[DT] Five grotty train stations set for sale to the private

[boxythingy]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/s ... 6294086724

EXCLUSIVE by Rhys Haynes
The Daily Telegraph
March 09, 2012 12:00AM
12 comments

FIVE of Sydney's overcrowded and grubby train stations could be handed over to the private sector for redevelopment.

The state government is considering a radical proposal to "bundle" five CBD train stations and release them as a series of public-private partnerships for an overhaul.

Commuters would benefit from redesigned and modern stations, attractive shopping precincts and affordable apartments, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia (IPA) said.

The overhaul would include the five stations on the City Circle Loop - Redfern, Central, Town Hall, Martin Place and Circular Quay.

IPA, the peak lobby group representing the infrastructure private sector, has submitted the radical plan to the Legislative Assembly committee's inquiry into the utilisation of rail corridors.

The inquiry was set up late last year to examine the use of air space above and around the rail corridor in the greater metropolitan area of Sydney, including the Hunter region and in the Illawarra.

The five train, bus and ferry interchanges present an "opportunity for joint development" because they have high passenger frequency and are in key locations, IPA said.

"This high level of patronage means the station concourse, airspace and adjacent land - if planned for, designed and delivered in a suitable way - is a potentially valuable commercial real estate holding for the government," the report states.

"Many of these stations are in a poor condition, with a sub-optimal legacy design and have not experienced wholesale renovation for many decades."

The private sector is in a position to invest in the proposal, IPA said. "The renovation of these five stations could be bundled as public- private partnerships, in which the private sector would finance train station redesign and renovation.

"A joint development of the high-traffic CBD stations under this model would allow for the redevelopment of Sydney's legacy CBD rail stations at substantially lower cost to the taxpayer while simultaneously delivering world-class facilities to rail commuters.

"The redevelopment would also deliver high-value retail real estate in the CBD."

It was time to replace the "crappy old cafes, bottle shops and newsagents" with quality retail precincts, IPA chief executive Brendan Lyon said.

"When you think about global cities and their transport interchanges, they have done a lot more with their major CBD transport hubs than Sydney has."

Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said the proposal would be considered.

"The masterplan is looking at capacity and demand issues around the whole of the transport network, including the CBD railway lines and stations," Ms Berejiklian said.

[Mr Bean]

Why do we need railway stations to be constantly renovated? Does it really matter if the tiles on the station wall look like they're from the 1960's? I'm more interested whether the train turns up on time and has space available

[boxythingy]

Why do we need railway stations to be constantly renovated? Does it really matter if the tiles on the station wall look like they're from the 1960's? I'm more interested whether the train turns up on time and has space available

True, although desperately need a deep clean. Remove the dust and grime at least once a year or something.

[turbom]

Yay here comes another Parramatta debacle. Let's funnel them through Westfield the most indirect route.

[Tonymercury]

Yay here comes another Parramatta debacle. Let's funnel them through Westfield the most indirect route.

And sticking to the Westfield theme - add a bus interchange as far as possible from where anyone wants to go.

[The Inspector]

The overhaul would include the five stations on the City Circle Loop - Redfern, Central, Town Hall, Martin Place and Circular Quay.

Excuse me but 5 stations on the city loop?

Has someone removed St James & Museum?

[boronia]

That crossed my mind, but the fact they are under Hyde Park would eliminate any worthwhile development taking place.

I can't see much happening at Circular Quay as there are calls for it to be "opened up" more, rather than added to.

Town Hall is already enclosed by other buildings. Sydney Council intends to pull down the Woolworths building to make a park, so I don't think a block of apartments over George St would go down too well.

Similar limitations would apply at Martin Place.

Things could be done at Central and Redfern, but I can see massive disruptions during construction work.

[Newcastle Flyer]

To that so called transport journalist (term used loosely!), saying "grubby" & "grotty" in the title is just YOUR opinion. If you want to write "stories', can't you make your opinion separate, instead of including it in the article?

The overhaul would include the five stations on the City Circle Loop - Redfern, Central, Town Hall, Martin Place and Circular Quay.

And since when is Redfern & Martin Place counted as being part of the City Circle? Counting Central, the City Circle has six stations (Edit: Two may not be counted due to Hyde Park, but still makes six City Circle stations). Martin Place is on the Eastern Suburbs Railway. He should have said five Sydney CBD (or City CBD) stations.

The inquiry was set up late last year to examine the use of air space above and around the rail corridor in the greater metropolitan area of Sydney, including the Hunter region and in the Illawarra.

Bold/underlined: Hmm??

Edit:

I can't see much happening at Circular Quay as there are calls for it to be "opened up" more, rather than added to.

Ohhhh, is their now????
Well, we can fix that "problem" can't we, people? (PS: And I don't mean putting it underground either!)

[tonyp]

That crossed my mind, but the fact they are under Hyde Park would eliminate any worthwhile development taking place.

Why not? Hyde Park could be converted to a roof garden.

[Tonymercury]

Redfern has needed a major rebuild for years and does have the the airspace to achieve it. David Hill did attempt to make a start, but it seemed to grind to a halt fairly quickly.

I've suspect for some time that a large amount of the airspace at Central will go in due course - it's a wonder that someone hasn't managed to find a way of accessing the former West Carriage Shed site to redevelop it.

[Route243]

Why do we need railway stations to be constantly renovated? Does it really matter if the tiles on the station wall look like they're from the 1960's? I'm more interested whether the train turns up on time and has space available

It’s all about image and feel.

I mean the dirty stations along with the dirty trains to me means that CityRail does not give a XXX. Yes some of the mess is caused by litterbugs and vandals but it is CityRail’s responsibility to clean up.

Also it is not about just renovating or betting new stuff. I mean the bannisters at Town Hall are never clean.

And if the current organisation can’t or won’t do it let private enterprise do it. It is about time our trains and stations are cleaned up. Our trains are the dirtiest in the country.

[Albatross]

The overhaul would include the five stations on the City Circle Loop - Redfern, Central, Town Hall, Martin Place and Circular Quay.

Excuse me but 5 stations on the city loop?

Has someone removed St James & Museum?

Aren't they heritage listed?

If they aren't then they should be.