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