Federation Tramway Proposal

["David Bennetts" <davibenn@pcug.org.au>]

A fair bit of bunkum was recently written about the Federation Tramway
proposal, confusing it with heavy rail and even having it go to the
National Acquarium, which has never been envisaged.  It is a pity that the
Sustainable Transport Working Group are being so negative about the
proposal when it has been very well thought out and its development is
being considered in a professional manner with support from Canberra's
government, institutions and business.

The Canberra Times report last Friday was fairly accurate.  A 12 week
$30,000 feasibility study has commenced into the viability of the project,
Ove Arup have been given the job.  The proposal involves setting up a
tramway using restored historic cars from the major cities of Australia to
provide both a tourist tramway and viable commuter link between the new
National Museum (due to open 2001), the National Film and Sound Archive
(currently undergoing major enlargement, the National University, the City
Centre and with later extension to the War memorial.  The project would
cost in total around $8 million, with $5 million coming from the Federation
fund.

Similar projects overseas have been very successful and popular with
tourists.
Christchurch NZ operates a tramway around the city centre using restored
trams from Christchurch, Dunedin and Melbourne.  Melbourne trams of 1920s
vintage are in daily use in Seattle and Memphis in the USA, and are very
popular with tourists and locals alike.  San Francisco's F line is operated
with 50 year old PCC cars from Philadelphia, immacutely restored in the
liveries of the streetcar companies which operated them all over the
states.  Portland Oregon operates superb replica 1912 cars on part of its
new light rail network.

Let's give the feasibility study a chance, and don't bag the project before
it is given a chance.  Trams were a very important part of Australia's
transport heritage, and there is a lot of potential in this scheme for
tourism and linking Canberra's major attractions.

David Bennetts
Canberra