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.
The Airlines are quite enthusiastic as it entrenches Sydney airport and
makes it less likely they would have to move to a new airport.
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.
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.
And credit must go to the Airport Line developers to put the airport
stations in the right locations. The Domestic Station, for example, is
be smack bang between the two major domestic terminals - barely 100 m
walk from the check-in counters. They could have taken the easy option
to build it further north, but they bit the bullet and demolished a
relatively new, five level, 2000 car parking station to make way for the
new underground railway station. You don't see that too often!
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...
Brendan.