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Would you use light rail on the Sunshine Coast instead of your car?
We love our cars here on the Sunshine Coast. Often through necessity as we just can’t get to some destinations efficiently without them.
But if you had a frequent, fast, affordable, comfortable light rail service along the coastal spine, would you use it?
We’re interested in hearing just what it would take for you to leave the car at home for some trips? When and where would you be more likely to use light rail? What would stop you from using it?
Relates to
survey: Would you consider using light rail instead of your car for some trips?
Comment 1 23 Feb 2012, 8:51 AM
Most of my car trips are for work and travel to or from the coast, rather than along it - and I also need to travel to different locations for work so light rail won't be suitable. If I am travelling from say MooIoolaba to Maroochydore I tend to walk along the beach. I think light rail will be good for low budget travellers (eg backpackers who aren't renting a car or campervan) although there is still the problem of getting them to the light rail nodes as they may arrive on/depart from the coast by train or air. They more…
Project Administrator Comment 1.1 Project Manager 24 Feb 2012, 10:01 AM
The proposed light rail service will be an urban transport system connecting the main destinations within the urbanised areas of the Sunshine Coast. It would cater for all forms of travel including local commuters, shoppers and diners, as well as visitors. Eventually it would connect with a much expanded Sunshine Coast Airport to ensure visitors can access the accommodation precincts. It would also connect with the planned sunshine coast rail line linking Brisbane and Beerwah to Maroochydore, so rail travellers to and from Brisbane could access the light rail to get them closer to where there need to go.
Comment 1.2 2 Mar 2012, 9:36 AM
We need cabs cars trains and buses. Light rail should help with other forms of transport it should not be a replacement. I like the sound of electric maxi cabs but I don't think that these will be a viable alternative for a light rail system.
Comment 2 23 Feb 2012, 10:05 AM
Living in Buderim, a light rail along the foreshore area [as currently planned] would be impractical for me. This would apply to the majority of the SC area
Project Administrator Comment 2.1 Project Manager 24 Feb 2012, 10:07 AM
The proposed light rail service will have excellent and frequent connections to an expanded bus network, so residents from areas not directly served by light rail could access the system without the need to drive for some trips. With a Go Card, there will no need to pay an extra fare for transferring between bus and light rail.
Comment 3 23 Feb 2012, 10:39 AM
I do not understand the logic of creating yet another transport route (light rail) when the existing ones do NOT work. A rail trip from the Sunny Coast to Brisbane is over two hours, expensive and no guarantee of a seat. Why extend a system that desperately needs an overhaul?
Why not fix the existing rail network before creating another problem? Also, there is an existing bus network on the coast that is also ineffective.
Why not look at creating FREE bus services from major housing estates to local shopping areas with the purchase of $10 or more from the shops in question? This is the model used overseas very effectively. The shops benefit from increased trade and the bus services are actually used (most buses on the Sunshine Coast run empty or with only a few passengers).
Finally, the proposed light rail network would decimate areas of our natural coastline. Why would anyone want to ADD to the destruction of this beautiful place.
Here's an idea, why not resurrect the old cane train tracks (the land and network crisscrosses much of the coast) and use that instead??????
Comment 3.1 24 Feb 2012, 10:03 AM
Lisa's reply and suggestion of creating FREE bus services from housing estates linked to purchases from shops is a great way of integrating transport and local retailers. It is working overseas; however, the culture of owning and driving a car in Australia is different to the rest of the world. We must be the only country where cars get to share the family home right alongside the master bedroom with almost the same comfort (are there any homes without the double lock up garage integrated into the family home?)
Ursula
Project Administrator Comment 3.2 Project Manager 24 Feb 2012, 10:12 AM
The proposed light rail service will be planned to connect with the future sunshine coast rail line from Beerwah to Maroochydore. It is not a replacement for the rail service to Brisbane. Council is currently planning the light trail project, while the sunshine coast rail line (previously known as CAMCOS) remains a Queensland Government project.
The light rail is planned to go in areas that are already urbanised, and will improve the environment by providing a low noise, low emission alternative to high volumes of motor traffic.
Comment 3.2.1 24 Feb 2012, 10:24 AM
Thank you, however you do not address the issues I raise. There are already public transport services (buses) that are ineffective. Why look at recreating a broken system? Why is the Light Rail Project a foregone conclusion? As a rate payer and voter, I would like to see the business case for this project. As Ursula states, we all use our cars. Surely looking at ways to facilitate move this culture should be looked at first before spending the money on something people may not use. I would like to see Council better spend the money afforded to them through more…
Project Administrator Comment 3.2.1.1 Project Manager 28 Feb 2012, 9:38 AM
Thanks Lisa,
Your points go the heart of the challenges for public transport on the Sunshine Coast. We are one of the most car dependent regions in Australia. There are many examples in cities and regions around the world, some with comparable levels of population to those of the future Sunshine Coast, where light rail has significantly added to the amenity and livability of that city or town. For light rail to be a viable alternative to the car for some trips on the Sunshine Coast, it would need to be fast, frequent, reliable and affordable. As it is envisaged as more…
Comment 3.2.1.1.1 28 Feb 2012, 10:58 AM
Thank you. My biggest issue with the light rail option is that an existing public transport option already exists - the bus network - that does not work. As you rightly stated, public transport needs to be "fast, frequent, reliable and affordable" The bus service on the coast is not any of those except perhaps frequent. I do not understand why valuable tax payer funded projects like a light rail network are being touted before the current option is fixed. Also having an "isolated" perspective regarding public transport, a "them and us" if you will, approach between Council and State Governments is short sighted and ultimately damaging to the success of any project. They cannot be looked at in isolation. Without one, the other is affected by association. I would urge Council to think more about fixing current problems before attempting to create band aids in new ventures. Otherwise the light rail will end up an expensive, little used, white elephant.
Comment 3.2.1.1.1.1 5 Mar 2012, 9:50 AM
Lisa, I agree. I think we have to look at why the bus service does not work and try to fix it. That would be a useful exercise in order to ensure that light rail does work. The worst that could happen is that the bus service would be improved. I was talking to a bus driver and he said that there is a requirement to service routes where there is no demand. If, this is true and resources are allocated to an area that cannot work (I assume this is done for political reasons) this means the resources are not available where they would be used, making viable routes ineffective also.
Comment 3.2.1.2 1 Mar 2012, 9:43 AM
LIsa, This is the earliest possible stage of an idea. The question being asked is whether it could work, and if it could work, then what would it look like. It isn't a forgone conclusion. But if we decide that it could not possibly work, and we decide this even before the idea is allowed to germinate then we could miss an opportunity. I know that I would not support a rail line that would destroy the coast line. So for me a light rail system that works would not look like that.
Comment 3.2.1.2.1 5 Mar 2012, 10:16 AM
Thanks Joe. I can't help but use past behviour to indicate future behaviour. Council's bus service doesn't work. The State Government's Rail network to Brisbane is slow, expensive and over capacity. Recently, I've witnessed either Main Roads or the Council (whoever is responsible for the roads) rip down old growth forest to widen two roads yet one of the roads is not even being used and the other it seems the trees were destroyed for no apparent reason as the road is not being widened. One of these cases involved trees in a supposed "national park" area. I am continually amazed at how all levels of government destroy our environment willy-nilly. We have to SAVE our current trees, not cut them down without thought. I cannot see how a new public transport network wouldn't involve the destruction of yet more trees. Again, if they used the existing land of the now defunct cane train tracks, there wouldn't be an issue.
Comment 3.2.1.2.1.1 5 Mar 2012, 11:11 AM
Hi Lisa, I do agree with you. I love our natural environment. I feel sad at how our native animals are treated, their homes destroyed without a second thought. I don't agree with our economic model that requires growth every year. It is a model that is doomed to fail as growth cannot go on forever, unchecked. But you and I cannot stop growth, all we can do is help to shape it. I believe light rail is a possible solution because, my hope at least, is that it might prevent urban sprawl with the continuous development of roads. My more…
Comment 3.2.1.2.1.1.1 5 Mar 2012, 11:25 AM
If they followed successful models for public transport from Europe and also focused on long term planning (which should have been done 50 years ago) they may stand a chance. So far I have seen no evidence to suggest government in this country has the foresight or skill to roll out a successful alternative to cars. The Sunshine Coast is a unique region and we should focus on preserving that uniqueness, which includes making better use of what we already have.
Comment 3.2.1.2.1.2 29 Apr 2012, 7:41 PM
Firstly, the defunct cane train tracks are an old, unmaintained system that would not be able to provide the speed or comfort necessary for a successful light rail system. Secondly, if we sit back now and let the coast keep growing without drastically improving our public transport options the environmental damage would be incredible. The amount of land you need to destroy to create a light rail system is nothing compared to the amount of land you need to destroy to create an equal capacity road network, and that isn't even taking into account the pollution saved by reducing the amount of vehicles on the road.
Comment 4 24 Feb 2012, 9:57 AM
As a resident of the Hinterland I would use the light rail on rare occasions. Getting to the coast would still require the car, unless there would be adequate connections via bus or train.
Comment 5 26 Feb 2012, 7:27 PM
A light rail is a practical approach to reducing vehicles on the three north south highways. However, saying that I would have to agree with the basic comments of all who have posted thus far. For this to work, it would have to be frequent, inexpensive and reliable. In addition, the light rail would have to operate to the whole SC area - i.e up to Noosa and Eumundi and down to its current planned starting location. Otherwise it will be a total waste of money. Links to the other rail stations would be an essential. Of course the other considerations would be trip time, too long and patronage would not happen.
In summary, the Light rail would have to be Frequent, Fast, inexpensive, reliable, have links to other rail stations.
Comment 5.1 1 Mar 2012, 10:15 AM
I believe that for light rail to work it would have to service an area between population hubs/ work centres. I don't think that a light rail system built to service thinly populated areas of the coast would work because of the cost to install and service relative to the number of potential users. A light rail system that services a relatively short line high density area from Caloundra/Kawana to Maroochydore could be frequent, fast, and inexpensive. I would of course like the whole SC area to be serviced but I can't see any scenario where such a system would work at least until after the most obvious line area has proven itself.
Comment 6 1 Mar 2012, 9:31 AM
The coast is a linear city. I think it would suit light rail. People in Buderim are not going to be able to use the service that runs along the coast. While I continue to live in Buderim I would not use it, except perhaps on weekends to go between beaches and shopping. The convenience of light rail combined with the beaches could encourage me away from Buderim and back to the coast. The Kawana town centre will be a population and workforce hub. The Maroochy Town Centre is also a population and workforce hub. In between these two centres more…
Comment 7 2 Mar 2012, 10:02 AM
Can you add some project news and indicate if you are still on target for Pre-feasibility and rapid economic appraisal - April 30 2012
Project Administrator Comment 7.1 Project Manager 5 Mar 2012, 9:22 AM
Hi Joe,
Work on the pre-feasibility and rapid economic appraisal is progressing well. However the State government has delayed the 2012 Council elections by a month until April 28th and the report to the newly elected Sunshine Coast Regional Council is now not expected to be made until at least late May.
The community will be advised of the study findings and Council’s decision whether to proceed to phase 2, a full business case, as soon as possible after consideration by the new Council.
Also expect to have an update on the Taskforce very soon - more details will be posted.
Comment 8 29 Apr 2012, 6:42 PM
I like the idea as I don't own a car. What is the proposed method to link Nambour to this plan? It might also free up some buses to go and do alternate routes. To those that complain about the existing rail network, you need to contact your local State MP. There are 7 in our region of which 6 are LNP(a speaker, Health Minister and the Envionment Minister). demand that they recommence the project before 2014.
