It's taken about a year, but it looks like O'Farrell has done at least one thing that is going to improve Sydney:


Quote:

Sydney's 24-year-old monorail will be torn down and the city's light rail line will revert to public ownership in what the state government is calling a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to fix transport in the city's CBD. This morning's announcement by the Premier, Barry O'Farrell, and the Transport Minister, Gladys Berejiklian, came after months of negotiations with the shareholders of the company that owns the light rail and monorail lines. The monorail will be torn down as soon as possible, Mr O'Farrell said, but that might be some time away. "The real problem with the monorail, I think for most Sydneysiders, is that it doesn't actually go anywhere that you want to go," Mr O'Farrell said of the line, which opened in 1988. "The last time I used it, it was $5, and that was whether you went 150 metres between stations or whether you did the full lap," he said. The state government has invited tenders from construction companies to redevelop the precinct around Sydney's Convention Centre and Entertainment Centre. The monorail was a potential impediment to the development, and was also facing major maintenance bills. Buying the light rail, meanwhile, in a combined $19.8 million deal, means the government faces fewer obstacles in extending the network through the CBD and inner west and inner east. The contract with Metro Transport Sydney, the previous owner of the light rail and monorail, had allowed that company first rights on any extension. "This is a once-in-a-generation decision to get it right," Ms Berejiklian said. "That's why we've made this decision. By purchasing the monorail and the light rail network this government has all the options before it to get it right." Buying the line will also make it easier for the government to eventually offer the same ticketing system on the tram network as it offers on buses and trains. A new ticketing system, to be called the "Opal Card", will start on ferries this year and buses, trains and trams by 2014. The City of Sydney council immediately supported today's announcement, as did the state's business chamber. Ms Berejiklian said last year's decision to allow pensioners and MyMulti holders to use their tickets on the light rail line, which the previous government had refused to do, had led to a 30 per cent to 40 per cent increase in patronage on the line. In buying out the line, she said the government would now be able to decide whether to buy extra trams to cater for the increased patronage. MyMulti tickets will not be made available on the monorail in the period before it is taken down. By the middle of the year the government will release a strategic plan for a light rail extension to the CBD and possibly the eastern suburbs and Sydney University. That plan will include details on what changes to bus routes would accommodate a tram extension. Lord mayor Clover Moore said in a statement: "This is exactly what we've been waiting for from this government - big, bold transport projects. "I welcome the purchase of Metro Transport Sydney, which will help fully integrate the current light rail system into the expanded network now being planned. "Removal of the ugly and intrusive monorail is also the right next step. Replacing it with efficient and effective light rail will improve transport access in central Sydney." The monorail was mainly used by tourists, and patronage had fallen about 20 per cent in the last four years.

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/onceinageneration-opportunity-to-fix-transport-20120323-1vnss.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEZjzsnPhnw

It provides a nice shady path when walking across the Pyrmont Bridge.

I shall miss it for that reason    :'(

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Pyrmont_bridge_291105.JPG/450px-Pyrmont_bridge_291105.JPG

The monorail was never meant for sydney-siders commuting.  Its just a tourist attraction.  Fair enough if its losing money, but what it has to do with "integrated" transport is precisely zero.

Public buy-back of private infrastructure Barry ?  Sounds very left wing.

Light rail out to Bondi, the SCG, and up the guts of the city is the only "pass mark"  Fatty OBarrell can get from this.

Tearing down some transport (monorail) and only talking about replacements is worse than doing nothing.

Doctor Jolly wrote on Mar 27^th, 2012 at 2:19pm:

Public buy-back of private infrastructure Barry ?  Sounds very left wing.

Selling off electricity and buying back transport? Curious indeed.

why not

Liberal Discriminate wrote on Mar 4^th, 2015 at 10:31pm:

why not

change my mind, we keep it

Liberal Discriminate wrote on Mar 4^th, 2015 at 10:32pm:

Liberal Discriminate wrote on Mar 4th, 2015 at 10:31pm: why not change my mind, we keep it

or just bye another one

why not ride a bike

or dig a hole under it

better still, just fly

trams are the go

bobbythefap1 wrote on Mar 27^th, 2012 at 2:10pm:

?

I seen a movie just like that

Uncle Meat wrote on Mar 27^th, 2012 at 2:12pm:

It provides a nice shady path when walking across the Pyrmont Bridge. I shall miss it for that reason    :'(

Pretty sure that was on the movie

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Liberal Discriminate wrote on Mar 5^th, 2015 at 2:48pm:

Uncle Meat wrote on Mar 27th, 2012 at 2:12pm: It provides a nice shady path when walking across the Pyrmont Bridge. I shall miss it for that reason    :'( Pretty sure that was on the movie

It's a sign of the times, need to post 89

Don't mind me I just love Monorail, 88

Here's a pic of two Darlek I visited for Christmas

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Exterminated a few aliens

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Got together with some mates

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Travel to your door, 74

Travel Warning: The rain in Spain lands mainly on the plain

When in Rome, do what the Romans do

Its never to late to learn, rocket science

Always check your wheel nuts

don't forget, I did

If all you have is lemon peel, you cant make much

When twos a crowd, leave

I had one of them but the wheels feel off

Hence, always check your nuts

Travel broadens the mind, so block your ears