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|stations = 14
|stations = 14
|ridership =
|ridership =
|annual_ridership =
|annual_ridership = 3.5 million
|website =
|website =
|track_gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|al=on}}
|track_gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|al=on}}
|el = 750[[volt|V]] ([[Direct current|DC]]) [[overhead line]]
|el = 750[[volt|V]] ([[Direct current|DC]]) [[overhead line]]
|operator = [[Veolia Transport NSW]]
|operator = [[Veolia Transport NSW]]
|map = [[File:MLR Map.gif|300px]]
|map_name =
|map_state = <!-- show or collapsed -->
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'''[[Light rail]]''' is one of the four major public transport modes serving the city of [[Sydney]], [[Australia]]. The network presently consists of a single {{convert|7.2|km|1|abbr=on}} line that is being extended, and a second line that is in the planning stages.
'''[[Light rail]]''' is one of the four major public transport modes serving the city of [[Sydney]], [[Australia]]. The network presently consists of a single {{convert|7.2|km|1|abbr=on}} line that is being extended, and a second line that is in the planning stages.

Revision as of 11:33, 2 July 2013

For the light rail system operating in Houston, Texas, United States, see METRORail. For the light rail system operating in Phoenix, Arizona, United States, see Metro Light Rail (Phoenix).
Light rail in Sydney
Light rail Hop logo
Variotram pair at Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
Overview
LocaleSydney
Transit typeLight rail
Number of lines1
Number of stations14
Annual ridership3.5 million
Operation
Began operation31 August 1997
Operator(s)Veolia Transport NSW
Technical
System length7.2 km (4.5 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification750V (DC) overhead line
System map

}} Light rail is one of the four major public transport modes serving the city of Sydney, Australia. The network presently consists of a single 7.2 km (4.5 mi) line that is being extended, and a second line that is in the planning stages.

History

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Sydney developed an extensive tram network, which grew to be one of the largest in the world. The increasing rate of private car ownership and the perception that trams contributed to traffic congestion led to the progressive replacement of tram services with buses, with the final section of the tram network closing in February 1961.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the inner city areas of Darling Harbour and Pyrmont were the subject of an urban renewal program. In 1988 the Sydney Monorail opened, connecting Darling Harbour to the Central Business District. With poor integration between the monorail and other transport modes, and the increasing redevelopment of the Pyrmont peninsula - including the establishment of Sydney's first legal casino - it was decided to convert a section of the disused Metropolitan Goods railway line into a light rail line. A section of track between Pyrmont and Haymarket was upgraded and a new on-street section constructed to link the line to Central railway station.

The line was set up as a public-private partnership, with the Sydney Light Rail Company awarded a concession to operate the line for 30.5 years until February 2028 when ownership would pass to the State Government.[1] The contract gave the company significant control over the commercial arrangements relating to future extensions or interconnecting lines.[2] In August 1998 the company became part of Metro Transport Sydney, which also owned the Sydney Monorail. Operation of the service was contracted out to Veolia Transport NSW.

The Government of New South Wales purchased Metro Transport Sydney on 23 March 2012 for $19.8 million. This will allow it to redevelop the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre by closing the monorail and remove the contractual restrictions on expanding the light rail network.[3][4] It was announced on 22 June 2012 that the monorail would close on 30 June 2013.[5]

Metro Transport Sydney is now under the control of Transport for NSW.[6] Veolia Transport NSW retain the operating contract.

Network

Inner West line

Main article: Inner West Light Rail

The Inner West line is the network's original line. It connects the Inner Western suburbs with Darling Harbour and the southern end of the Central Business District. The line operates along a former freight railway, with a short on-street section at the city end. The route opened between Central and Wentworth Park in August 1997 as the Sydney Light Rail.[7] It was renamed Metro Light Rail and was extended west to Lilyfield in August 2000.[8] A south-western extension to Dulwich Hill is under construction and due to open in 2014.[9]

CBD and South East line

Main article: CBD and South East Light Rail

The CBD and South East line is a future line that will operate from Circular Quay at the northern end of the Central Business District to Central station at the southern end, then continuing to the south-eastern suburbs. The line was announced in 2012, with construction expected to start in 2014. The line is being built to reduce bus congestion in the CBD and provide higher capacity public transport to the Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Cricket Ground, Randwick Racecourse and the University of New South Wales, which are currently served only by buses. In contrast to the Inner West line, the route is mostly on-street and follows a similar path to routes used by the former tramway network.

Extension proposals

Several transport corridors have significant potential to allow for the growth of the network beyond its current route structure.

The priority corridors for further investigation are:[10]

The City of Sydney Council has also recommended that a Light Rail link be built from the city to Green Square, to service the commercial and residential developments currently being constructed in the area.[11]

Tram fleet

Variotram

Variotram at Capitol Square
Variotram at Capitol Square
Interior view
Interior view

The Inner West line uses German-designed Variotram vehicles manufactured in Dandenong, Victoria by Adtranz.[12] The trams are bi-directional and the Variotram design is modular and has been extended for the Sydney system. The capacity of the vehicles is 217 passengers, of which 74 are seated.[13] On tests up to three trams have been coupled together allowing a maximum capacity of 600 passengers if required.[12]

The vehicles are low floor (floor to rail height of 30 centimetres) and the bogies have no axles between the wheels and are powered with gearless hub motors.[12] There are seven trams currently in use. The articulated design allows a wide body car without overswing on curves and the vehicles have had their design weight reduced to compensate for the addition of climate-control air-conditioning equipment. The trams run on 750 volt direct current and each tram is fitted with three doors each side which have enhanced safety systems with obstacle detection interlocked with the traction system.[12]

New trams

Urbos 2 tram operating in Vélez-Málaga, three second-hand units have been leased from the Spanish municipality
Urbos 2 in Vélez-Málaga, where 3 units have been leased from
Urbos 3 tram operating on the Belgrade, Serbia tram system
Urbos 3 in Belgrade, Serbia

By 2014, ten additional trams will join the fleet. These will be provided by Spanish company Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) which was awarded the tender on 16 August 2012. The order consists of six new and four leased trams.[14] It is expected the new trams will come from the company's Urbos 3 platform.[15] Three of the leased trams will be second-hand ex Vélez-Málaga Urbos 2 units.[16] The new trams are required to service the Dulwich Hill extension and will also be used to increase service frequencies.[17]

Additional trams will be procured to serve the CBD and South East line. These will provide increased capacity compared to the trams serving the Inner West and may offer catenary free operation in the CBD.[18]

Ticketing

A single ticket
A single ticket
Receipt upon presentation of a MyMulti ticket
Receipt upon presentation of a MyMulti ticket

The light rail network uses its own ticketing system based on two zones. Day and weekly tickets which also allowed travel on the monorail were available prior to the latter system's closure.

Several tickets are recognised on the light rail but are not sold on trams. A "TramLink" ticket which allows travel on Sydney Trains and the light rail is available from Sydney Trains stations.[19] From 27 June 2011, all MyMultis, the Pensioner Excursion Ticket and Family Funday Sunday have also been recognised.[20] This improved integration with the broader Sydney ticketing system led to a 30% to 40% increase in patronage on the line in the first months after introduction.[21]

From 2015, the light rail will also be part of Sydney's smartcard ticketing system.[22]

References

  1. ^ "Sydney Light Rail Extension – Stage 1 Inner West Extension Product Definition Report" (PDF). Transport NSW. July 2010.
  2. ^ Mills, Gordon (1997). "Light Rail in Sydney: Some Privatisation Lessons" (PDF). Agenda. 4 (4): 435, 438.
  3. ^ Campion, Vikki (23 March 2012). "Last stop for Sydney Monorail". The Daily Telegraph.
  4. ^ Tan, Gillian (23 March 2012). "Australian Infrastructure Fund sells Metro Transport stake". The Australian (from The Wall Street Journal).
  5. ^ Saleh, Lillian (22 June 2012). "Sydney's monorail to make its final stop on June 30 next year". The Daily Telegraph.
  6. ^ Cosgriff, Stuart; Griffiths, Emily (5 July 2012). "Light rail strategy for Sydney". Clayton Utz Insights. Clayton Utz. Retrieved 6 July 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Sydney's new light rail system". Railway Digest. September 1997. p. 14.
  8. ^ "Sydney's Tram Extension Opens". Railway Digest. September 2000. p. 4.
  9. ^ "Inner West Light Rail Extension". Transport for NSW.
  10. ^ "Sydney's Light Rail Future". Transport for NSW. 13 December 2012. p. 20. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  11. ^ "Light Rail". City of Sydney. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012.
  12. ^ a b c d "Sydney Light Rail Construction and Extension". Railway Technology.
  13. ^ "Technical Details and All That Stuff..." (PDF). Metro Transport Sydney. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  14. ^ "Contract awarded for delivery of new light rail vehicles". Transport for NSW. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  15. ^ "Sydney Tram". CAF. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  16. ^ "Sydney to lease Velez-Malaga LRVs". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
  17. ^ "Sydney's Light Rail Future". Transport for NSW. 13 December 2012. p. 12. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  18. ^ "CBD and South East Light Rail - Industry Briefing Session" (PDF). Transport for NSW. 9 April 2013. p. 11. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  19. ^ "Light rail". Transport Info. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
  20. ^ Berejiklian, Gladys (14 June 2011). "Pensioners, families big winners in light rail ticket changes" (Press release). Minister for Transport.
  21. ^ Saulwick, Jacob (23 March 2012). "'Once-in-a-generation' opportunity to fix transport". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  22. ^ "Transport card ready to be rolled out in Sydney". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2012.
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