Tripping the light rail fantastic

"There are Winners and there are Losers"

Pizza Boy, Jeff Goodling

There are two long-standing bus section boundaries within easy walking distance of my house - the stop in Oxford Street in front of the Supreme Court and the stop in Campbell Street before Riley Street for the Mascot routes. The sections are clearly shown on the stop signs. I know the stops where I can use a Mybus 1 ticket to get to the CBD or Kensington or Bondi Junction. If I used an Opal Card I do not have a clue what would be deducted from my account at Bondi Junction or where I would have to catch the bus to be within the 3 km limit - I don't have GPS embedded in my brain. It seems that repeated trial and error is the only way to figure this out. I will not be getting an Opal Card any time now.

James Packer of Palm Beach

There are big winners though; James Packer for example. James Packer and his neighbours at Palm Beach have a bus route from Railway Square to Palm Beach - 29 Mybus sections. I do not know the straight-line distance in kilometers (it doubles back at Palm Beach) but it is a hell of a lot more than the 8 km which sets the Opal Card fare where you no longer have to worry about where the trip will end.

James Packer and neighbours will pay $4.50 with an Opal Card for a trip to the CBD. He will be able to get off any number of times for coffee, fast food, meet and greets or any other purpose so long as he gets back on a bus with the same route number within an hour. Route numbers are the same coming or going, so the Transport NSW web site implies that if he concluded his business within an hour he could return, and the straight-line distance travelled would be zero. Would he be charged zero for the journey or would only the return trip be free? The success rate of the Packers' lawyers with the Taxation Office is formidable.

Lee Street to Palm Beach bus route

If George Street is pedestrianised this route will be diverted to Elizabeth Street and the return trip will be via the Premier's special right-hand turn in Phillip Street. He will be able to make a brief call on the NSW government ministers and public servants and thank them for their extraordinary largess without breaking his trip. This is, of course, hypothetical. There is no reason to believe the largess bestowed on the Northern Beaches would induce him to leave his big-boys toys on his yacht and catch a bus.

Then there are the really big losers in the Inner West. To get from, say, the Sydney University to Rushcutters Bay a commuter would be expected to catch a bus to Rawson Place (less than 3 km = $2.10), a tram to Town Hall (less than 3 km, change of mode, unknown cost) then a Victoria Road service to Rushcutters Bay (less than 3 km = $2.10); total cost probably $6.30 plus. This is the cost of a journey each way.

Double Bay/double pay.
A journey to Double Bay from, say, Sydney University would take four trips or so the usual kamikaze Private/Public Partners (PPPs) are expected to believe. That is an extra $2.10 by bus from the roof of Edgecliff Station or an extra $3.50 for destinations along New South Head Road further than 3 km from Edgecliff station.

Like that is going to happen!
Sydney University students and staff, and most residents in the Inner West are smart enough to catch a bus terminating at Circular Quay (or Coogee), disembark at the stop in Eddy Avenue then catch a train to Edgecliff Station. Buses will then travel on empty to Circular Quay inflicting collateral damage on Eastern Suburbs bus services in Elizabeth Street northbound.

The double whammy
So there you have it, trams running on empty along George Street and displaced bus services running on empty through the "pinch points" in Elizabeth and Phillips Streets. Bus passengers from south and west of Newtown can make the inevitable transfer to rail at Newtown Station leaving the buses running on empty along King Street.

PPPs are expected to subscribe to the fantasy that trams can compete with with subway rail in delivering passengers to the same destinations. Project director Jeff Goodling has the job ahead of him.

Will the trams only accept passengers using Opal Cards?
If not, fare evasion will reach new heights with passengers boarding the trams at five doors and the driver isolated at the front. The London light rail through Canary Wharf has Oyster Card readers on platforms and station announcements reminding passengers to go back and tap off. If so, the compulsion to use trains will be more compelling.

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