February 2017

Revitalising Newcastle – Light RailJosh Hartcher, Project Manager, Transport for NSW

ComparisonNo of LRV’s No of stops

14 27 16

13 14 16

12 14 13

19 30 19

2.7 6 6Logos obtained from official websites

Length (km)

• Bring people back to the city centre• Help grow new jobs in the city centre• Create great places linked to new transport• Create economically sustainable public domain and

community assets• Preserve and enhance heritage and culture

Program objectives

Why Revitalising Newcastle?

Regional Context

Population• Hunter region – 615k• Newcastle LGA – 150k• Newcastle City Centre – 8k

Strong growth prospects– Hunter region 2.4%– NSW average 2.1%

Newcastle City Centre– 0% growth between 2001

and 2012– Reduction in share of

regional employment

City Centre Performance

City Centre Comparison

Revitalising Newcastle• The truncation of the former heavy

rail corridor; opening up the city to the waterfront

• A new multi-modal transport interchange at Wickham, the “Newcastle Interchange”

• Light rail between Newcastle Interchange and Pacific Park

• ‘Activation’ activities in Hunter and Scott streets while light rail is under construction

• Broadmeadow Station Upgrade

Evolution of the city centre

11

Why Revitalising Newcastle

Project details

Route

Newcastle Interchange Honeysuckle Civic Crown Street Market Street Pacific Park

ScopeProject Status: Currently in Detailed DesignRolling Stock: 6 CAF 33m Urbos 100 series Light Rail VehiclesCapacity: 1,200 passengers an hourTrackwork: 2.7km Twin Tracks with Embedded RailStops: 6 off – mix of Island Platforms, Side Platforms, Footpath / Concourse IntegratedMaintenance and Stabling: New 3000m3

depot at Wickham

Traction Power: 750V DC OWH with 2 substationsOperational Control Centre: Integrated into the existing facility at HamiltonETS: OpalCost: falls within the $510m Newcastle Transport ProgramAssociated utility relocations/replacementVarious roadworks to mitigate traffic impactLocalised urban amenity improvements

Timing

2017-2018Construction

2016Jan 2016

Register of interest open for

construction tender

2019Light rail operating

Mar 2016Review of

Environmental Factors on display

August 2016Submissions Report and

planning approval

August 2016Managing

Contractor awarded

Late 2016Site and service investigations

1st half 2017Detailed Design

Delivery team

Managing Contractor• Delivery Methodology: Managing Contractor• Contractor: Downer EDI Infrastructure• Scope: Trackwork, Rail systems, Light Rail Stops, Interchange facilities at

Newcastle Interchange, Maintenance and stabling facilities, Facilitate the installation of the ETS, New utility services for the NLR project, Adjustments and modifications to existing utility services that are affected by the construction of the Works

• The work will be subcontracted out through competitive tenders• Design Consultant: PB/Aurecon JV

Rolling stockSupplier: Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF)Configuration: LRV’s consist of 5 modules eachWidth: 2.65mLength: 33.97mGauge: 1.435m100% low floor @ 350mm ARLMax Speed: 80km/hMax Grade: 7%Max Curve: 25mApprox. 200 passengers Delivery: From 30 March 2018 Image of a Sydney light rail vehicle

Independent verifiersIndependent Certifier

Independent Safety Assessor

Independent Estimator Assessor

Financial Auditor

Operator• Operator: Newcastle Transport• Single Operator: buses, ferry, light rail• Incentives to grow patronage• Increased frequency for frequency for ferry: 15min• Increased frequency for the new light rail: 7.5 minutes, up from

the government’s proposed 10 minutes• An increase in bus in-service kilometres in Newcastle with higher

frequency bus services on key corridors• Increased operating hours and weekend ‘night owl’ services• New on-demand bus services supported by app and phone

booking in certain areas• Refurbished ferries • Integrated transport network across all modes to support

revitalisation program

Challenges

Community sentiment

Mid-sized city…10 minutes to most

places

Beautiful beaches and

parks

Good schools, hospital and

university

A growing arts, café & food culture

A good work/ life balance

A focus on family, friends, lifestyle rather than career and money

Growing congestion on

the roads

Lack of public transport

development

Creating opportunities which help to keep young people in Newcastle, or bring them back home

Residents somewhat resistant to

change

Residents less open to new ideas

and people

Utilities• Impact assessment ongoing • Options papers being prepared • Site investigations ongoing • Modelling of utility relocations being completed

in 12D and shared into Navisworks• Coordination with other design packages

ongoing to minimise utilities clashes where possible

• Ongoing risks• Unknown services, potential heritage finds in

slit trenching investigations

Flooding• The alignment through Hunter St

in particular is flood prone• Ongoing challenge for flood

conveyance• Investigation into high ARI events

have shown hot spots• Flood modelling completed to

demonstrate no worsening of existing conditions

• Climate change has significant impacts on design

Conclusion – What does a revitalised Newcastle city centre look like?

Artist’s impression, indicative only

Artist’s impression, indicative only

Artist’s impression, indicative only

Artist’s impression, indicative only

Artist’s impression, indicative only

Artist’s impression, indicative only

Questions