Sydney currently relies on bus services within the metropolitan area to link the city and inner suburbs. These links rely heavily on Sydney Buses and private bus companies for the transportation of the community on buses that are running on fossil fuel burning buses. There is a cleaner approach to efficient urban transport, and that options is the light rail, be that monorail or trams.
Currently Sydney has very limited runs of both light rail options. The current monorail is limited to inner CBD transportation and thus is more of a gimmick than a truly viable alternative. The tram however has a run between Central Station and Lilyfield. I have used this service on an infrequent basis and have always found the journey to be comfortable and efficient. It is a shame though that the tram network is so limited in Sydney, it has the potential for much bigger things.
Tram services in Sydney are unlikely to ever rival those of Melbourne, just starting from too far behind in terms of infrastructure, however they should be far expanded within Sydney based on Melbournes examples. On my trips to Melbourne over the years I have always traveled using the tram. Only on 1 occasion have I used the tram with the threat of an issue, and that was caused by an ignorant Audi driver and not the network or driver. The tram services in that city are a great example of efficient mass public transport.
In Sydney I would like to see the tram used for runs for inner suburbs to the city and major transport hubs, in much the same way that Lilyfield links to Central. Light rail should also be further installed within the city to allow for those who commute to these hubs to get around the city.
Perhaps a percentage of the proposed dedicated pushbike lanes should be scrapped and become light rail lanes, or alternatively more monorail tracks and stations constructed. An efficient outer suburb to inner city public transport network will do more to get carbon polluting vehicles off the road than a bike lane would anyway.
There is also another advantage to the adoption of more light rail within Sydney, and that is to lessen the reliance on bus services. Reduction on the reliance on fossil fuel burning vehicles, including buses, must be a goal that any government strives for. With the extension of tram services the public would still receive the same transport services on offer today, just with a light rail service not a bus.
Bus services though would not be eliminated totally. Rather buses could service travel within the suburbs with stops aligned with light rail, heavy rail and ferry stops. Thus linking the four public transport options available to Sydney commuters in a truly integrated manner. This would make travel on public transport easier for all NSW residents and encourage them to utilise the services more.
This ofcourse requires a parliament that is committed to a vision and not afraid to take the big decisions to ensure it happens. Unfortunately I doubt that the two major parties, either at federal or state level, have the intestinal fortitude to implement anything like this vision for public transport within NSW. It is time for a visionary to emerge from either of these parties that has the guts to put these nation/state building activities to the forefront of the public mind and improve the current failing services that are strangled by rampant under investment.
