120401-why-urban-rail

David Caldwell

Monday 2nd April 2012

Millions on the Movetwitter: #SydTransit

What this talk is about

• Why rail exists/ why cities exist

• The rise of the automobile age: early response

• Film: GE Millions on the Move

• Review + how it applied to Sydney- case study on light rail

• What practical measures are being taken today from these learnings

Some reasons

• Save energy

• Reduce emissions

• Reduce global warming

• Improve energy security

• Safer

• Faster travel times

• Enables cities that you enjoy

1800 19001850 1950 2000

1825: First passenger steam

train (Britain)

1855: First passenger steam train in Sydney

(Parramatta line)

1898: Electric Trams in Sydney

1926: Electric Trains Sydney

1962: Last Tram in Sydney

1997: First 2nd gen tram in Sydney

1908: Model T Ford roles off

production line

1804: First Tram-horse drawn

(Britain)

Rolling resistance

0

0.002

0.004

0.006

0.008

0.01

0.012

0.014

0.016

car bus/truck tram/ train

Source of data: wikipedia

Traffic “route” choice

$ Parking

$ Operating cost

$ Depreciation

Get kids on way home

Time

$ Fare

Time

Discomfort in rain

Unreliability

Can read

Modal share in Australian Capital CitiesSource: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Information sheet 31

I think we have a problem

• By mid 1950s it was becoming clear there was a problem

• Heavy and light rail infrastructure was aging

• People wanted freeways

• “little prospect of arresting decline”

• “loss of patronage suffered by the Railways”

Key points

• Cars just take too much space- “Malady menacing the cause of American Cities”

• New roads, wider roads, more parking make things worse

• Transport is about moving people not cars

• Convenience and travel time are paramount

• Integrated multi-modal system

• Dedicated rights of way (trams/ RT/ buses)

A different perspective

• It’s about how public transport benefits the individual and the economy

• It’s about the day-to-day pain-points of most people not macro stuff

• Were the predictions right?

• Did the message work?

Source: ABC archive

Source: Google Streetview

Photo: Bren Barnes via Wikipedia

Traveller safety: Accidents/ Deaths

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

2011NSWroads

AustraliansinAfghanistanwar(asat31/12/11)

2003Waterfalldisaster

1999Glenbrookdisaster

1977Granvilledisaster

In conclusion

• The promoters of transit were right

• Cities depend on rail to exist

• Sydney made mistakes like many other world cities

• Irrespective of the energy source of cars, the key problems remain

• Exclusive rights-of-way are needed to fix transit

Change requires an agent

• That can be free choice now

• Or forced by economics (energy crisis/ environmental crisis) when it’s too late and painful

• A supportive mandate and Government

• But it needs the knowledge and skills of engineers to start overcoming the inertia of the old course