Why is it necessary?
Why not use buses?
Are trams an obsolete form of transport?
If we are going to have them, why not use new trams rather than old?
Won't they get in the way of road traffic?
How much will it cost to travel?
Who will run the tramway?
Who will pay for the cost of construction?
Will taxpayers have to subsidise it?
Won't the trams be noisy?
Won't the overhead wiring be ugly?
Where will the trams come from?
How often will the service run, and for how long each day?
Are the old trams reliable and safe?
Is this the same as light rail?
Will there be an Environmental Impact Statement before the line is built?
Why is it necessary?
The Federation Line will link a number of major institutions and tourist attractions with the parking, shopping and bus interchange precinct of Civic. It will provide an attractive form of access to these institutions - which include the new National Museum of Australia on Acton Peninsula, ScreenSound Australia and the Australian War Memorial. It will reduce motor vehicle traffic along the roads linking these institutions, and will ease car parking problems. Visitors to Canberra, and residents, will be able to park their cars and visit several of these institutions, and other attractions, by using the heritage tramway.
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| A tram on the Riverfront line in New Orleans, alongside a striking example of New Orleans architecture. |
Why not use buses?
The heritage trams will make the service more attractive, thus attracting increased patronage. The clearly defined and visible route of the tramway will also attract higher levels of use, compared with the effect of reduced perceptions of certainty associated with a bus service. Further, the use of heritage trams will complement the character of several of the key institutions which it will link, including the Australian War Memorial, ScreenSound Australia and the new National Museum of Australia.
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Are trams an obsolete form of transport?
Although many cities in Australia and overseas replaced their trams with buses in the 20 years following the Second World War, many are now turning back to trams. Cities which have reintroduced trams include Sydney, London, Los Angeles, Paris and many others. Trams are one of the few technologies which were invented in the 19th century and which are continuing into the new millennium.
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If we are going to have them, why not use new trams rather than old?
The nature of many of the institutions along the Federation Line suggests that a heritage tramway will be more appropriate than the use of new vehicles. Cost is a further major consideration: restored heritage trams will have a much lower cost than new vehicles. The design of the Federation Line will be compatible with current modern light rail standards, allowing inter-operability if Canberra introduces a light rail system. Many other cities operate heritage trams, either to provide a basic service or to supplement newer vehicles.
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| A tram in San Jose makes its way towards the downtown area, along tracks shared with modern light rail vehicles. |
Won't they get in the way of road traffic?
The tramway will run alongside roads wherever possible, rather than sharing road space with other vehicles. Where it does operate on roads, the line will mainly use streets on which there is a low level of traffic.
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How much will it cost to travel? For the tourism market, an all day travel pass costing a proposed $10.00 (plus GST) will allow unlimited use of the tram system. Innovative ticketing would combine tram travel with access to parking areas and entry to attractions along the route. A commuter fare will allow single trip travel. This is planned to be $2.00 for adults or $1.00 for children.
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| Christchurch's restaurant tram was converted from a former Melbourne tram dating from 1927. |
Who will run the tramway?
It is likely that the operator will be identified through a competitive tender process. Ideally this will be a company with experience in tourism activities.
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Who will pay for the cost of construction?
A range of sources of finance for the project is currently being investigated, encompassing both private and public sector sources. The economics of the project are such that it must be funded on a basis which will not require a fully commercial return on the total capital cost. Alternatively a component of sponsorship or grant funding is required.
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Will taxpayers have to subsidise it?
All ongoing costs are expected to be fully covered by fare revenue, avoiding the need for any subsidy from taxpayers.
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Won't the trams be noisy?
With both trams and track maintained to high standards, the noise generated by the operation is not expected to be intrusive. The track will be designed and maintained to minimise noise, and the trams, particularly their wheels and gears, will also be subject to a high level of maintenance. On this basis the trams are expected to be less noisy than other large road vehicles.
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Won't the overhead wiring be ugly?
Overhead wiring is a necessary feature of tram operation. However, the wiring and its support structures will be designed to minimise visual intrusion. Poles to support the wiring will be placed to minimise visual impact, and in some situations ornamental poles with a heritage theme will enhance the appearance of the system. In some places in Civic, it may be appropriate to suspend the overhead wire from adjacent buildings, avoiding the need for additional support structures.
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| When Sydney's first major electric tramway opened in 1899, ornamental poles like this were used to support the overhead wiring for the trams. These structures exemplified the elaborate and ornamental design of street furniture at the time of Federation. |
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This modern tram in San Francisco is running on a new line along the Embarcadero, opened in 1998. The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in the background. Stylised street lamps support the overhead wiring for the trams. |
Where will the trams come from?
Many trams from Australian cities have been preserved in museums. Trams will be available to the Federation Line from the former tramway systems in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth, together with trams from Melbourne which have been replaced there by new vehicles. Trams from other Australian cities may operate on the line on a periodic basis.
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How often will the service run, and for how long each day?
Trams will run every day, not just on weekends or holidays, from early morning until evening. The interval between trams will be sufficiently short to make the service attractive to users. On the city loop the interval between trams is expected to be no longer than 10 minutes. Through services between the National Museum and the War Memorial are expected to have a 10 to 15-minute frequency, or half-hourly during periods of low demand.
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Are the old trams reliable and safe?
Trams represent proven technology and are inherently reliable. The trams used for the Federation Line will be overhauled and brought to modern safety standards before they are put into service on the line.
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Is this the same as light rail?
There are many similarities between tramways and light rail systems. Engineering standards for track and electricity supply are similar. The term tramway is usually associated with older vehicles operating along streets, whereas light rail refers to newer vehicles, with much of their operation on tracks segregated from motor traffic. So the Federation Line is a tramway, but will be compatible with light rail operation should it be introduced to Canberra.
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Will there be an Environmental Impact Statement before the line is built?
The Federation Line will be subject to all necessary environmental assessments before the project proceeds.
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