful opinion piece on … Continue reading →

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