Have Your Say

Letters to the editor and short takes March 31 2021

By Letters to the Editor
Updated April 1 2021 - 1:07pm, first published March 31 2021 - 7:30am
Don't take need for a tram extension lightly
Don't take need for a tram extension lightly

I HAVE just received correspondence from the Parliamentary Secretary for Transport that said, among other things, that extensions to Newcastle's light rail were not economically or technically viable given the steep gradients between New Lambton and the John Hunter Hospital. Nothing was said about extensions to other proposed routes. The same correspondence also made mention of developments at what was called the Broadmeadow Sports Precinct. I would have thought that such developments would have needed good infrastructure, including effective public transport to make them attractive and to prevent congestion. No-one in Macquarie Street seems to have thought of this. I mentioned before that building a light rail line to the John Hospital via New Lambton would involve challenges because of the gradients, but I did not say they shouldn't build it. Sadly this government seems to have put light rail extensions into the too hard basket and according to the correspondence, they are looking at improving bus services and rapid buses. Fast buses in traffic? I'll believe that when I see it. Has anyone thought of the Transwest proposal put forward by Save Our Rail?

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