It wouldn't suck so much if they were actually going to give us a decent tram network. The old one was quite extensive, running to numerous satellite suburbs of the city, and even into the neighbouring local government area (Lake Macquarie). The new one they're giving us is minuscule. I've seen rollercoasters which have longer tracks than what their proposing. It's just so frigging pointless.

Sometimes I wonder if our pollies have ever been to Newcastle, or if they've just taken somebody's word for it that we really need the world's shortest tram network to attract people to the city (everybody knows that the only draw-card Newy has ever needed is our Big Thing: the Big Dick, or Queen's Wharf Tower if you want to get technical - and they're pulling that down as well). Still, at least they're going to rebuild some very recently constructed sports stadiums in Sydney at hideous expense to balance out all this pointless destruction, which is terrific news for people outside Sydney who don't particularly like sport.

F%^k the state government. I hope they all get run over by their precious trams.

JF,

In the then existing tramways, we had an electric system that didn't spew fumes into the streets (the fumes were spewed into the sky miles from anywhere or at Pyrmont).

Trams are much more efficient at moving people than cars and busses but NSW ripped out the efficient system and pandered to inefficiency because the pollies saw votes in it.

Numbers Three and Four platforms at Wynyard Underground station were tram platforms that served the North Shore going as far as Narrabeen, with a short walk across Spit Bridge.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Sydney#Second_period_1909%E2%80%931932

Is Mise.

The Pyrmont and Balmain power stations used to spew soot through Sydney city and suburbs, depending on wind direction.

Trams never stopped at the kerb as buses do, resulting in all traffic having to stop AT ALL TRAM STOPS to allow all passengers, even slow older people, to walk across the road to reach the kerb and footpath.

The stop start traffic burned much more fuel and even brake linings and tyres that left residue.
Time was wasted.
Temper sometines flared.
Traffic flow was constantly blocked or greatly slowed.

Buses stop at the actual kerb, no need for traffic to stop, no need to get wet disembarking in rain, as you know Is Mise, as you should admit, Is Mise.

Buses running on less polluting natural gas became more common.

Cities and towns spent a fortune putting ugly electricity wires underground, without poles, but now trams posing as light rail are putting wires and poles up again.

Look at this lightweight rail, it appears almost identical in weight to the old tram rail. And it's buried in heavy cement, not on timber sleepers under asphalt.

Many many businesses are now big losers from this new tram fiasco, parking spaces lost, no more cruising in cars or buses to sight see and window shop day or night.

These new 'light rail' trams are not viable.

Traditional and key main roads being taken just for occasional trams is an absolute farce.

Worse, hospital waiting lists and even patients waiting for urgent medical attention are being kept waiting while money is wasted on preposterous "modern looking" trams.

JF,

What you say is true but in the CBD on George St. there will be no cars.

Is Mise,

People used to travel along George Street and look out of cars at shop window displays, then park their car and return and buy. Driving along George Steet at night was also good for George Street businesses, cars could park right there, occupants could walk and window shop and enjoy the city.

I suppose parking station's at the end of tram lines will do very well.

I think cancel and bury the lot right now and get on with life and real productivity and prosperity, would be the best way to go.

//What you say is true but in the CBD on George St. there will be no cars.//

As far as I know they're not planning to ban cars from Hunter St.

Things are gonna get ugly.