NEXT STEP IN RAIL CAMPAIGN REVEALED

MEDIA RELEASE – 20th May 2023 NEXT STEP IN RAIL CAMPAIGN REVEALED

The Hobart Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group today revealed the next step in their campaign against the Tasmanian State Government’s proposal to rip up the tracks and convert the northern suburbs railway into a busway. The group is erecting posters that say ‘RAILWAY NOT BUSWAY’ in various locations in the Northern suburbs. The posters will help get the group’s message out that a busway is not wanted.

Rail Action Group President Toby Rowallan says that “The people of Hobart, overwhelmingly want the railway used as it is, for modern commuter trains as well as heritage trains. This next step in our campaign will raise awareness of the Government’s “backwards” intentions to destroy the railway for buses. Around the world busways are being turned into railways, not the other way around!”

Mr Rowallan added “Over the past two decades, there have been so many studies done, it is clear that the whole time various governments and the bureaucracy have deliberately inflated the cost of rail to justify their goal of destroying the railway. Incredibly and bizarrely, they are still planning this, even though their last report makes it very clear that rail will deliver four times the benefits than a busway. They are actually ignoring a positive development and growth opportunity.”

Mr Rowallan says that “The minister claims that Tasmania is a bus state. It seems that he hasn’t checked with the people of Hobart to ask what they want! Numerous polls and surveys over the years have demonstrated overwhelming community support for rail, yet the government continues to ignore that too.”

(For reference; Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor – Transport Mode Study: Options Assessment Report by Price WaterhouseCoopers for Tasmanian Department of State Growth)

For further comment; Toby Rowallan President Hobart Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group 0418 997 069

FAIR GO FOR RAIL

MEDIA RELEASE – 5th May 2023

 FAIR GO FOR RAIL

The President of the Hobart Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group, Toby Rowallan, today joined MLC Josh Willie on the railway line where Mr Willie called for an investigation into the costs of using the existing gauge for a rail service. Although one of the dozen or so reports produced in the past fifteen years did recommend retaining the existing gauge, the rest have ignored it, usually for poorly justified and questionable reasons.

Rail Action Group President Toby Rowallan said that “If Minister Ferguson claims that rail is not viable, then how can a busway be viable, given that according to their own report, a rail service will provide more than four times the benefits? All these reports and it seems as if the whole time they were looking for an excuse not to use the rail.”

Mr Rowallan added that “The State Government wants to destroy the railway from Glenorchy to Hobart, and replace it with a concrete busway. Yet a rail service would have at least double the passenger capacity. More buses won’t generate the increase in public transport use that we need. It won’t be able to handle the number of people they hope to fill the new stadium with.”

Mr Rowallan also said that “We are not advocating for some hugely expensive gold-plated system. What we have proposed is a basic, straightforward and affordable service. Everyone understands that Hobart’s public transport needs to be drastically improved. Our view is that using the existing gauge for a commuter rail service is the only sensible, practical and cost effective option. And it is the only option that can deliver a transformational change in Hobart’s public transport system and provide a far superior range of additional benefits.”

For further comment;

Toby Rowallan
President
Hobart Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group
0418 997 069

TO THE PRIME MINISTER: NO CASH FOR DESTRUCTION PLEASE

MEDIA RELEASE – 1st May 2023

TO THE PRIME MINISTER: NO CASH FOR DESTRUCTION PLEASE

The Hobart Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group today called on the Federal Government to refuse funds to Tasmania if it means the destruction of the railway and construction of a busway in its place. Instead, the group asks the Commonwealth to provide funding only on the basis of a commuter rail service, using the existing gauge. It is the only sensible, practical option and provides the best value for money spent.

Rail Action Group President Toby Rowallan says that “A busway can never have the same capacity as rail. So even if the railway cost more, which we sincerely doubt, it would still be better to spend a bit more to get what Hobart actually needs, instead of wasting it on something that will be ineffective.”

Mr Rowallan added “The report the State Government commissioned said that; ‘rail was found to have the greatest impact of the city shaping objectives, unlocking the largest number of dwellings in the corridor through increased peak period public transport capacity.’”

Mr Rowallan says that “The report even admitted that ‘there is uncertainty in the bus rapid take up demand response’ and admitted that it was being optimistic about the busway. Additionally, the rail costs in the report were higher due to the unnecessary bureaucratic insistence on a wider gauge.”

“For the Infrastructure Minister to claim that rail is not viable, we question whether he has actually read this report. Also, if the Tasmanian Transport Museum (TTMS) is to have access to the existing railway between Glenorchy and Chigwell, then that means the busway will only go as far as Glenorchy, unless the Minister plans on revoking the TTMS’ access. It would make far more sense to keep the railway, use it for commuter rail, that way the TTMS can still use it in off-peak periods and Sundays, sometimes coming all the way into Hobart, which will help generate more tourism.”

(For reference; Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor – Transport Mode Study: Options Assessment Report by Price WaterhouseCoopers for Tasmanian Department of State Growth)

For further comment;

Toby Rowallan
President
Hobart Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group
0418 997 069

STADIUM PLAN MUST INCLUDE RAIL – OR IT WILL FAIL

MEDIA RELEASE – 27th April 2023

STADIUM PLAN MUST INCLUDE RAIL – OR IT WILL FAIL

Advocates for a passenger rail service to Hobart’s Northern Suburbs today cautioned the Rockliff Government that any plan for a major stadium must include rail – or it will fail. If the State Government destroys the railway to build a busway, it will gain nothing but lock in more traffic chaos.

Rail Action Group President Toby Rowallan says that “It is a fact that any busway that is built will be completely incapable of handling the enormous number of people that the major stadium is designed to hold. Studies show that a rail service can move up to twenty thousand people in an hour, more than twice what a busway can.”

Mr Rowallan added “The State Government has announced their preferred option is a busway despite their own report clearly identifying rail as providing four times more benefits.”

Mr Rowallan says that “If there were thirty thousand people at that stadium, a really good busway might, under good conditions, be able to move eight thousand people in one hour. Although no details have yet been released, we sincerely doubt that it will be capable of that, which would leave over twenty thousand people using cars and creating Hobart’s biggest ever traffic jam.”

“It is no coincidence that every other AFL city has passenger rail services.”

For further comment;

Toby Rowallan
President
Hobart Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group
0418 997 069

Light Rail in City Deal

Action stations as City Deal gets onboard the northern line

JACK PAYNTER, Mercury

December 18, 2018 9:34pm

A PASSENGER transport system to link Hobart’s northern suburbs with the CBD has been included in a draft City Deal given in-principle agreement by councils this week.

Glenorchy Mayor Kristie Johnston revealed the commitment in the draft that she said meant the system — light rail or something similar — would be operational within five to 10 years. It would transform the northern suburbs, she said.

Her council has also this week pledged more than $10 million to support a City Deal, and ensure it is signed before the federal election due early next year.

“Glenorchy City Council put our dollars on the table, as did the three other metropolitan councils,” she said. “We’re now calling on the state and federal governments in the next month to put their dollars on the table as well.”

She said Glenorchy’s contribution would be funded through an existing capital works program, which has already seen $5.9 million allocated to an urban renewal project in the city centre.

She said the delivery of a rail service to the northern suburbs would be an “absolute catalyst for economic development and investment” in the city.

“It will mean we can actually activate the local area around it and see a significant investment by business and community,” Ald Johnston said.

“I’m very excited today for our community because we can see for the first time some concrete commitments.”

Real Estate Institute of Tasmania president Tony Collidge said it would open up land 1km either side of the track for Greater Hobart to grow.

Moonah businesswoman Lucy Baker, who owns St Albi Bar and Eatery, said the light rail would help bridge the gap between the city and the northern suburbs.

Businesses Bouyed by Light Rail Potential

The Moonah and Glenorchy Business Association has thrown its weight behind a Light Rail link between Hobart and the Northern Suburbs in the wake of a report predicting a long term economic bonanza for the region.

The recently released ‘Transport Corridor Report’ by independent consultants GHD says an urban renewal project along the rail corridor could provide between 500 and 1000 construction jobs a year, for two decades.

The report predicts about 35 hectares along the corridor could be transformed into new residential and commercial development as part of wider urban renewal for the area, triggering an ongoing construction and jobs stimulus.

President of the Moonah and Glenorchy Business Association Beres Taylor says “The rail project has been talked about for too long and now the significant economic benefits have been quantified its time has definitely come”.

Mr Taylor says “Restoring rail is a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ for businesses in the city of Glenorchy”.

Glenorchy District Football Club President John McCann has also joined calls for the State Government to begin planning for Light Rail saying “The KGV sporting precinct could become the most access friendly ‘events venue’ in Tasmania” and a benefit to the whole of Hobart.

Mr McCann says “improving the equity of access to services, schools, entertainment, retail, and health infrastructure is very important. The revitalisation and commercial opportunities of an ‘easy access people moving service’ would be substantial for the Northern suburbs.”

Moonah businesswoman and restaurateur Lucy Baker (St Albi) has gone public with an online video highlighting the growth potential of a Hobart Light Rail link. Ms Baker says “If there was no infrastructure for the railway system you could understand it’d be harder, but because it’s just sitting there dormant, it seems crazy that it’s not used”.

Ms Baker says “it’s a ‘no-brainer’ - especially when Hobart is such an up and coming city where locals and tourists are demanding faster, smoother transport links.”

Rail Action Group President Ben Johnston says “modelling predicts 6 million trips every year on the rail service and polling shows at least 62% support in Denison”.

Denison Joins PM in Call for Rail Action

The group promoting the future development of Light Rail in Hobart says a new opinion poll debunks claims the service ‘isn’t yet viable’.

The ReachTel poll reveals that 62 per-cent of people in the Hobart electorate of Denison back the idea of a light rail link between the northern suburbs and Hobart, with only 22 percent against it.

The Hobart Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group says the strong support debunks claims by the Transport Minister Rene Hidding, that the service ‘isn’t currently viable’, adding a 2013 study predicted fares would easily cover costs.

The Group’s Ben Johnston says it’s time the State Government listened to the public and the Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull and made a Hobart Rail project the cornerstone of a City Deal with the Commonwealth Government.

Mr Johnston says most people in Hobart understand the value of using the existing infrastructure to ease traffic congestion and ‘future-proof’ the city, but the State Government is dragging its feet.

The group is calling on the State Government to reveal its promised ‘infrastructure pipeline’ and make Light Rail a priority.

A 2013 State Government report predicted six million trips per annum will be undertaken on the proposed light rail system with annual operating and maintenance costs of $2.5 million easily covered by fares.

Strategic Infrastructure Corridors Bill

The Hobart Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group is calling on Minister Hidding to explain how the Strategic Infrastructure Corridors Bill will affect/protect a future Light Rail service between Hobart and Bridgewater.

The Rail Action Group, which is campaigning for a Light Rail service from Hobart to Bridgewater, was not consulted during the development of the Bill, indeed the groups requests to meet with the Infrastructure Minister have been denied on numerous occasions.

The Group’s President Ben Johnston says “in its current form the Bill encourages non-rail use of railways presently classified as ‘non-operational.”

Mr Johnston says “the Bill makes no mention of the strategic importance of Hobart’s Northern Suburbs line as a future rail line for freight, passengers or tourists and doesn’t require a Minister to consult key stakeholders prior to any changes.”

Mr Johnston says the proposed changes seem to fly in the face of the Infrastructure Ministers media statement earlier this year that ‘The Hodgman Liberal Government will preserve the rail corridor from Hobart to Granton so that its potential for light rail passenger transport can be considered in the long term’.

The Hobart Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group urges Legislative Councillors to closely consider the Bill in light of the future strategic importance of the rail link between Hobart and its northern suburbs.