A lighter shade of rail

Sydney’s Newcastle Labor candidate hums to a lighter shade of rail (or a redder shade of herring?)

One of my informants has told me that the Sydney-appointed Labor candidate for the state seat of Newcastle has been saying that she “supports light rail”.

Whilst this obviously isn’t substantial enough as a statement to qualify for my “spot-a-policy” prize, it’s at least a start.

But does it mean that Ms McKay supports light rail INSTEAD of the present heavy rail service to Newcastle?

This is often trotted out by business and development representatives (such as the Chamber of Commerce and Michael Costa) as though it should allay the fears of Novocastrians who have fought to keep their rail services.

In fact, two studies in the ’90s (the Travers-Morgan study commissioned by the State Government, and the Jacana study commissioned by Newcastle Trades Hall Council) found that the option of simply replacing the heavy rail service into Newcastle station with a light rail service was not economically viable, and would further decrease public transport use, due to the number of passengers lost when they are forced to transfer between different transport modes.

Simply replacing our existing heavy rail service with light rail would add nothing to Newcastle’s public transport system. That’s why the Greens have never supported a light-rail replacement for the Newcastle rail service. This “option” is simply dragged in as a stratagem by some elements of the local development community who would love to grab the high-value public-owned land along the Foreshore that would be freed up by getting rid of the heavy rail service.

If Sydney’s Labor candidate for Newcastle really does care about this city, she should share our view (and the views of the transport experts) on this.

Certainly, we would strongly support a viable light rail system that made a new contribution to the city’s public transport services.

For example, a light rail network based on the network of abandoned rail corridors around the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area might one day be able to provide a public transport service for Newcastle and Lake Macquarie suburbs not presently serviced by the heavy rail system.

OR a light rail link to the airport via Hexham.

This kind of light rail system would need careful study and planning, and real commitment from a State government that has previously shown no interest in improving the city’s public transport system, and has actively supported cutting the Newcastle heavy rail service.

Mr Iemma and Mr Costa – who orchestrated Ms McKay’s preselection by the Labor’s Federal Executive – have strongly advocated cutting the Newcastle rail line. Business and development interests - to whom Labor is so indebted through political donations - also want to cut this service.

When will Ms McKay say exactly where she stands on this crucial local issue, instead of hiding behind vague generalisations about supporting light rail?