Elise Archer MP

Making passenger rail & transport options a reality

Ben & Kristie Johnston’s passenger light rail proposal for Granton to Hobart was presented to me earlier this year by Ben.  Since then, we have continued to discuss his and my frustration at there being no action, just words on his proposal.  There has been (what I would classify) a ‘hollow’ promise by the State Government to release its Major Urban Public Transport Study to date.  This study was due in April this year (which I have been calling for since August) and this now seems to have morphed into a generalised study and one which is unlikely to give passenger light rail the separate attention it deserves.

As a result of my discussions with Ben and my work on the proposal, the State Liberal policy on light rail for the western shore rail corridor was released on 9 December 2009.

A Hodgman Liberal Government will task Infrastructure Tasmania (another Liberal initiative to be independent of DIER) with undertaking an implementation (optimisation) study on the battery powered train proposal, to run from Granton to Hobart. This expert body will then report back independently of Infrastructure Tasmania’s state-wide infrastructure plan within six (6) months of the State Election.

Rail infrastructure along this route already exists, but is grossly under-utilised. The completion of the ‘Brighton Transport Hub’ in coming years would totally eliminate freight trains from the route and free it up exclusively for light rail.

The implementation study will consider (amongst other things) the environmental, social and economic merits and impacts, and how other forms of public transport will integrate with rail to ensure maximum public usage. The city of Glenorchy and the northern suburbs are in desperate need of accessible, affordable and timely transport.

As I believed the rail option deserved its own independent optimisation study, this in depth study which Ben and Kristie Johnston have been calling for will become a reality, should a Hodgman Liberal Government be elected in March 2010.

Many candidates of all political persuasions have since jumped on board this passenger rail proposal. However, it is very easy for a candidate to say they ‘support’ a proposal but another to actually make Ben and Kristie’s proposal for an optimisation study a reality.

I want to see action not words on public transport options and that’s why I have been committed to developing this Liberal policy.

When the State Government finally releases the Major Urban Public Transport Study (funded by the taxpayer to the tune of $250,000) all options for improved and integrated public transport facilities for the greater Hobart area should be considered in the study, including (but not limited to) suburban ferry services, and park and ride facilities. The study was to also look at rail, petrol prices, car pooling and other issues related to transport.

It is my firm view that we must plan for the future and not restrict travel to our existing transport corridors.