More on the SRL – Living in Fantasy Land
More on the SRL – Living in Fantasy Land
Dr Eric Keys’ opinion piece “I’m a planning expert and have reviewed the SRL business case. It’s no wonder the feds won’t fund it” In THE AGE – December 2, 2024. This article said all that was needed to bury this project as a monstrous white elephant, but it did not stop several “experts” promoting it on ABC.
4 replies on “More on the SRL – Living in Fantasy Land”
Unfortunately, the SRL (and many other large capital transport projects) has polarised opinions to such an extent that rational debate seems impossible.
-Opponents that highlight that stress the incredibly high opportunity cost of the project and the critical need to question inputs and projections.
-Supporters who claim the project is “visionary” and as such is “above” the need for benefit cost analyses and consideration of alternative future scenarios.
Your contribution to the debate is commendable and hopefully stimulating to decision makers
1 / I actually think that the SRL/Suburban Rail Loop is broadly a good idea as it will quickly connect a large number of important suburban centres without the need to go via Flinders St as is currently the case.
2 / The proposition that a bus route is a cheaper alternative is true, however, it is also true that a bus loop serving the same locations is slower than catching a train to Flinders St and going out again, I know, I have done both. ( Frankston to Box Hill via Richmond by train is faster than by bus. As is Frankston to Heidelberg. )
3 / For the bus to be quicker would require a reserved bus lane for the whole route. In my view an elevated limited stop tram would be quicker, and cheaper than an underground, and quiet, as the so called Skyrail has clearly demonstrated.
4 / The SRL is not intended to carry a passenger from Cheltenham to Tullamarine or Altona, but it is intended to make cross metropolitan travel quicker, and more convenient. I just think that an elevated tramway is a more viable alternative than either the existing bus route, or the proposed underground rail SRL.
5 / As an side, Box Hill Interchange is terrible, badly designed, and a turn off for passengers, which the developer intended it to be.
I’ll take a dedicated orbital PT route where there is no sufficient alternative to get one. Nothing irks me more when so-called PT advocates are against PT that will service an underserved area. Call for better outcomes through the project, not the scrapping of the project.
At least Metro 2 already has an alternative route. You can also try riding any one of the smart buses and see how long they take.
I grew up in Broady, you try getting accessing Deakin or Monash from Broady, poor people deserve education opportunities as well.
Hi Jacob
Thankyou for your comments – they are always welcome. The main issues here are cost, value for money and priorities.
It is true that the SRL will provide some benefits but only to a small number of people. Far greater benefits can be achieved by improving the system in other ways, that cost far less money and benefit many more people. Some of these are listed in a submission we made to the government based on our annual forum in 2019. You will find these in the forum summary. There is also an imperative to do more with less. This was the subject of our last forum in 2024. Our concern is that the enormous sums of money being spent on projects in Melbourne are unsustainable and being funded from borrowings which will leave us with a legacy of debt that will become a millstone around our necks that will have to be paid for by future generations.
We must learn from other cities that have developed outstanding public transport services for a fraction of the money we are spending.
Roger Taylor Chair TfM