Re: (QLD) Brisbane Light Rail Plans

["Arthur Marsh" <mars0177@flinders.edu.au>]

...and you *didn't* cross-post your reply to aus.media-watch?

"Peter Berrett" <pberrett@optushome.com.au> wrote in message
news:0BEY5.16321$Xx3.70089@news1.eburwd1.vic.optushome.com.au...
>
> This sounds like a job for...
>
> MEDIA WATCH!!!
>
> cheers Peter
>
>
>
> Chris Brownbill <cbrnbill@enternet.com.au> wrote in message
> news:3A330CFA.5CF3BC49@enternet.com.au...
> > David McLoughlin wrote:
> > >
> > > I'm having an argument over here with a virulently anti-transit
> > > newspaper columnist. He wrote a column on Friday that said Brisbane
had
> > > just scrapped a half-built light rail system that had been causing
chaos
> > > in the streets where the tracks were being laid, and that the
scrapping
> > > of this half-built system was because people had realised train lines
> > > don't work.
> > >
> > > Now I have responded that he has completely invented this fiction, but
> > > he seems to be standing by his story.
> > >
> > > Before the last Qld election, the previous government had its Briztram
> > > plan which was opposed by the opposition. The opposition came in and
> > > canned it, but there had been no construction work.  Ditto with a much
> > > watered-down scheme of the new government. Not a metre of track laid,
or
> > > even tenders called IIRC, before this scheme too was canned, quite
some
> > > time ago.
> > >
> > > All that went ahead from my memory is a busway.
> > >
> > > Am I right? Or is he?  Has Brisbane just scrapped a half-built
> > > light-rail system that never featured on my horizon despite me
following
> > > these things closely? And never featured in "Tramways & Urban Transit"
> > > the monthly magazine of the UK Light Rail Transit Association which
> > > certainly covered the Briztram debate and the busway.
> > >
> > > The same guy the week before said the US had opened 10 light rail
> > > systems and all had been dogs and no more were being built. In fact
the
> > > US has 19 systems with 10 more on the way. All but one (Buffalo) has
> > > been a success and are being extended. But these car fanatics never
let
> > > the facts spoil their lies.
> > >
> > > David McLoughlin
> > > Auckland New Zealand
> > >
> > > - God created New Zealand so Tasmanians had something to laugh at.
> >
> >
> > What columnist in what newspaper?  Maybe a few well-penned letters to
the
> editor
> > from people such as ourselves (who are in possession of some facts)
> pointing out
> > errors might help get the soapbox kicked from under him.
> >
> > Do you have copies of what he's written?  Any of it on-line?  I smell
easy
> > BLOOD!
>
>