> Oh, I don't know about that. There's certainly enthusiasm for the Airport
> Line amongst property developers who see $$$ in turning the former
> industrial wastelands of Alexandria and Mascot into high density
> residential suburbs serviced by Green Square and Mascot stations. Property
> values have apparently already taken off quite considerably in the area.
If they can do anything with that area good luck to them. Hard to
imagine a more barren area of Sydney; oh wait, Pyrmont, Rozelle,
Ultimo...
> The Airlines are quite enthusiastic as it entrenches Sydney airport and
> makes it less likely they would have to move to a new airport.
Despite the lack of capacity, and an accident only being a matter of
time.
> The Government is enthusiastic because if we didn't have the Airport Line
> running in time for the Olympics Sydney Airport would look even more of a
> joke than it is. At the moment, the entire airport is a construction war
> zone of unprecedented proportions.
Like the rest of the city. One arrangement could have been a loop line
running under the domestic and international terminals, back to the city
and around the City Circle with a high frequency shuttle service. Having
it run out on the East Hills line makes it look like there's some
intention to actually do something sane and build a second airport,
despite the State and Federal governments being no closer to doing it
than twenty years ago.
> Although I must admit once all the terminal developments are completed, the
> new elevated roadway is built to separate arriving/departing vehicular
> traffic, the Aiport Line is opened and the M5 East and Eastern Distributors
> are built, Sydney Airport might actually operate smoothly, be easy to get to,
> and finally resemble a first world airport.
The rail links might but it doesn't matter how many roads they build,
they have nowhere to go. The Eastern Distributor isn't big enough to
solve the traffic mess around Moore Park and Darlinghurst.
> I, for one, am quite enthusiastic about the new line if for no other reason
> that I'm enthusiastic about *any* extension of Sydney's heavy rail network.
> And finally I've seen some in my lifetime (Harris Park Y-link, Olympic Park,
> Airport Line, and perhaps Bondi Beach). Now, if only the Carlingford/Epping
> link would be built...
Or the Chatswood/Epping/Blacktown link. Of course that would mean
tearing up a freeway that nobody wanted and that no-one is using, and
that's beyond the State Government's ability to stand up to the road
lobby.
Dion Williams <dion5@hotmail.com>