Newcastle Light Rail Tramways for the 21st Century
Modern Tramways like all forms of technology has advanced and is a far cry from the days of what were supposedly slow and cumbersome means of Transportation that were abandoned in favour of a pneumatic, oil filled bus.
As with heavy Railway Lines throughout New South Wales and the rest of Australia Government’s are loathe to Upgrade, Expand, Electrify, Duplicate these vital pieces of infrastructure so that Regional Towns and Cities can be linked and in many cases brought back to life.
Railway corridors allow for Water Pipelines and Broadband Cables to be provided at a price many Billions of Dollars cheaper to meet the needs and challenges that Australia faces over the next 50 years.
The New South Wales Government is quite happy to have Buses built lock, stock and barrel in Sydney and New South Wales but when it comes to Railway Rolling Stock it is a different matter. Currently Railway and Tramway Rolling Stock is simply imported into Australia and assembled in New South Wales.
All Railway and Tramway Rolling Stock should be built lock, stock and barrel in New South Wales and in other States or Territories of Australia.
Pedestrian Safety
Modern raised island Tram Platforms should be introduced in any Light Rail route.
Kingsford, Randwick and George Street Sydney Light Rail Lines are not depicted on these maps of in this website. However KIngsford, Randwick and George Street Light Rail Lines would connect up to my Sydney CBD City Circle Light Rail Line at:
- George Street/Alfred Street intersection
- Hay Street/Elizabeth Street intersection
- Elizabeth Street/Eddy Avenue intersection
Regarding Parramatta Light Rail I oppose the use of the Carlingford Railway corridor for use as a Light Rail Line.
My Parramatta Light Rail has 8 routes that incorporates some features from the Parramatta Light Rail Line as announced by the State Government and will appear in this website soon.
My Newcastle Light Rail map would have retained the Heavy Rail Line. Newcastle Light Rail Line as announced by the State Government is underwhelming.
When a High Speed Rail at 500 Km/h (Japan’s Bullet Train) service commences going to Brisbane the Railway Line would be rebuilt. This considering that rail patronage will increase. Going underground from Hamilton Junction the line would emerge at grade level to enter Newcastle Railway Station.
Grade of this line would be no steeper than the Epping-Chatswood Line in Sydney. Given the earthquake belt that Newcastle sits on this line would be constructed with a mixture of rubber and concrete as the practice in Japan where many tall office buildings in Japan also sits on earthquake belts.
However I would connect the Parramatta Light Rail to Sydney Light Rail so the same overhead wiring system should be used that is also the same as that to Dulwich Hill, Kingsford and Randwick.
Sydney and South East Line under construction my extensive EIS submission outlines the same position on Tram Stops.
Heavy Railways for Trains should be the single network for Sydney and New South Wales. Even Capital City-Capital City High Speed Rail at 500 Km/h (Japan’s Bullet Train) uses overhead wiring and reinforced heavy rail tracks.
When Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Hobart had extensive tramways, traffic had to stop when a Tran Car stopped.
This rule still applies in Melbourne which has the world’s largest operating Tramway Network.
Melbourne CBD Tram Stops have raised platforms and digital NEXT TIME TRAM information as well as overhead wiring.
However a modern deviation from that rule would have Raised Platform Tram Stops with Pedestrian Crossing markings or Signalised Traffic Pedestrian Crossings at the end of the Platform of the Tram Stop.
Signalised Traffic Pedestrian Crossings would apply depending on how wide the road was.
- Pedestrian Crossing markings for a road of 2 lanes in each direction.
- Signalised Traffic Pedestrian Crossings for a road of 3 or more lanes in each direction.
In this way the old rule of traffic having to stop when a Tram stopped would not apply.
Community Benefits and Concerns
• Provide a fast user friendly environmentally responsible mode of transport for the 21st Century.
• The Tramway Depot/Maintenance Centre will service the new network sitting alongside the newly installed RailCorp Railway stabling facilities at Broadmeadow. This improvement to RailCorp operations will also complement the newly installed and long overdue Glendale Interchange.
• The operator of the existing Sydney Light Rail Line could apply through a Public Tender Process to operate the entire network given the way in which the Light Rail Line now successfully moves people.
• Tracks will be dual operation set in mass concrete.
• Raised Super Stops as the case at Flinders/Swanston Street Melbourne Stop will be laid out with tram tracks on either side of the platform.
• Raised Super Stops allows mothers with strollers, the elderly and disabled to use the new trams easily with low floor entry.
• The workings of the tramcars are set in the roof of the vehicle.
• Road Rules will not require alteration or a return to the days when all traffic had to stop when a tram stopped. This is largely because the platforms will be island formation and make for a faster movement of passengers when alighting or disembarking.
• Traffic signalling will have T signals as per the case in Sydney where the Tram line crosses George Street and Darling Drive.
• Island platforms are a safer means for passengers alighting and disembarking instead of boarding from the street curb.
• There will not be a need to install Central Tram Fairways down the middle of Streets given the modern island nature of the Raised Super Stop.
• The need for Bus Lanes in Hunter Street or any other Street stops people from parking legally to go to the shops.
• The Newcastle System has potential to be extended however this should not be at the expense of Heavy Rail expansion.
WORTH PLACE CROSSING:
• The Worth Place Crossing will be reinstated for Tram movements and Pedestrians. This would not be a crossing for vehicles as this would lead to congestion on Hunter Street. This crossing will be laid in mass concrete.
• The overhead Railway and Tramway wires while of different voltage would be individually protected by modern safety systems.
ADAMSTOWN CROSSING:
• The installation of a Tram/Train crossing at Glebe Road Adamstown will allow for safer conditions for motorists as the case is now given the curved nature of the approach of Glebe Road to the crossing.
• In addition to the widening and upgrade of the Adamstown Crossing is for a Roundabout to be installed at the busy and dangerous intersection of Glebe Road/Park Avenue/Court Street. Traffic Lights at this intersection would be impractical given the timing of the Boom Gates at the Level Crossing.
• Both the Worth Place and Adamstown Crossings will be upgraded significantly and the four intersecting standard gauge tracks would be laid in mass concrete.
• Tramway Junctions will be operated by the driver and not require Conductors to get out of the tram and flick the points with a metal pole.
Melbourne currently has four Tram/Train Crossings* these being at:
• Glenhuntly Road Glenhuntly
• Glenferrie Road Kooyong
• Riversdale Road Camberwell
• Burke Road Gardiner Still in use – note tramway closed during construction of SE Arterial (now Monash Freeway) Burke Road overbridge.
*Courtesy Hawthorn Tram Depot Website.
Financing of the construction of the Newcastle Tramway system will come from a variety of sources similar to the funding formula for the long overdue expansion requirements of the New South Wales Railways.
• Commonwealth Funding Assistance
• State Government Funding Assistance
• Private Consortium Involvement and Possible Operation
• Raised Super Stops to include advertising
• Railway/Tramway Bonds guaranteed by the NSW Treasury
• Railway/Tramway Lottery administered by the NSW Government
• Tramway Trust Fund administered by the NSW Department of Transport
The operation of the tramway system and contracts for the advertising at Raised Super Stops will be open to public tender.
Melbourne’s Tramway operations were funded and managed by various local councils such as:
• Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust
• Hawthorn Tramways Trust
• Melbourne, Brunswick and Coburg Tramways Trust
• Fitzroy, Northcote and Preston Tramways Trust
• Footscray Tramway Trust
• Northcote Municipality Cable Tramways
This situation ceased to exist when the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB) was formed following the passing of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Act 1918 through the Victoria Parliament. By 1920 most of the Tramway Trusts were transferred to the MMTB.
Given that tramways overlap council boundaries easily it is the NSW Department of Transport who is best placed to administer the Tramways Trust Fund in consultation with the NSW Treasury.
The NSW Fahey Liberal/National Government commenced construction of Sydney’s current Light Rail line. NSW Premier Bob Carr opened the Central-Wentworth Park Line in 1997 and the extension to Lilyfield was completed in 2000.
The Newcastle Tramways would have 6 different routes operating in each direction and numbered for ease of patronage. Each route will have a line colour associated for ease of use and each of the Raised Super Stops will be numbered with signage that will also indicate the cross-street at which the stop is nearest to. Next Tram Time running will be indicated electronically on signage at each stop as is the case in Melbourne.
The full list of Routes with Stop Numbers can be found on www.isput.com.au. The maps are easily downloaded in PDF version.
Route 1 will commence from the Broadmeadow Tram Depot/Maintenance Centre and is as follows:
Route 1-Yellow
Route 1-Services the John Hunter and Mater Hospitals, University of Newcastle, Bar and Merewether Beaches via Wharf Road and Shortland Esplanade. Both of these roads allow for Panoramic Views of the coast and headlands. Speed restrictions would allow passengers time to take in the breathtaking aspects that Newcastle has to offer.
Newcastle Light Rail Route No. 1
Stop Name Stop No.
Tram Depot 0
Lambton Road 1
Glossop Street 2
Sketchley Parade 3
Rydal Street 4
Birdwood Street 5
Orchard Town Road 6
Grinsdell Street 7
Carnley Avenue 8
Grandview Road 9
McCaffrey Drive 10
John Hunter Hospital 11
Carrington Parade 12
Mitchell Avenue 13
Elder Street 14
George Street 15
Arthur Street 16
Jesmond Park 17
Janet Street 18
Sunset Boulevarde 19
Stannett Street 20
Kimian Avenue 21
Catherine Avenue 22
Mater Hospital 23
Platt Street 24
High Street 25
Schroder Avenue 26
Oxley Road 27
Kahibah Road 28
Turton Road Junction 29
Smith Park 30
Chatham Road 31
Hudson Street 32
Beaumont Street North 33
Lawson Street 34
Tudor Street 35
Stewart Avenue 36
Auckland Street 37
Hunter Street Mall 38
Watt Street 39
Via Wharf Road 0
Via Shortland Esplanade 0
Bar Beach 40
Smith Street 41
National Park Street South 42
Beaumont Street South 43
Samdon Street 44
Blackall Street 45
Brunker Road 46
Curley Road 47
Tram Depot 0
Costs Of Construction:
The cost of construction including Tram Tracks, Overhead Wiring, Light Rail Stops and restoration of roadway to that before construction commenced is $1 Million per kilometre, according to sources from the Sydney Tramway Museum.
Route Colour Coding:
Route Colour Coding allows passengers easy identification with services and particular routes.
Route Colour Coding will be visible on Tram Car Vehicle destination signage, Light Rail Stop signage and promotional information.
Route 2 will commence from the Broadmeadow Tram Depot/Maintenance Centre and is as follows:
Route 2-Blue
Route 2-Services both the new and old of Newcastle via Hannell Street and Honeysuckle drive. Worth Place Crossing will reinstate one level crossing that will reunite the City of Newcastle. Restricting access of this reinstated crossing to trams and Pedestrians will not ensure that traffic congestion becomes an issue on Hunter Street. This route also services Tighes Hill TAFE and will go through the Hunter Street Mall as is the case in Bourke Street Melbourne and this will in turn reinvigorate the CBD. Rather than creating many terminus throughout Newcastle all tram routes start and finish at the Tram Depot. Route 2 also services the Beaches and Racecourse.
Newcastle Light Rail Route No. 2
Stop Name Stop No.
Tram Depot 0
Lambton Road 1
Wallarah Road 2
Regent Street 3
Wickham Road 4
Mitchell Avenue 5
Elder Street 6
Morehead Street 7
Kahibah Road 8
Turner Street 9
Georgetown Road 10
Newcastle Street 11
Hubbard Street 12
Islington Park 13
William Street 14
Kings Road 15
Harrison Street 16
Downie Street 17
The Avenue 18
Anne Street 19
Throsby Street 20
Honeysuckle Drive 21
WORTH PLACE CROSSING 0
Auckland Street 22
Hunter Street Mall 23
Watt Street 24
Via Wharf Road 0
Via Shortland Esplanade 0
Bar Beach 25
Merewether Beach 26
Frederick Street 27
Ridge Street 28
Merewether Street 29
Morgan Street 30
Henry Park 31
Hassall Street 32
James Street 33
Darling Street 34
Broadmeadow Racecourse 35
Brunker Road 36
Curley Road 37
Tram Depot 0
Costs Of Construction:
The cost of construction including Tram Tracks, Overhead Wiring, Light Rail Stops and restoration of roadway to that before construction commenced is $1 Million per kilometre, according to sources from the Sydney Tramway Museum.
Route Colour Coding:
Route Colour Coding allows passengers easy identification with services and particular routes.
Route Colour Coding will be visible on Tram Car Vehicle destination signage, Light Rail Stop signage and promotional information.
Route 3 will commence from the Broadmeadow Tram Depot/Maintenance Centre and is as follows:
Route 3-Orange
Route 3-Services both Energy Australia Stadium and the No.1 Sports Ground when major sporting fixtures require a large volume of people to be moved quickly Route 3 also extends to Civic Park, Bar Beach and operates close to Hamilton TAFE.
Newcastle Light Rail Route No. 3
Stop Name Stop No.
Tram Depot 0
Lambton Road 1
Energy Australia Stadium 2
Turton Road Junction 3
Smith Park 4
Chatham Road 5
Hudson Street 6
Beaumont Street North 7
Lawson Street 8
National Park Street North 9
Ravenshaw Street 10
Civic Park 11
Perkin Street 12
Cathedral Street 13
Church Street 14
Bar Beach 15
Glebe Road Junction 16
Kenrick Street 17
Farquhar Street 18
Llewellyn Street 19
Pulver Street 20
Learmonth Park 21
Dumaresq Street 22
Everton Street 23
Tudor Street Junction 24
Lindsay Street 25
Lawson Street 26
Beaumont Street North 27
Hudson Street 28
Chatham Road 29
Smith Park 30
Turton Road Junction 31
Energy Australia Stadium 32
Lambton Road 33
Tram Depot 0
Costs Of Construction:
The cost of construction including Tram Tracks, Overhead Wiring, Light Rail Stops and restoration of roadway to that before construction commenced is $1 Million per kilometre, according to sources from the Sydney Tramway Museum.
Route Colour Coding:
Route Colour Coding allows passengers easy identification with services and particular routes.
Route Colour Coding will be visible on Tram Car Vehicle destination signage, Light Rail Stop signage and promotional information.
Route 4 will commence from the Broadmeadow Tram Depot/Maintenance Centre and is as follows:
Route 4-Green
Route 4-Services Energy Australia Stadium, Hunter Street Mall, Newcastle Railway Station, Beaches area, Hamilton TAFE and compliments Route 3.
Newcastle Light Rail Route No. 4
Stop Name Stop No.
Tram Depot 0
Lambton Road 1
Energy Australia Stadium 2
Turner Street 3
Georgetown Road 4
Newcastle Street 5
Hubbard Street 6
George Street 7
Albert Street 8
Tudor Street 9
Stewart Avenue 10
Auckland Street 11
Hunter Street Mall 12
Watt Street 13
Via Wharf Road 0
Via Shortland Esplanade 0
Bar Beach 14
Glebe Road Junction 15
Kenrick Street 16
Farquhar Street 17
Llewellyn Street 18
Pulver Street 19
Learmonth Park 20
Dumaresq Street 21
Everton Street 22
Tudor Street Junction 23
Lindsay Street 24
Lawson Street 25
Beaumont Street North 26
Hudson Street 27
Chatham Road 28
Smith Park 29
Turton Road Junction 30
Energy Australia Stadium 31
Lambton Road 32
Tram Depot 0
Costs Of Construction:
The cost of construction including Tram Tracks, Overhead Wiring, Light Rail Stops and restoration of roadway to that before construction commenced is $1 Million per kilometre, according to sources from the Sydney Tramway Museum.
Route Colour Coding:
Route Colour Coding allows passengers easy identification with services and particular routes.
Route Colour Coding will be visible on Tram Car Vehicle destination signage, Light Rail Stop signage and promotional information.
Route 5 will commence from the Broadmeadow Tram Depot/Maintenance Centre and is as follows:
Route 5-Pink
Route 5-Services the inner parts of Beaumont Street, Beaches areas, Adamstown and the Racecourse.
Newcastle Light Rail Route No. 5
Stop Name Stop No.
Tram Depot 0
Curley Road 1
Brunker Road 2
Blackall Street 3
Samdon Street 4
Beaumont Street South 5
National Park Street South 6
Smith Street 7
Merewether Beach 8
Frederick Street 9
Ridge Street 10
Merewether Street 11
Morgan Street 12
Henry Park 13
Hassall Street 14
James Street 15
Chatham Road Junction 16
Bryant Street 17
Bourke Street 18
ADAMSTOWN CROSSING 0
Mackie Avenue 19
Sketchley Parade 20
Glossop Street 21
Lambton Road 22
Tram Depot 0
Costs Of Construction:
The cost of construction including Tram Tracks, Overhead Wiring, Light Rail Stops and restoration of roadway to that before construction commenced is $1 Million per kilometre, according to sources from the Sydney Tramway Museum.
Route Colour Coding:
Route Colour Coding allows passengers easy identification with services and particular routes.
Route Colour Coding will be visible on Tram Car Vehicle destination signage, Light Rail Stop signage and promotional information.
Route 6 will commence from the Broadmeadow Tram Depot/Maintenance Centre and is as follows:
Route 6-Red
Route 6-Services both Energy Australia Stadium and the No.1 Sports Ground while connecting with Newcastle Railway Station.
Newcastle Light Rail Route No.6
Stop Name Stop No.
Tram Depot 0
Lambton Road 1
Glossop Street 2
Sketchley Parade 3
Mackie Avenue 4
ADAMSTOWN CROSSING 0
Bourke Street 5
Bryant Street 6
Chatham Road Junction 7
James Street 8
Hassall Street 9
Henry Park 10
Morgan Street 11
Merewether Street 12
Lingard Street 13
Burwood Street 14
Tooke Street 15
Parry Street East 16
Bull Street 17
Darby Street Junction 18
Perkin Street 19
Cathedral Street 20
Watt Street 21
Queens Wharf 22
Workshops 23
WORTH PLACE CROSSING 0
Parry Street West 24
No.1 Sports Ground 25
The Junction 26
Farquhar Street 27
Llewellyn Street 28
Pulver Street 29
Learmonth Park 30
Dumaresq Street 31
Everton Street 32
Tudor Street Junction 33
Lindsay Street 34
Lawson Street 35
Beaumont Street North 36
Hudson Street 37
Chatham Road 38
Smith Park 39
Turton Road Junction 40
Energy Australia Stadium 41
Lambton Road 42
Tram Depot 0
Costs Of Construction:
The cost of construction including Tram Tracks, Overhead Wiring, Light Rail Stops and restoration of roadway to that before construction commenced is $1 Million per kilometre, according to sources from the Sydney Tramway Museum.
Route Colour Coding:
Route Colour Coding allows passengers easy identification with services and particular routes.
Route Colour Coding will be visible on Tram Car Vehicle destination signage, Light Rail Stop signage and promotional information.