Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
Well I found that the bus shuttle is route 110 and that an individual journey can be found in the journey planner when searching a train journey. The route is shown as being operated by State Transit but when you go to the State Transit website, 110 isn't listed among their routes. So still no timetable. Do they just run the buses when a train is due (but not necessarily wait for the train)? Is the bus free?
Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
But it is a "seamless" service, so what do you expect ? One of the most discredited words in the dictionary.mubd wrote:I was in Newcastle a few weeks after the train service was removed.
The shuttle bus ran a bit late, so the train left as we pulled into the station. So myself and a bunch of other people on that bus had to wait another hour for the bloody train. You'd think they'd have had the presence of mind to implement some kind of arrangement where the train or bus will be held if either are running late.
Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
Whenever I've used it and present my Opal card the driver just waves me on, so yes it's free.tonyp wrote:Well I found that the bus shuttle is route 110 and that an individual journey can be found in the journey planner when searching a train journey. The route is shown as being operated by State Transit but when you go to the State Transit website, 110 isn't listed among their routes. So still no timetable. Do they just run the buses when a train is due (but not necessarily wait for the train)? Is the bus free?
Whenever a train arrives from Sydney/Maitland there's always one or two buses waiting at the end of the platform. They arrive from the east end a few minutes before departure of the train.
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Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
There is a timetable for route 110 on Transport Info - the logical place to look. That is the way things appear to be going with timetables in the future only shown there and not on operator websites.tonyp wrote:Well I found that the bus shuttle is route 110 and that an individual journey can be found in the journey planner when searching a train journey. The route is shown as being operated by State Transit but when you go to the State Transit website, 110 isn't listed among their routes. So still no timetable. Do they just run the buses when a train is due (but not necessarily wait for the train)? Is the bus free?
The Light Rail in Sydney is another such example.
Living in the Shire.
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Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/newsro ... buses-move
Revitalising Newcastle Program Director, Michael Cassel today announced plans for bus stops along the light rail route to be relocated ahead of light rail construction.
The proposal involves moving bus routes off Hunter and Scott streets, and onto King Street or Honeysuckle Drive and Wharf Road.
“Changing city centre bus routes once, ahead of light rail construction, will give customers certainty about where and when to catch their bus,” Mr Cassel said.
“This is a far better outcome than changing bus routes every few weeks during construction, which would cause confusion and be more disruptive for customers.
“A lot of work has been happening behind the scenes to figure out the best solution for Newcastle; the proposed new bus routes have been tested and will work well given Newcastle’s traffic conditions and road network.
Under the plan, 14 bus stops will be relocated. King Street, Honeysuckle Drive and Wharf Road will receive 9 new stops, and 5 school bus stops will be converted to full time bus stops.
Mr Cassel said the proposed change has the potential to provide a few extra car spaces along Hunter Street.
“Depending on how Newcastle City Council would prefer to use the kerb space, this change could actually result in a net increase in parking spaces in the city centre.
Mr Cassel said a customer information booklet will be available well in advance of any changes, to help customers adjust to their new bus stops.
“People will be on the ground helping customers make the change, there will be signage up and customers will also be able to plan their trip using Transport’s trip planning mobile phone apps and website, Mr Cassel said.
The start date for the new bus routes will be confirmed in coming weeks as the construction schedule for light rail is further progressed.
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Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
Newcastle LR to run wire-free
https://twitter.com/AndrewConstance/sta ... 1823863808
https://twitter.com/AndrewConstance/sta ... 1823863808
Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
pfffft
Eastgardens to Kingsford is a 1-2 section fare.
Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
Using Batteries instead of APS:
http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/newsroo ... -wire-freeNewcastle Light Rail goes wire free
Newcastle is set to be the only city in Australia with a majority wire free light rail system.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance today announced the removal of overhead wires from the Newcastle light rail plan as part of a suite of upgrades that will include more public open space.
“This is a game changer for the urban amenity and sustainability of Newcastle light rail, which has been the impetus for the complete revitalisation of the city,” Mr Constance said.
Mr Constance revealed Newcastle light rail vehicles will be fitted with on board energy storage as part of the changes, to remove the “spider-web” of overhead wires and preserve the city’s heritage.
“Implementing world class light rail technology aligns with our plans for Newcastle to become a major university town and a city known for cutting-edge research and innovation.
“Removing the overhead wires will preserve the aesthetics of Newcastle’s heritage architecture and its unique character as light rail breathes new life into the city centre.”
Minister for Planning Anthony Roberts said the suite of urban amenity upgrades will allow more open space for outdoor dining, street trees and will connect light rail customers with new activity precincts including Darby Plaza and Civic Link.
“We’re improving the experience of being in and moving around this great city,” Mr Roberts said.
Mr Constance and Mr Roberts thanked the Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter, Scot MacDonald, who has advocated for the changes on behalf of the people of Newcastle.
Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
So I assume charging at both ends/terminals plus brake recovery - given its such a short line I guess it works.
Any detail on how the power will be fed for the recharge?
Probably makes any meaningful extension more difficult though.
Any detail on how the power will be fed for the recharge?
Probably makes any meaningful extension more difficult though.
Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
Renders, and the Minister at the press conference mention charging at stops.
Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
With this short distance and probably very leisurely operation, battery trams are perfectly feasible. If the operation ramps up in future and gets extended into a network there will be issues. Hopefully there will also be a tow/recovery vehicle purchased!
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Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
Or a very big mobile battery booster pack.
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Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
Or call the NRMA like they sometimes used to to start the Tin Hares on a cold morning at Richmond.boronia wrote:Or a very big mobile battery booster pack.
Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
Can already hear the cheesy onboard announcements as the tram waits at the charging point: 'Newcastle Transport would like to apologise for the delay to your service. We will be on the move once the batteries have charged'.
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Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
No doubt they will chanting their "turn up and go" service mantra, which could now be "turn up and wait until the batteries are charged"
Preserving fire service history
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@ The Museum of Fire.
Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
Wire-free operation works in Dubai and some French cities.
Is this the same system as planned for Newcastle?
Is this the same system as planned for Newcastle?
Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
The wire free operation used in Dubai and some French cities is the Alstom ground level APS it's like a third rail system. This is the system going to be used in the Sydney CBD for CBDSELR.
They ordered CAF trams for Newcastle so it nots possible to have APS so it's going to be a battery system. Interesting how the battery system works vs the ground level APS. I have my take on wire free operation just have diesel trams.
They ordered CAF trams for Newcastle so it nots possible to have APS so it's going to be a battery system. Interesting how the battery system works vs the ground level APS. I have my take on wire free operation just have diesel trams.
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Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
Battery or super-capacitor? The capacitor probably needs regular on-route recharging.
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Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
CAF have done the job on selling their 'ACR' system. It uses a combination of batteries and capacitors.Frosty wrote:The wire free operation used in Dubai and some French cities is the Alstom ground level APS it's like a third rail system. This is the system going to be used in the Sydney CBD for CBDSELR.
They ordered CAF trams for Newcastle so it nots possible to have APS so it's going to be a battery system. Interesting how the battery system works vs the ground level APS. I have my take on wire free operation just have diesel trams.
I've seen their 'trial' in Seville, where I was distinctly underwhelmed by it. The trams ran and barely more than walking pace (although it is a pedestrianised area) and spent over a minute at each stop going through the charging cycle. Even at 7 am on a Sunday morning when they were carrying only 1 or 2 passengers and no one got on or off. But the station stop has to be 90s anyway.
Kaohsiung in Taiwan is CAF's biggest implementation yet -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_ ... siung_MRT)
It has no real commercial running to see how well it works in practice yet. Still in trial operations mode.
Kaohsiung gets several typhoons a year - they figured the extra costs of going wireless would be worth it vs having to rebuild the catenary several times a year after each typhoon. Newcastle it is just needless extra expense IMHO.
Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
Diesel sounds like a better idea for the Newcastle system to be honest. At least for the first 10 years or so until the battery systems improve. How common are diesel trams? I'm aware of various heavy rail DMUs, of course, but where can modern diesel trams be found? One I can think of in the US is a light rail system called RiverLINE in New Jersey, but it's more of a light rail with larger distances between stops and faster speeds than you'd associate with a "tram."
Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
Kassel, Germany.jpp42 wrote:Diesel sounds like a better idea for the Newcastle system to be honest. At least for the first 10 years or so until the battery systems improve. How common are diesel trams? I'm aware of various heavy rail DMUs, of course, but where can modern diesel trams be found? One I can think of in the US is a light rail system called RiverLINE in New Jersey, but it's more of a light rail with larger distances between stops and faster speeds than you'd associate with a "tram."
http://www.railway-technology.com/proje ... ains1.html
A regio-citadis with a diesel power pack. Not sure if the diesel set takes up cabin space or they have managed to put it on the roof.
Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
A diesel tram, bleah what a horrible thought! Part of the revival of tramway systems is driven by an overwhelming desire to get away from that fume-belching blight on cities that we get with diesel buses. Look at what is happening in Europe now and even in other places like China: a big push to electrification of all PT in cities. Urban diesel bus numbers will be seriously diminishing in the next decade and even diesel private cars have the official death ray beamed on them already.
The Newcastle line, as far as it extends in the present scheme, is perfectly feasible to be run by battery/capacitor trams, even without the need for flash recharges en route.
The Newcastle line, as far as it extends in the present scheme, is perfectly feasible to be run by battery/capacitor trams, even without the need for flash recharges en route.
Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
There's a few of them around. Ottawa's O-Train is an example. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O-Train
Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
I know there are a few examples around, but it's dead technology just waiting for the remaining examples to be buried (converted). There are also a lot of trolleybuses running around with diesel generators for off-wire running. These are now being replaced with battery auxiliary power (recharging on the move). Diesel is dead for urban public transport. It'll just take a few years to rake all the corpses away.simonl wrote:There's a few of them around. Ottawa's O-Train is an example. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O-Train
If you happen to own a diesel private car I'd also be getting rid if it because most of these come from Europe and they've got the grim reaper coming up, which means resale will suffer. Not that widespread use of electric cars is coming up any time soon, but petrol engines have become so efficient that the advantages of diesel have basically evaporated.
Re: Newcastle light rail, renewal & integrated transport
What, because of the particulate emissions?