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SOR Meetings
[New date & venue] 5.30 PM, first Tue. of month at Newcastle Leagues Club (except Jan.) 7.00 PM, second Wed. of month at St. Peters Church Hall East Maitland |
ArticlesArticles and videos related to the Save Our Rail campaign are available below. Level Crossing Myths Busted: Video of Worth Place eventThursday 29th April 2010The "no new level crossing policy" myth has been busted! Part 1 Part 2 (19 mins total) Busy Newcastle Station - New Year's Eve 2009Thursday 31st December 2009No one catches the train to Newcastle? Save Our Rail begs to differ! HDC's proposed buses -- whether Hunter Street buses, "magical" buses, "blue shuttle" buses, super-mega-hyper-low emission flying buses -- could never cope with the peak loads generated by special events. Note that the Hunter Street buses were also running this evening. Watch at YouTube.com (85 seconds). Our response to the HDC report12th July 2009The Hunter Development Corporation (HDC) report does not have adequate reasons for any removal of the direct heavy rail into Newcastle, therefore we urge the State Government to ignore this flawed report and to fully examine other options for Newcastle’s improvement. The proposals put forward by Save Our Rail for crossings, a viaduct and other improvements would solve connectivity problems with a greater net benefit to the community than a rail cut.
Woonona: A New Level Crossing In ActionMay 2008Safe, convenient, and not that expensive. Woonona (near Wollongong) has new pedestrian access across its railway line thanks to a new level crossing opened in early 2009. Save Our Rail would like a few of these for Newcastle's CBD. Why remove Newcastle's railway when you can improve? We say "improve, not remove". Take a look for yourself on YouTube: Critique of GPT ProposalJanuary 2008We have prepared a document explaining why we oppose the GPT transport proposal. We do not oppose their mall redevelopment but do reject their assertion that the "rail must go" in order to proceed with their development.
Save Our Rail opposes rail line termination at Wickham. Newcastle should say "no" to the GPT proposal to cut the Newcastle Line at Wickham for the following reasons: economic; environmental; social and heritage. Economically, the proposal does not make sense. Environmentally the proposal is negative because many passengers facing the delay and inconvenience of changing to a bus at Wickham would opt to drive their car. Our December 2008 Proposal7th December 2008NEWCASTLE - Towards a Sustainable and Vibrant
City
In its vision for a thriving and sustainable Newcastle, Save Our Rail NSW Inc identifies problems of connectivity and addresses community needs in this proposal. The resulting solutions aim to retain sustainable transport while overcoming the need to connect new commercial and residential developments with established business areas of Newcastle. Dude, Where's My Foreshore?Look closely at these pictures taken from GPT's recently released "virtual tour" of the Newcastle CBD. GPT demands that the rail line be cut at Wickham as described in their city vision masterplan by Civitas. Wharf Road is to be cut at Queen's Wharf and open foreshore parkland is lost to four massive buildings. The remaining view from Hunter St / Scott St to the harbour will be gone. There'll be a barrier, but it's not the rail!
San Diego: Railway Level Crossings Connect City & Harbour20th October 2008Don't believe everything you read in the paper. San Diego is an example of the success that comes from keeping the rail, not removing it! San Diego does indeed have a vibrant waterfront with a convention centre, marina park, and luxury hotel, but did you know it has a rail corridor along its waterfront (much like here in Newcastle)? San Deigo's city and harbour are connected by at-grade level crossings across three sets of railway tracks. These crossings provide easy pedestrian access. Take a look for yourself on YouTube: Future Transport Needs27th May 2008
A delegation from Save Our Rail presented our public transport improvement plan to representatives of Transport Minister Watkins. Also attending was Member for Newcastle, Jodi McKay, who supported our plan. Features of this proposal include the provision of relatively inexpensive options:
Download the entire document "Sustainable Transport in an Urban Environment: the Need for Transport Integration in Newcastle":
Summary of the ProposalThe world's wealthiest cities have the least car use.
With growing and increasingly aged population, global warming and soaring petrol prices now is an ideal time to improve and expand this resource. CrossingsPedestrian access to the Honeysuckle developments from Hunter Street is poor. It is totally lacking for the newer office buildings at the western end of Honeysuckle Drive, which have no link to the Hunter Street bus network or to the nearby shopping facilities. At grade crossings at Steel Street and Worth Place would provide a relatively low cost solution to this problem. Crossings need to be identifiable from the distance, proclaiming "I can cross here." Save Our Rail suggests that arches, reflecting Newcastle's architecture, would be symbolic of this city. The arch depends on its keystone and these arches, indicating crossings, will be the keystones of the newly integrated City of Newcastle. In our opinion the provision of these crossings is essential for the effective functioning of the city. There is a need for improved access to the whole Honeysuckle precinct by a separation of road and rail at Stewart Avenue. Save Our Rail continues to promote the provision of a rail flyover, as a cheaper option than a road overpass to unclog this intersection. Maitland Housing Estates - Road Congestion - Rail AccessReports in the Maitland Mercury express community concern over the inability of the road system, already under stress, to cope with large land releases. Traffic on the connecting road between the two cities, Maitland and Newcastle, is forced into a bottleneck, where the road runs between the Hunter River and Hexham Swamp, the geography limiting expansion of the road, The necessary mass transit system, the rail line, is in place to provide for commuting between the new developments and a newly created employment complex in Newcastle. The land releases in the Maitland area are close to the rail, but lack stations. The replacement of stations lost at Farley/Rutherford and Oakhampton and provision of a new station at Aberglasslyn would encourage the use of rail and prevent further road congestion. The huge development occurring at Thornton North would better access the rail with the provision of parking and an entry road to the northern side of Metford Station. The Huntlee housing estate requires an upgrade of facilities at Branxton Station. The recent decision to provide bus facilities instead, is inappropriate, as these will contribute to the road congestion, and will be caught in the bottlenecks already occurring. Victoria Street Station is well patronised, but lacks disability compliance, which would be overcome with the provision of lifts. The connection between the Sydney train and the diesel service to Maitland needs some examination as to whether a "dedicated connection" is warranted. Newcastle Station - Unrealised PotentialNewcastle Station is a magnificent building and is the most used station in the local network, in terms of patronage. However there are currently unused areas within the building which could be reactivated. Its proximity to activity areas - at Queens Wharf and Hunter Mall (which is to be redeveloped) indicate the untapped commercial potential of this asset, which could become a function centre or accommodation facility. The passenger friendly aspects of Newcastle Station would be enhanced with improved access, by opening the western end - towards Newcomen and Bolton Streets (and the Mall) and towards Queens Wharf and the ferry service. Sympathetic Development on the foreshore side of Newcastle Station should be considered, which could provide an income stream for the maintenance of this heritage building and towards the improvement of passenger services. ConclusionPublic transport, in particular train transport, will become more vital with increased population, more aged people, global warming and the need to reduce car emissions, as well as rising petrol prices with the reality of "Peak Oil"already evident. It needs to be convenient, frequent and punctual if it is to be chosen over car use. The Save Our Rail proposals are aimed at the integration of public transport services in the Newcastle and Lower Hunter area through:
Now is the time for a further investment in the Newcastle and Hunter Rail Lines. SOR's Presentation to Hunter Business Chamber18th January 2007 On 18th January 2007, the Hunter Business Chamber conducted a transport group forum at which Save Our Rail gave a brief presentation titled "Transport Development for the Hunter Community". Download a copy of Save Our Rail's presentation here: Newcastle Rail Line UpdateNovember 2006Save Our Rail representatives met with the Premier's Department IIG (Infrastructure Implementation Group) to be advised of progress since Mr Iemma's announcement that the rail would be retained to Newcastle Station. Save Our Rail is concerned that this will not actually be the outcome because of an intention to remove electrification from the Newcastle line. We were given brochures outlining some improvements between Hamilton and Newcastle, as follows:
Despite these gains we have great concerns because:
This would cause disadvantage to all commuters catching the train between Newcastle and Sydney, Central Coast or Lake Macquarie. Passengers would be re-routed to Warabrook to change trains to the Hunter Line diesel service. The time penalty would be at least half an hour, apart from the inconvenience of the movement from one train to another. Overcrowding on the smaller diesel trains is another likely result. Loss of patronage would result in the line being closed after all. Have We Saved Newcastle Rail? NOT YET!Updated 9th May 2006 The State Government is now considering cutting the electric service to Newcastle, threatening the viability of the whole Lower Hunter transport system. This would disadvantage all passengers through:
It would ultimately lead to the closure of the line through loss of patronage. THE DIRECT ELECTRIC SERVICE TO NEWCASTLE STATION MUST BE RETAINED. With this in mind, Save Our Rail has a positive plan for the improving the line: Upgrade:
Provide:
Enhance:
Promote:
Save Our Rail's Plan Presented to Govt23rd March 2006 On Thursday 23rd March 2006, Save Our Rail met with representatives from the NSW Government's Infrastructure Implementation Group (IIG). Save Our Rail put forward its proposal on how best to spend the recently announced $20 million allocated to improving the Newcastle Rail Line, including:
Also, we took the opportunity to highlight the major flaws in the proposal put forward by the Hunter Business Chamber (i.e. their plan to divert all electric trains to a new terminus at Warabrook, keeping only diesel trains running in the Newcastle at a very slow 20 km/h). Our presentation "Newcastle Rail Improvements for the Hunter", plus the critical review of the Chamber's proposal, are available for download in this article. Premier's Taskforce ReportAdded 20th March 2006 Read the recommendations and the full report of the Premier's Taskforce in this article "Rail line will be staying" : NSW Premier21st February 2006 - SOR Media Release
Download the Currie Review Final Report19th February 2006 First, Professor Graham Currie's report "Decision to Close the Newcastle Branch Rail Line - Independent Review of Transport Reports - Final Report" is available for download. This report details the findings of an independent review of recent reports regarding the NSW State Government's decision to close the rail line to Newcastle Station. Second, the presentation that Prof Currie used during his address to Newcastle City Council on 14th February 2006 is also available for download. The presentation summarises the key points in his full report. Professor Currie's report and presentation are available for download in this article. SOR's Submission to the Lower Hunter Regional StrategySave Our Rail - 20th January 2006 The NSW Government has developed an 25-year overall land-use plan to ensure the Lower Hunter region develops in a strong and sustainable way. The strategy once finalised will guide local planning in the five local government areas of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, Maitland and Cessnock, and inform decisions on service and infrastructure delivery. Read Save Our Rail's full submission to the Department of Planning's Lower Hunter Regional Strategy. Honeysuckle Conflict of Interest and MisinformationJoan Dawson - 2005 The only benefit of the closure of the rail would be short-term gain for developers, including the Honeysuckle Corporation. Hon Michael Costa, when Minister for Transport, made a decision to cut the line from Broadmeadow to Newcastle, advised by a committee, appointed by him. The composition of the committee is cause for concern, with three of the four members also on the Board of the Honeysuckle Corporation, a clear conflict of interest. The committee included Newcastle Lord Mayor, John Tate; Secretary of Newcastle Trades Hall Council, Gary Kennedy; and Chair of the Hunter Business Chamber, Glenn Thornton. Save Our Rail feels that government planning bodies were misinformed and are acting on the basis of errors or misinterpretations and this is being continually reinforced. SOR's Submission to the Premier's Hunter Transport Task ForceSave Our Rail - 28th November
2005 Save Our Rail met with representatives of the Premier's Task Force into the Newcastle Rail Service on Monday 28th November 2005. Below is Save Our Rail's submission prepared for the meeting. Amazingly, the Premier's representatives wouldn't accept it - they didn't want anything in writing! Joan Dawson spoke on the submission, going through most of the document, refusing to be sidetracked. Save Our Rail is determined that the Task Force and the Premier see our Reasons for Retention of Newcastle Rail Services in full! Read Save Our Rail's full submission to the Premier's Hunter Transport Task Force. Premier's Special Task Force on Hunter TransportNSW Legislative Assembly -
9th November 2005 NSW Minister for Planning, Mr Frank Sartor made the following announcement in State Parliament: "...the Premier has appointed a special task force to advise him on a way forward for the future of rail services into the Newcastle central business district [CBD]. The task force met for the first time yesterday, and will consider a range of options, including the current Broadmeadow interchange, the feasibility of light rail, and options for terminating rail services at Civic station. The task force will report to the Premier by the end of February 2006. The Premier has committed $20 million to progressing the task force's work in 2006-07." Write to the Premier's Task Force. See this article for the mailing address. I Can't See You and You Pretend Not to See MeJames Bennett - 24th June 2005 The Newcastle Herald feature article of 24th June 2005 published by vision impaired business person James Bennett is self explanatory. It should be noted that the eastern side of Beaumont Street (near Hamilton Station) is the location of the Royal Blind Society and is visited by about a thousand vision impaired people weekly. "...This month I was forced to travel by a coach, temporarily replacing the rail service to Newcastle, to get to the Royal Blind Society, where I study braille and computer literacy, four days a week... This is not a problem to a sighted person, as it is only a matter of ducking across the road when traffic permits... For a blind person it is a whole new ball game..." |
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