Trams may return to Bendigo

[Mick_Marsh]

In the tradition of Bob:
Bendigo's historic trams could be resurrected for public transport if new study proves feasibility - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-04/study-to-examine-idea-of-resurrecting-bendigo27s-historic-trams/5573642)

[disco man]

G'day mate,I don't know the Bendigo area would say it's a good idea?When my old man first came to Brisbane in the mid 50's he told me trams made getting around Brisbane very easy unlike today.

The article from the ABC seems to point to it been a positive move.

[Mick_Marsh]

Melbourne would be lost without it's trams.
I've heard people in Adelaide lament the loss of it's trams and trolley buses.
I'd like to see the old inner and outer suburban loops in Melbourne reinstated. Maybe with light rail (trams).
It may work. Bendigo is getting bigger.

[drivesafe]

While I am tram enthusiast, the problem of reintroducing tams anywhere is that you have to change the attitude of the local population.

Many areas are totally dedicated to and rely solely on motor transport and none so more evident than here on the Gold Coast.

The second problem is that politics will play it’s usual intervention in what could be good for the locals long term verses what the politicians can get out of it SHORT TERM.

Again, the Gold Coast’s trams are a perfect example of politics being put before people needs.

The half-wits that initiated the Gold Coast light rail project had no idea what they were doing and it was not till the original project had started that it was pointed out that they were planning on starting nowhere and ending nowhere.

Their answer was that this was aimed at students and tourists, but this just showed they had not for one second considered making this project a mass transit proposition.

Worst still, they actually got the money based on rubbery passenger projections.

With a change of government, the realistic passenger figures went from the guestimated 47,000 a day to 17,000 a day. Hardly encouraging with the money already being spent.

The original plan was to run the trams from the new hospital, via the university and then on to Southport, Surfer’s Paradise and to Broadbeach.

Very little of the line went through actual residential areas, so no real reason for the locals to use it.

Then those with some brains got involved and the first suggestion and now the next part of the project, is to extend the tram line just 1.4km to the nearest railway station.

I can not understand why in hell was this simple extension not included in the original proposal. With one short extension, the whole line now had a new and huge potential market.

[bee utey]

Melbourne would be lost without it's trams.
I've heard people in Adelaide lament the loss of it's trams and trolley buses.
I'd like to see the old inner and outer suburban loops in Melbourne reinstated. Maybe with light rail (trams).
It may work. Bendigo is getting bigger.
Adelaide had thoroughly modernised its one remaining tram (light rail) line from Glenelg to the CBD and even extended it northwards a few km up Port Rd. Grand plans exist the reinstall a whole bunch of tram lines across Adelaide but they of course remain unfunded.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/weatherill-government-unveils-36-billion-public-transport-plan-for-adelaide-including-trams-and-underground-obahn/story-fni6uo1m-1226743876239

[Ausfree]

There is some plans to reinstate light rail in the Newcastle CBD to replace the heavy rail they are ripping out.
I can't figure out how this is going to work because the heavy rail runs right into the Newcastle CBD. So if they terminate the heavy rail people will have to change transport systems. This will be an inconvenience so I'm guessing most passengers will resort to driving in and thereby contributing to heavier vehicular traffic.

By way of interest Newcastle up to 1950 had one of the largest tram systems in Australia.:)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Newcastle,_New_South_Wales

[benji]

It'll never work. The main commuting points are now far beyond the current (old) tram network.
It's mainly for a tourist attraction, but why would a Melbournian travel to Bendigo for a ride on a tram?

It's one of those warm fuzzy ideas that's been floated and voiced by a minority for so long, the city council are doing this study to get rid of the idea. ..


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[Mick_Marsh]

It's mainly for a tourist attraction, but why would a Melbournian travel to Bendigo for a ride on a tram?
I've seen more than a few people travel on the Ballarat and Bendigo tourist trams. I've travelled them a few times myself.

[Homestar]

Ditto, ridden the Bendigo and Ballarat trams many times.

[BMKal]

I used to live in a house in Hopetoun Street just outside the back gate of the tram depot when I was at the School of Mines in Bendigo.

As a student and with no car, used to use the Bendigo trams pretty regularly. I thought they were pretty good at the time. But agree with benji's comments - the existing tracks don't really reach out far enough for where the main commute routes are now.

Stayed a few days in Bendigo late last year and was surprised at the changes and the way the place has grown.

[1976_michelle]

I think it would be a waste; they should improve the buses instead if need be - the trams don't reach far enough, or often enough, to be of any use, and the primary appeal of Bendigo is that it's NOT Melbourne; This lot have enough problem doing the right thing around the tourist tram let alone getting along with a fully commercial service
I don't think it is terribly viable, any more than a train line between Bendigo and Ballarat would be (I'd like it, for I visit family there a few times a year) but don't see a great economic benefit for either town given they are quite similar in offerings

[Mick_Marsh]

[QUOTE=1976_michelle;2182392I don't think it is terribly viable, any more than a train line between Bendigo and Ballarat would be (I'd like it, for I visit family there a few times a year) but don't see a great economic benefit for either town given they are quite similar in offerings[/QUOTE]
They're talking about reopening the Moolort rail line between Maryborough and Castlemaine. They will then run a train service between Ballarat and Bendigo.
Still early days for that one.