Newcastle Connectivity

This consultation has concluded. You can still browse the site but the discussion area will no longer accept new comments or votes.

The rail line into the CBD of Newcastle has long been a source of controversy and debate in the community. When the issue was last examined the Government decided that services to the heart of the CBD should be retained due to strongly held community views.

This online forum is designed to allow the community to discuss this issue. We welcome ideas relating to investment and growth in the city as well as how to improve connectivity.

The results of this discussion forum will be forwarded to the CBD Taskforce which is examining ways to drive investment in Newcastle and key challenges including transport and connectivity.

FORUM

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Are there better ways to deal with this issue? (continued)

If you agree that the rail line is a problem for the regeneration of the Newcastle CBD are there other ways to deal with the issue apart from the removal of the line? more ...

by admin 8:25pm, 30 October 2008 | 3919 views | Ic_comment 203 comments

What impact would removing rail services from the CBD have? (continued)

With climate change and high petrol prices there seem to be many imperatives for retaining and improving public transport services rather than removing them. What would the impact of removing rail from more ...

by admin 8:29pm, 30 October 2008 | 1834 views | Ic_comment 90 comments

Do you feel that the rail line inhibits development of the City? (continued pt3)

The major argument leveled against the rail line into the CBD is that it isolates the City from the foreshore and Honeysuckle. Do you agree with this and if so what should be done about it? more ...

by admin 8:33pm, 30 October 2008 | 2223 views | Ic_comment 89 comments

179

Do you feel that the rail line inhibits development of the City?

THIS DISCUSSION MAY TAKE A MINUTE TO DOWNLOAD DUE TO THE VOLUME OF COMMENTS: The major argument leveled against the rail line into the CBD is that it isolates the City from the foreshore more ...

by admin 9:39am, 16 October 2008 | 28724 views | Ic_comment 681 comments

156

Do you feel that the rail line inhibits development of the City? (continued)

In order for Newcastle to prosper and develop, we, as a city, need to develop a change strategy that will allow us to progress. At present, we have a dilapidated city centre with numerous empty shops and more ...

by Newcastle's Future 4:40pm, 19 October 2008 | 8470 views | Ic_comment 297 comments

What impact would removing rail services from the CBD have?

by admin 9:42am, 16 October 2008 | 7548 views | Ic_comment 253 comments

Do you use the rail line now?

How would users of the current rail service react to a terminus at Civic or to the West? more ...

by admin 9:43am, 16 October 2008 | 5155 views | Ic_comment 200 comments

Do you use the rail line now? (continued)

How would users of the current rail service react to a terminus at Civic or to the West? more ...

by admin 8:27pm, 30 October 2008 | 3335 views | Ic_comment 264 comments

Save Our Rail Line

Time after time we have to justify having this line after attacks from the development groups. I have never seen any proof removing it would be positive. All the experts I've heard say it should stay. more ...

by dipsy 9:06pm, 17 October 2008 | 4333 views | Ic_comment 141 comments

Are there better ways to deal with the issue?

If you agree that the rail line is a problem for the regeneration of the Newcastle CBD are there other ways to deal with the issue apart from the removal of the line? more ...

by admin 9:55am, 16 October 2008 | 5010 views | Ic_comment 179 comments

Why Newcastle CBD has died.

In regard to this debate there is one thing that is patently obvious. This is the inability of the anti rail lobby to accept why the Newcastle CBD has died. If you look at history honestly and objectively more ...

by judogazza45 2:29pm, 25 October 2008 | 1410 views | Ic_comment 98 comments

Newcastle Community has spoken

Jodi Mackay has stated on air and in the Newspapers that the Newcastle Community has spoken about retaining the heavy rail line and that GPT is not going to get away with holding a gun to the head of the more ...

by Take2 9:52pm, 20 October 2008 | 1137 views | Ic_comment 34 comments

The voting seems strange

The opening statements to most major Topics do not allow a real vote or indication of importance because of the way the statement is phrased. This to me gives false impressions and thus the results are more ...

by Bigfeller 9:08pm, 18 October 2008 | 803 views | Ic_comment 36 comments

If we had 3 Options what would you choose ?

option 1.... Heavy rail link to Newcastle station (untouched) option 2.... Tram system with a green area from Newcastle to Wickham option 3.... Just a green corridor from Newcastle to Wickham This more ...

by Richard Walters 1:45pm, 21 October 2008 | 663 views | Ic_comment 15 comments

Save the Rail

The proposal by GPT is flawed in that it hinges on the removal of the rail line to Wickham. Why does the line have to be truncated when it is claimed that it will be turned into a "green" corridor. What more ...

by judogazza45 10:19am, 22 October 2008 | 432 views | Ic_comment 18 comments

Is this really about the railway line?

Newcastlle has been presented with a one off and spectacular opportunity to see a massive and much needed redevelopment of the city centre. The railway line as it is will inhibit this development and may more ...

by Roseville 4:32pm, 21 October 2008 | 512 views | Ic_comment 16 comments

Heavy Rail Line

"The people of Newcastle and the Hunter deserve to have a say in the future of our CBD." What a joke! Newcastle is a city in decay thanks to you and past governments. All that happens is talk and when more ...

by Chris S 8:52am, 21 October 2008 | 450 views | Ic_comment 12 comments

Parking, bus and rail transport

Newcastle is lacking in parking, local shopping centres have free parking bringing the shoppers to the centres. Roads into Newcastle can not handle huge increases in traffic to Newcastle that developments more ...

by Vince 5:38pm, 22 October 2008 | 320 views | Ic_comment 16 comments

Disgusted at Lord Mayor for using a medical walk as a political talk on the rail line

Quite frankly, no matter what your view is on the rail line, I am disgusted & offended that the Lord Mayor could use the Andrew Johns walk as a political message in regards to the rail line. He stood more ...

by NFlyer 12:04pm, 19 October 2008 | 479 views | Ic_comment 6 comments

West End Terminus Transport Integration

It is my understanding this forum was set up to gauge CURRENT public opinion about Connectivity and in particular how the heavy rail influences this desired connectivity. It is clearly emerging (from discussion more ...

by snail 12:02pm, 29 October 2008 | 241 views | Ic_comment 10 comments

Economic and environmental cost of having the rail.

Let me start by bringing some comparative analogy. Imagine running a restaurant with say, 200 seats and only on a very rare occasion you’ll have a customer occupying one of the seats and placing an order more ...

by equitable 1:48pm, 22 October 2008 | 266 views | Ic_comment 10 comments

DO YOU SUPPORT A SUBWAY OR BURRIED RAIL LINE FROM CIVIC OR WICKHAM?

The very cashed up investor can afford a subway! Lets not be bluffed in giving up our taxpayer owned resource cheaply. Everyone of the ugly Honeysuckle buildings has underground carparks on the waterfront! Build more ...

by MCameron 12:17pm, 22 October 2008 | 315 views | Ic_comment 10 comments

Mea Culpa! I was an Ass!

I love this City and its Great People. My apologies to all of you for not getting involved in the past debates about the “Great Divide,” well before GPT appeared on our shores, and for allowing a minuscule more ...

by equitable 4:40pm, 22 October 2008 | 299 views | Ic_comment 5 comments

Heavy rail to Newcastle

My biggest problem with heavy rail to Newcastle is the plethora of level crossings - there are four of these from Broadmeadow to the city, and these are the cause of most discomfit and dissatisfaction more ...

by archons 8:41am, 27 October 2008 | 252 views | Ic_comment 7 comments

Jodi McKay.... Please explain to us why was connectivity discussion extended ??

To date 68,720 people have veiwed these topics on connectivity to Newcastle.. Some making comments, some using the thumbs up & thumbs down system, even some people emailing. Could Jodi Mckay tell more ...

by Richard Walters 12:45pm, 1 November 2008 | 225 views | Ic_comment 7 comments

Honeysuckle Markets

The Newcastle railway station would be an ideal place to have markets. When you travel in any city the world over their markets are a vibrant place for people to mingle & indulge in all the products more ...

by doty 5:59pm, 25 October 2008 | 166 views | Ic_comment 7 comments

While we're talking about Lightrail... Belmont to Adamstown

The fernleigh walking track from adamstown to whitebridge is something that people of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie can be proud of. But i think that this corridor could be utilised a little bit better. The more ...

by nerdee_boy 12:05pm, 23 October 2008 | 203 views | Ic_comment 6 comments

Add, Don't Subtract

After living in many cities in the world, I find Newcastle to be one of the best. I also use the train all the time. I have seen various 'solutions' to transport in those cities. 1) Success one: add, more ...

by Rboer 7:37pm, 24 October 2008 | 260 views | Ic_comment 2 comments

How about a underground station???

Why not build an underground station at Newcastle Station and have the green space on top. more ...

by ringo 10:20am, 31 October 2008 | 161 views | Ic_comment 5 comments

Is the suggestion for more open space genuine or just a con to give more places for tall buildings

There is several issues involved in this matter. The first is greed. Lets face facts. Developers do what they do to make money. Money is their motivation and they expect to make as much of it as they more ...

by steve_1964 3:18pm, 24 October 2008 | 181 views | Ic_comment 5 comments

How good is the developers money

Time and time again I have seen developers ride into town, promise the world and when the crunch time comes, find they have no money. What if the State Government decides to use valuable Tax Payers money more ...

by calvin213 6:21pm, 23 October 2008 | 186 views | Ic_comment 4 comments

Newcastle Rail corridor

It is so simple. An evolved Central Newcastle is and always has been an ugly industrial city built on on a beautiful site. No matter how much planning and re-arranging is proposed, while the foreshore more ...

by Noel Davies 5:49pm, 30 October 2008 | 147 views | Ic_comment 4 comments

Move Forward not backwards in Our Transport system

I have been involved one way or another in the Newcastle Transport system for more than 30 years. I feel I am experienced enough to now have my say. I worked on the Double decker buses as a conductor in more ...

by Uno 7:07pm, 30 October 2008 | 153 views | Ic_comment 5 comments

If the federal government has a spare $M160 to remove the rail, would we prefer to do that or build a bridge at Stewart Avenue, an at grade crossing at Worth Place and a few million to grow flowers beside the rail line?

The Herald advises that the rail could be removed from Wickham to Newcastle for a mere $160 million dollars. A bridge at Stewart Avenue, over or under the rail would cost about $M50, throw in a crossing more ...

by Desideratum 1:49pm, 1 November 2008 | 122 views | Ic_comment 5 comments

Building on the Rail Corridor

Go onto the 2nd GPT YouTube site and see how the rail line from Newcastle Station and Wharf Road are covered in buildings down to Wolfe St. So much for the 'green corridor'. It is still about a land grab. more ...

by micah 5:23pm, 31 October 2008 | 142 views | Ic_comment 5 comments

Skytrain - Vancouver Public Transport

I am a regular train user. I spent close to a year living in Vancouver, BC (Canada). So I found the Newcastle Herald article regarding Newcastle transport interesting, especially with the picture of Canada more ...

by Wedge 10:25pm, 21 October 2008 | 282 views | Ic_comment 3 comments

now its a Sydney Metro - again Newcastle ignored.

New CBD metro plans announced Andrew Clennell and Alexandra Smith October 24, 2008 - 3:52PM A $4 billion CBD metro line from Central Station to Rozelle would be built with plans to build a North West more ...

by macavity 4:13pm, 24 October 2008 | 172 views | Ic_comment 5 comments

Maitland to Cessnock railway line???

A railway line from Maitland to Cessnock would bring more money into the local economies of Newcastle and Maitland by capitalising on the wineries ect connecting Newcastle to Cessnock is a major priority??? more ...

by ringo 5:20pm, 5 November 2008 | 137 views | Ic_comment 5 comments

East Lake Macquarie

Interesting that the pro-rail lobby have their knickers in a knot about 2km of barely used rail line when perhaps 1/3 to 1/4 of the region's citizens, being those in the area from Merewether to Swansea, more ...

by macavity 2:04pm, 23 October 2008 | 167 views | Ic_comment 5 comments

Tourism

I have spent many, many hours sitting in transport interchanges all over the world, and if I, as a traveller, ended up stuck in Broadmeadow or Wickham for a few hours I certainly wouldn't want to come more ...

by Emu 6:42pm, 30 October 2008 | 122 views | Ic_comment 4 comments

GPT's grand transport plan is a walkway and reducing Hunter St to 1 lane of traffic and a bus lane

I agree the rail line does cut off the harbour from the city but we MUST keep the corridor for alternative transport for the future. Once it's gone to developers it's GONE FOREVER. In 10, 20 or 50 years more ...

by brad8 10:05am, 26 October 2008 | 157 views | Ic_comment 4 comments

Is GPT holding a gun at our head or have we been shooting ourselves in the foot

Let's leave the past behind, who uses the Newcastle Rail line anyway. I've lived in the lower Hunter for 23 years and the last time I went to Newcastle on the Train was in 1981. Jodie why do we have to more ...

by dirwin 8:17am, 1 November 2008 | 136 views | Ic_comment 3 comments

A LARGER STATION AT WICKHAM????

WITH THE PROJECTED POPULATION OF NEWCASTLE AND MAITLAND ECT.THERES NO BETTER REASON TO CUT THE RAILWAY LINE AT WICKHAM AND BUILD A MUCH LARGER STATION WITH MORE PLATFORMS. WHAT WILL HAPPEN YEARS DOWN THE more ...

by ringo 2:32pm, 7 November 2008 | 114 views | Ic_comment 3 comments

For your comment, Transport Hub at WoodVille Junction

How to improve the City for the benefit of most without disadvantaging some too much. Collectively we all want to improve our environs so I offer this scenario as an opening gambit for your comment. Offer more ...

by John Murray 6:23pm, 6 November 2008 | 141 views | Ic_comment 4 comments

11th Anniversary of Jeff Corbett's Article , 11/11/1997. What's New?

On November 11 1997 Jeff Corbett Wrote the Following Column in the Newcastle Herald. This suggests to the writer that we have been debating the Foreshore and Graffiti for a long time. What do you think? City's more ...

by Reformer 8:30pm, 10 November 2008 | 98 views | Ic_comment 3 comments

Lipstick on a Pig

What bothers me is the viability of the whole proposal. As has been said before, people deserted Newcastle for the suburban shopping centers. And, while it may be debated precisely why, what I think we more ...

by russ 12:01am, 3 November 2008 | 142 views | Ic_comment 3 comments

Greening our Drab City

A green corridor with pleasant places for people to sit, gather, listen to music (buskers etc) have a light meal, shelter from cold winds off the foreshore on not so pleasant days, sounds to me like a more ...

by Back to the Future 5:56pm, 29 October 2008 | 102 views | Ic_comment 2 comments

Light-rail extension from Broadmeadow or Wickham to Nobby's Beach

The real issue for rail transport in the Newcastle city area is that the existing line is out-moded,inadequate and disruptive.We need to improve the current system. Light-rail is the obvious solution. more ...

by Ah Poon 12:41pm, 12 November 2008 | 113 views | Ic_comment 3 comments

Railway line to Newcastle Airport???

A rail line from Newcastle,deviating from Warabook would breathe even more life into Newcastle,with all the tourist going to Port Stephens it would make it alot easier to travel to Newcastle more ...

by ringo 6:43pm, 4 November 2008 | 98 views | Ic_comment 2 comments

Freight rail in Newcastle

Passenger trains do not cause too much delay at rail crossings, however I know from experience ( unfortunately ) how long each delay can be due to the slow moving and long freight trains. I also experience more ...

by juliericho 3:38pm, 6 November 2008 | 88 views | Ic_comment 2 comments

City Circle needed.

Utilise the Newcastle rail line as part of a revitalising continuous tram / light rail service from the foreshore (station) through to Waratah, across to Broadmeadow, Adamstown, Junction, West End, up more ...

by Badger 8:05pm, 2 November 2008 | 97 views | Ic_comment 1 comment

City Rail Northern Services proposal.

This map shows a possible service diagram of Newcastle, Hunter and Central Coast rail lines, that I believe would enhance rail patronage, improve access to rail and public transport in these areas, reduce more ...

by Belgarion 6:14pm, 6 November 2008 | 93 views | Ic_comment 2 comments

Make Newcastle Magic

With the rail gone we could open up our harbour and a shopping mall then with a park where the trains now go we could make this a great city. After all we all drive to a train so why not drive to Broadmeadow. more ...

by gadgetgirl 10:32pm, 5 November 2008 | 84 views | Ic_comment 0 comments

To admin, some questions about your topics & subjects

To admin, I would like an explanation as to the way you post a topic question, yet change the question in the subject body. For example you ask in this topic (http://www.bangthetable.com/topic/do-you-use-the-rail-line-now more ...

by NFlyer 9:02am, 10 November 2008 | 95 views | Ic_comment 2 comments

Maintain The Railway Into Newcastle

Last month I was in Auckland and had the privilege of travelling into Auckland Station by train. What a great experience! Brand new train - spotlessly clean - fantastic terminal and most helpful staff. more ...

by Winky 9:55am, 9 November 2008 | 75 views | Ic_comment 1 comment

Railway Conection to the World.

Removal of the rail line east of Wickham Station will not open the magic gateway to the harbour. In these times of dwindling natural resources such as petrol and the impact on global warming there will more ...

by Staffy 7:58am, 12 November 2008 | 71 views | Ic_comment 1 comment

PUBLIC DISCUSSION @ NEWCASTLE PANTHERS

i just heard a rumour that there was going to be a public discussion regarding newcastle's train line at Newcastle Panthers on 25th Nov.... however no time was given... has anybody else heard anything more ...

by Megz 1:43pm, 2 November 2008 | 124 views | Ic_comment 0 comments

LAKE MACQUARIE TRAIN LINES???

More money should be spent on Lake Macquarie e.g. more railway lines going through the lake macquarie area. if there were more lines going through lake macquarie there'd be alot more tourist visiting areas more ...

by runo123 7:42pm, 12 November 2008 | 75 views | Ic_comment 0 comments

How About A Railway Line From The Hunter To Dubbo????

if there were a railway line travelling from the hunter to dubbo. it would help connect nsw up a little? it would also make things alot easier for the people who live in northern nsw - how about that??? more ...

by runo123 8:02pm, 12 November 2008 | 97 views | Ic_comment 0 comments