Introduction
Why Build the Line?
Objectives
Introduction
The Federation Line is planned to be a new and appealing way of making Canberra's major museum attractions more accessible to visitors - by linking them by a 'living museum', a vintage electric tramway.
The tramway will run from the new National Museum of Australia to the Australian War Memorial. Seven kilometres long, the route will include numerous visitor attractions as well as the business, entertainment and accommodation heart of the national capital.
The Federation Line will also be a major tourist attraction in its own right, representing Australia's tramway heritage by operating authentic, restored trams from all states.
The proposal for the tramway has been developed and assessed through a range of engineering, financial, economic, social and environmental studies.
Engineering studies have identified a preferred route and confirmed its operational feasibility, including its effect on the road network.
Assessment of costs and revenues indicates that the project will be financially viable. It will not require an ongoing subsidy; on the contrary, the tramway is expected to attract sufficient patronage and revenue to generate an operating profit. It is assumed that the project is funded on a basis which does not require the full servicing of capital costs.
A benefit-cost assessment of the project has found that it has a positive benefit-cost ratio, and that it will bring substantial net economic benefits to the community.
Studies have been undertaken to examine the potential environmental impacts of the tramway.
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| Trams in Perth and Fremantle had design features reflecting North American practice. This example was built in 1921 and recently overhauled by the Perth Electric Tramway Society. |
Why Build the Line?
Electric trams are a major element of Australia's social and cultural history. Introduced around the time of Federation they spread to all state capitals and larger provincial centres.
Just as railways opened up the Australian continent, tramways opened up and shaped Australian cities. Urban settlement and commercial development followed the tram lines. Most trams were designed and built in Australia: they were distinctive and reflected our climate, lifestyle and character. For example, open air trams were appropriate for summer use in several cities, while the Sydney convention of using coloured geometric symbols to show destinations overcame literacy and visibility problems.
From the time of Federation until the 1960s tram lines were the arteries of Australian cities, and trams were objects of familiarity, affection and new horizons. Most urban Australians travelled regularly by tram. They were great social levellers. Phrases such as "they shot through like a Bondi tram" became part of our language.
The Federation Line will make use of this tramway heritage in a practical and valuable way, by improving access to a number of Canberra's major museums, using a means of transport which is sympathetic to the historic character of those institutions.
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Objectives
The objectives of the Federation Line are:
- To provide an authentic heritage tramway experience primarily targeted at visitors,
- To use restored heritage electric trams to provide an attractive, highly valued and enjoyable rail journey linking major attractions and central city facilities;
- To celebrate the nation's tram heritage by offering travel on vintage vehicles from all Australian states in the National Capital;
- To improve public access to the some of Canberra's key cultural and heritage institutions, and in particular the new National Museum of Australia;
- To provide a well maintained, high quality, efficient and effective commercial service;
- To provide a service at no net ongoing cost to the taxpayer;
- To facilitate movement around a defined tramway catchment, by linking city east and west with an environment friendly transport system;
- To provide Canberra with an internationally recognised visitor attraction and public asset of increasing publicity, commercial and symbolic value.
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