along its first line as government and private business continue to invest heavily in surround- ing infrastructure, making it one of the best ex- amples of how light rail can benefit growing cit- ies for generations to come. “The benefits of light rail are many, from accessibility, speed and comfort to emis- sions-free operation, making it an ideal transport solution for a growing, increas- ingly congested city.” Canberra’s light rail has been a success on a number of levels. Within six months of com- mencing operations, passenger patronage was at levels not expected until 2021, prompt- ing additional services and bumping the pro- ject’s cost-benefit ratio from 1.2 to 1.3 upon its completion. More than 15,000 Canberrans use light rail every day to travel to their places of work, study and recreation, relieving con- gestion and allowing other public transport services, such as buses, to be redirected to areas of greater need. And it goes far beyond patronage numbers, with Canberra’s light rail quickly becoming a part of the city’s charac- ter as light-rail icons make their way into local artworks and souvenirs. Arguably one of the greatest benefits of light rail is its capacity to accommodate the de- mands of a growing city as population density increases. Light rail brings the opportunity to
LIGHT RAIL’S REVIVAL Light rail is undergoing an exciting renaissance as old fashioned, clunky trams are metamorphosised into sleek, modern vehicles. Canberra offers a case study into how to maximise the benefits of the return to the 19th century transport standard, integrated with 21st century urban-planning principles. By Duncan Edghill T hroughout Europe, the United Arab Emir- ates, China, the Americas and now Aus- tralia, cities are building new, technolog- ically advanced light-rail networks as part of the solution to anticipated congestion and trans- port challenges of the future. Public officials and engineers responsible for building light-rail networks often extol the virtues of light rail as a public transport option, in terms of defining a city’s character, boosting economies, connect- ing growing and changing populations to key destinations, and reducing emissions. Light rail has the capacity to address many of the transport challenges associated with mod- ern cities. However, the benefits of light rail are most effectively realised if it is designed and de- livered alongside other greater city-building ini- tiatives. Canberra is already reaping the rewards
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