Newcastle 500 Transport Strategy Should make Travel a Breeze

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The transport plan for how thousands of people will be getting around during the Supercars Newcastle 500 event has finally been released.

There will be an integrated ticketing option with 300 additional buses and 90 more train services scheduled for the three-day event.

Park and ride services will be located not only from McDonald Jones Stadium to the Honeysuckle precinct, but also added across Newcastle Harbour at Stockton for the ferry service.

There will be two ferries running which can carry 200 passengers and crew each. The ferries will be running every 5 to 10 minutes.

Newcastle 500 Event Manager Kurt Sakzewski says the plan will easily enable 150,000 commuters to get in and out.

"We want to make sure all of those people can get in and out of the event in an easy manner and that's why we've introduced this integrated ticketing option so people will be able to come in whether it's via bus, ferry, train, in coming from Sydney and the outer regions,"

Event Manager Kurt Sakzewski.

"They'll be coming into Newcastle here, they'll be delivered to the gate and after the even, they'll take the same routes home as well," said Kurt Sakzewski.

The ticket you've purchased to get into the event itself will give you free public transport whatever it may be.

"The great thing about the integrated ticket is it doesn't matter what version of public transport that you want to take, you can get on a bus, get on a ferry, get on a train, you just show your event ticket and it just gives you access all of the way through for no extra cost," said Kurt Sakzewski.

Revitalising Newcastle Program Director Michael Cassel says they've tried to prepare for anything.

"We will have a command centre running throughout the three days to the event. That command centre will include everyone from police, event organisers, Keolis Downer, and people from NSW Transport so we'll be able to monitor what's going on and we'll be able to make changes as we move throughout the day and the night."

Event organisers have planned for people coming into the city from every possible way and they say this year will be a very good test to see how well they've planned.

"We can assess how it actually works after year one but we also keep an eye on where our ticket sales are from as well so gives us a little heads up but really it will be after the event itself that we will know the exact details and obviously in year two we will apply that to the plan," said Kurt Sakzewski.

Kurt admits it will be interesting to see how well people will be moved in and out of city on the Friday and Saturday nights but they've been working with police and every other transport agency to ensure everyone gets out in a timely manner.

The biggest piece of advice the organisers have is to catch public transport. Don't drive.

"We really want to encourage people to take public transport. All major events government use public transport to ferry people in and out and that would be the most efficient and least disruptive way to get in and out of the event," said Michael Cassel.

On Track for a Faster Train from Newcastle to Sydney

BY JESSICA ROUSE

It might only be a trial, but Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald is confident a new fast train from Newcastle to Sydney could be permanent.

Starting in November, the trial will see Novocastrians slash 26 minutes off the train trip from Newcastle to Sydney by taking out stops at Cardiff, Fassifern and Eastwood.

Once the new Wickham Transport Interchange is finished the new service will leave at 5:03am, replacing the 4:40am service.

It'll stop at Hamilton, Broadmeadow, Morisset, Wyong, Tuggerah, Gosford, Woy Woy, Hornsby, Epping and Strathfield both ways. 

Scot MacDonald says they've been working on this one for a while and is really pleased the Transport Minister has agreed to the trial.

"The approach that I think has worked here is saying to the Minster, look we don't have to lock anything in, we don't have to have a permanent change at this stage, but at least lets have a trial and see how it goes and as I say I think they'll be a good demand for this." 

Coming back home from Sydney will be quicker as well, 11 minutes will be trimmed off the trip from Central to Newcastle on the 3:45pm train.

The government says the trial was part of the $1.5 billion More trains More Services Program to improve the network, and even better everyone likes a sleep in, no matter how small.

"I think it's terrific for people to not have to get up quite so early, it's still an early start obviously, but I think its what people in Newcastle have been calling out for," said Scot MacDonald.

Richmond Vale Rail Museum Damaged in Fire

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

The fire at Richmond Vale has caused significant damage to the Richmond Vale Railway Museum on Leggetts Drive.

Three railway carriages have gone up in flames and are destroyed, whilst hundreds of sleepers have been scorched, according to Museum Chairman Peter Meadows, who recently arrived at the site.

"There's three of them that have gone up in flames- they're totally gone, just a mess," he said. "Some of the stock that was out the back is written-off as far as I can see."

An emergency warning was issued by the NSW RFS in relation to the Richmond Vale fire earlier today, as it burnt through 700 hectares of bushland, however it has now been downgraded to a 'watch and act' situation.

"It looks like the majority of the fire has passed us now," Mr Meadows explains, "but there's still smouldering everywhere- there's trees and wagons smouldering ..."

He estimates the damage bill will exceed $100,000 and worries the Railway Museum will be forced to cease operation, as track repair alone will likely take several months.

"As I look down the track, all I can see for 800 or 900 metres is smoking wood and sleepers, which means every one of those needs to be replaced."

Peter Meadows commends the efforts of the Rural Fire Service, saying they've worked strenuously to contain the blaze.

A serious bushfire has impacted some rail exhibits at the Richmond Main Railway Museum near Kurri Kurri. Details on @nbnnews tonight at 6 pic.twitter.com/eQlKY3ghTM

— David Threlfo (@David_Threlfo) September 13, 2017

Another blow to train manufacturing in the Hunter

BY MICHAEL COOK and JESSICA ROUSE

The state’s new regional rail fleet may not be built by manufacturing companies in the Hunter, following the Berejiklian Government’s failure to commit to a local build.

The regional fleet manufacturing would involve renewing the aging Xplorer and Endeavour fleets as well as the XPT. The Australian Manufacturing Union (AMU) believes it would be an important opportunity to invest in the state's heavy manufacturing industries and particularly in Newcastle.

Union Secretary Tim Ayres is disappointed the government's failed on their promise to build trains in regional NSW yet again.

"Well this is another jobs disaster for NSW, the liberal government wants to send blue collar jobs offshore which is another multi-million dollar rail contract with no commitment for local jobs. Over the course of the last two years, the NSW government has sent $4 billion worth of train jobs offshore."

Putting the contract to Hunter manufacturers would be an opportunity to reverse the trend of lost jobs in manufacturing since 2011 and turn it around according to the AMU.

"The government's been out there telling anybody who'll listen that they're going to deliver this project inside NSW and have failed on that commitment. The story that the government is telling today is that they're going to build a maintenance facility in Dubbo is just another in a long line of broken promises and distortions of what it's really going to take to rebuild train manufacturing in NSW," said Tim Ayres.

The government has announced they'll build a maintenance facility in Dubbo, but the union wants more assurances jobs still won't be taken offshore.

"These tenders have not been let there is still plenty of time for the NSW government to make it clear to local industry that these tenders should be done on the basis of a Newcastle build and a regional maintenance centre so there's still plenty of time for the government to do the right thing here but yesterday's announcement was a very disappointing and it shows that they've just gone back to their bad old ways," said Tim Ayres.  

Singleton want more public transport

BY TYLER FARDELL and JESSICA ROUSE

Community group Two More Trains for Singleton is teaming up with the council and business chamber, pushing for additional train services between Singleton and Maitland.

They met with the transport minister last week to discuss a new train timetable and a possible 10 year plan, aiming to provide residents with a more cost and time effective transport option.

Bus services are also looking to be an option; Mayor Sue Moore simply wants better service for the residents in her community.


"We've been pushing towards this for some time and we've sort of recently had the opportunity to take it a step forward with the cabinet meeting in Singleton with the minister on the ground to actually see what we've talking about. So I'm encouraging people that have continuing interest on it to get on board and have their say and we'll continue to push for those services."

At the moment Mayor Sue Moore says there is a coach service early in the day and again later in the day but it isn't enough particularly when there are residents who need to get to medical appointments and Tafe. 

Facelift for Broadmeadow Station

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Broadmeadow Train Station has undergone a massive facelift worth $18.5 million.

As part of the Transport Access Program, the station now has three new lifts, improved access from Brown and Graham Roads, more protection from the weather and upgraded security features.

This is the first upgrade to the station in more than 40 years and Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says it's a great, and much needed, improvement.

"If you were here a year ago it was dark, it was gloomy, there wasn't much weather protection, it didn't feel friendly but look all credit to these guys its bright, it's airy, there's a lot more CCTV, the signage is so much better, it's a 100 per improvement and I think they should be really proud and the community will really take a lot of heart in these upgrades."

The underpass has also undergone a lively transformation with a bright new piece of public art which celebrates local history with the quote 'We've built many things along the way, the path we're on now leads to even more'.

The upgraded security is of particular interest and has made for a much safer train station for the public.

"There wouldn't be many blindspots I can imagine, I think they've done a terrific job and if that gives people confidence and deters a little bit of antisocial behaviour that's wonderful but this is the standard that you see now and it is getting higher and higher all the time," said Scot MacDonald.

Train break down in Maitland

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Buses are still replacing trains between Maitland and Hamilton after a freight train broke down this morning.

The freight train experienced a mechanical fault before 10am causing it to break down near High Street.

A crane is currently on site to lift one of the wagons up off the track so repair work can be done to get the line moving again.

The repair job is expected to be completed early this afternoon.

Image Nick Bielby The Maitland Mercury
http://www.maitlandmercury.com.au/story/4701108/broken-freight-train-shuts-hunter-line/?cs=171#slide=6 

Newcastle's light rail project reaching another milestone

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle's former heavy rail corridor is taking shape, and forty workers will now be calling Downer EDI's new main site office home.

The new office, located between Merewether and Argyle Streets, will act as the nerve centre for light rail construction management.

Revitalising Newcastle Program Director Michael Cassel says not only is the office an accomplishment for the project, but it will be of benefit to local businesses.

"It's a good milestone for us to achieve in actually establishing the site offices and focusing the workforce; and I think the surrounding businesses will benefit also from the extra trade they'll receive through the simple things like lunches, morning tea and coffee."

With the building located right in the centre of the light rail route, the site will have its own access road off Argyle Street with parking spaces also set aside for construction workers, so existing parking spaces aren't taken up by the workers.

Michael Cassel says with workers working in various areas across the whole site, residents and visitors to the city shouldn't notice any disruption to either traffic or parking.

Image sourced from:
http://theconversation.com/will-it-be-the-end-of-the-line-for-newcastles-train-or-for-baird-38534