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.
2 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.