Definition
Light rail is one of the transport systems that assist in providing numerous opportunities for solidifying the entire structure of the city. The main purpose of the light rail network is to reduce pressure from rush hour traffic like busses, office cars and more (Chandler 2015). In this paper, a hypothetical case study on light rail system is considered that is mainly proposed in Canberra. The project is mainly developed in order to provide the facility of light rail to the people of Canberra including all districts. It is analyzed that Canberra is one of the busiest city and thus the development of light rail is very much advantageous for the people of Canberra. The topography of the city is quite helpful in creating ridges across the roadways and thus very much less space is utilized for the implementation of light rail network (Capital Metro Agency 2014). Creation of ridges for the light rail network also avoids road blockage and provides proper opportunity to the passengers of the light rail to enjoy the travelling experience without any traffic congestion.
The assignment elaborates the usefulness of light rail network. The paper illustrates the conceptual design of the project that is mainly proposed within the city of Canberra. The conceptual design of the project includes route alignment, delivery model, financial consideration and benefit cost ratio. The details that are provided in this paper are quite helpful in the development of light rail network.
According to Birdsall (2015), light rail network is referred as electric borne transport system, which is generally developed in different stages in order to enhance both speed as well as capacity. It is found to be one of the most appropriate evolutions of light rail network. It is generally useful for different truck lines that are mainly associated with different types of transport system in order to provide appropriate capacity of passengers within tram in comparison to bus. The tram system is low floor articulated and thus they generally receive electricity with the help of overhead lines (Burke, Currie and Delbosc 2014). This is found to be useful as rail system can receive the supply of electricity even if the rail line are build within the spaces of the road. It is found that the network of light rail uses devices which can be turn in both direction by eliminating he requirement to turn the loops. The focus of the entire light rail system is to give proper travel experience to the passengers.
Conceptual Design
It is found that the system of light rail is mainly implemented by following such a procedure that it does not helps in creating any type of challenges associated with noise disturbances. The motor, which is utilized in the network, does not create noise and as a result, the system of light rail is helpful in replacing all the different means of transportation like buses as well as traffic (Chandler 2015). The light rail runs at the average speed of 70-80 Kph and thus this means of transportation is considered as a short run solution for different types of traffic congestion as well as pollution. For alleviating different types of traffic related congestion, it is quite significant to address the cause of inefficient utilization of roadways.
The light rail carrying capacity is quite helpful in filling the gap that mainly exists in bus services and thus it is considered as one of the valuable means of transportation in Canberra. The light rail is alternative means of transportation as compared to bus services in Canberra and thus the facility of light rail is provided for the passengers (Hensher, Mulley and Rose 2016). It is found as an alternative in comparison to other means of transportation. It is found that light rail system is one of the advantageous means of transportation as it not only provides proper travelling experience to the passengers but it is also environment friendly as it does not causes any problem.
The project “development of light rail network” is mainly designed within the city of Canberra that covers different districts as well as known places within the city. Canberra has number of business enterprises and associations due to which the population of the city is enhancing (Miller 2014). Due to increase in the population, the dependability of the people on transportation also increases tat assists in making Canberra one of the busiest city. Therefore, it is very much significant to develop appropriate business related substantives within the city.
Figure 1: Light Rail System
(Source: Capital Metro Agency 2014)
Route Alignment
The framework of light rail network is generally created with appropriate ridges on the side and thus it identified that less accessible space is generally utilized during the light rail implementation. Additionally, the current city is quite helpful in arranging different type o constrained extension for different sheets and thus undertaking the project of light rail is considered as a testing one for proper execution of the project (Hensher 2016). The facility of light rail within the city of Canberra assists in providing an alternative facility to the people for journeys. The light rail network is found to be one of the complementary in context to other modes of transportation.
Figure 2: Proposed route of light rail network
(Source: Hensher, Mulley and Rose 2016, pp.209)
Therefore, the idea that is associated with the framework generally assists in providing the opportunity to outline that light rail is generally actualized alongside the normal roads of the city. It is also found the light rail network must be constructed in such a way that that range of the street should not be minimized as it can create traffic congestion. It is identified that the implementation of light rail network helps in providing proper service to the passengers within Canberra (Mulley, Tsai and Ma 2015). The conceptual design of light rail is mainly completed with the help of five different steps that include requirement identification, prioritizing requirement, developing different types of preliminary solution as well as evaluating solutions.
Canberra experiences high as well as enhancing level of car use that creates number of problem within the city including traffic congestion. It is very much significant to resolve the problems that are related with traffic. It is identified that for mitigating the issues and challenges the project is helpful in delivering appropriate social as well as economic benefits to the city of Canberra (Martin 2014). The different physical features that are associated with the community of the project must be approved within different stages of procurement. In addition to this, the other features should be approved with the help of cabinet that is mainly confirmed within the phases of the tender.
Delivery Model
Public private partnership model must be utilized for procuring the entire project. It is identified that both the design as well as construction of the light rail are generally bundled with the private finance sector within the public private partnership delivery model. It is found that it mainly works for anticipated years in order to construct the light rail (Ho, Hensher and Mulley 2015). The public private partnership delivery model is mainly recommended due to the reasons that are provided below:
- This delivery model is very much helpful in offering enhancement within the scope of innovation.
- It is identified that higher degree of cost certainty and risk transfer are provided beyond the model of delivery.
- It assists in making proper comparison between PPP proxy as well as comparator of public sector.
The cost of delivery, which is related with the project, is around $783M including rolling stocks as well as different type of contingencies.
Area of cost |
$m nominal |
Stops and precincts |
11 |
Alignment of rail |
96 |
Rolling stock |
65 |
Contractor overhead and profit |
59 |
Escalation |
65 |
Contingency |
173 |
Stabling and depot |
59 |
Rail system, power and signaling |
137 |
Roads and utility infrastructure |
118 |
Sub total |
610 |
Entire cost of overturn |
454 |
The estimation of cost is mainly is mainly dependent on the design concept that is generally produced with the assistance of various technical advisors (Ney and Gray 2014). The contingency is generally estimated by utilizing appropriate procedure of risk quantification. The cost that is estimated is mainly done by excluding the cost of project design. The government does not help in paying the capital delivery that is related with the project.
The project is helpful in delivering the cost benefit analysis that generally comprises of transportation value as well as land. It is found that BCR is much greater than one in the project of light rail and therefore the economic analysis, which was completed, is helpful in delivering the project (Downs, Cassels and Ericksen 2014). This is not helpful in taking appropriate account of quantified social benefits.
Scenario related with cost |
Value $m PV |
Benefits from project |
|
Transportation related benefits |
406 |
Benefits gained by using land |
381 |
Different types of economic impact |
198 |
Benefits achieved from the project |
|
Opex |
619 |
Capex |
204 |
Entire project related cost |
823 |
Economic related indicators |
|
BCR |
1.0 |
NPV |
161 |
BCR |
1.2 |
Cost capital related element |
Cost |
Outrun cost related with project |
783 |
Less: The difference that exist between P50 as well as P77 |
(24) |
Project outrun related cost |
759 |
Less: Escalation related alignment |
(65) |
Less: Escalation associated with contingency |
(9) |
Outrun cost of the project ($real) |
685 |
Costs related with plus agency ($real) |
45 |
Costs related with different types of economic analysis (P50, $real) |
730 |
Conclusion
It can be concluded that the light rail network development is identified to be advantageous as it is considered one of the significant integral part for the transport system of Australia. The tram system not only helps in providing proper transport system to the citizens of Canberra but also influencing tourists due to their appropriate service. The installation of light rail project is mainly designed in such a way that it mainly becomes one of the incorporating variables in order to arrange transportation with the territory properly. The different routes of light rail act as a connector among the different roads of the city. The entire course is designed by utilizing such a procedure that people can utilize different transportation methods within the territory properly. The development of light rail system is quite advantageous as it assists in mitigating the issues that the person of Canberra faces due to traffic congestion. The development of the entire rail network is completed by utilizing such a method so that the person of Canberra does not have to face nay type of difficulty. The light rail network generally operates at the speed of 70-80 kph and it is helpful in minimizing the traffic noise. It is found that both development as well as implementation of road rail network is advantageous.
References
Birdsall, M., 2015. From Metro and Light Rail to Trains and Trams: Exploring Sydney, Australia’s Expansive Public Transit Initiatives. Institute of Transportation Engineers. ITE Journal, 85(11), p.31.
Burke, M., Currie, G. and Delbosc, A., 2014. Performance of Australian Light Rail and Comparison with US Trends. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, (2419), pp.11-22.
Capital Metro Agency. (2014). 1st ed. [pdf] Canberra: Capital Metro Full Business Case, pp.12-35. Available at: https://www.tccs.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/887680/Light-rail-Capital-Metro-Business-Case-In-Full.pdf [Accessed 21 Aug. 2016].
Catthoor, F., Wuytack, S., de Greef, G.E., Banica, F., Nachtergaele, L. and Vandecappelle, A., 2013. Custom memory management methodology: Exploration of memory organisation for embedded multimedia system design. Springer Science & Business Media.
Chandler, B., 2015. Australia award for urban design presentations in Melbourne. Planning News, 41(9), p.6.
Currie, G. and Burke, M., 2013, October. Light rail in Australia–performance and prospects. In Australasian Transport Research Forum, Brisbane, Australia.
Downs, C., Cassels, B. and Ericksen, J., 2014. Case study of rail design on Gold Coast Light Rail. CORE 2014: Rail Transport For A Vital Economy, p.76.
Hensher, D., Mulley, C. and Rose, J., 2016. Preferences for BRT and light rail. Restructuring Public Transport Through Bus Rapid Transit: An International and Interdisciplinary Perspective, p.209.
Hensher, D.A., 2016. Why is Light Rail Starting to Dominate Bus Rapid Transit Yet Again?. Transport Reviews, 36(3), pp.289-292.
Ho, C., Hensher, D.A. and Mulley, C., 2015. Identifying resident preferences for bus-based and rail-based investments as a complementary buy in perspective to inform project planning prioritisation. Journal of Transport Geography, 46, pp.1-9.
Martin, S., 2014. Moving beyond cost: Evaluating LRT and BRT options for Australian and New Zealand cities. CORE 2014: Rail Transport For A Vital Economy, p.178.
Miller, N., 2014. The impact of a new light rail network upon walkability in a central business district.
Mulley, C., Tsai, C.H.P. and Ma, L., 2015, September. Does residential property price benefit from light rail in Sydney?. In Australasian Transport Research Forum (ATRF), 37th, 2015, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Ney, S.M. and Gray, D., 2014. Western Sydney Light Rail-connecting the people of Western Sydney to the future. CORE 2014: Rail Transport For A Vital Economy, p.111.