Canberra ACT Light Rail opens

[M636C]

On Thursday 18 April, the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory opened the first Light Rail line in the Territory, from the Central Business District to the suburban town centre at Gunghalin.

On Saturday 20 April (Easter Saturday) the line opened to the public, with free rides from 0800, with cars departing from both termini at the same time. Thie line is double track throughout, twelve kilometres long, with rails flexibly supported in reinforced concrete slab and overhead catenary  at 750 volts DC. There are fourteen five unit articulated cars built by CAF in Spain, type Urbos 300.

The day dawned rather grey, but not cold, and four friends and I easily found seats on the first car from the Alinga Street station in the city.

The cars ride very smoothly and are allowed 70 km/h. The journey, stopping all stations, takes 24 minutes.

There is relatively heavy congestion on the roads to Gunghalin, particularly in the evening peak and the speed and comfort of the LRV cars is expected to gain a number of additional commuters over the previous bus service.

Peter

[JPS1]

In the states most of the light rail systems have been paid for with authority (state and local) debt and federal grants. 

 

Many if not most of the operating expenses are subsidized from sales tax revenues.  For example, in 2017 the Fare Box Recover Ratio for Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s (DART) light rail system was 16.2 percent; most of the remainder was covered by sales tax proceeds.

 

How were the capital costs of the Australian Capital Territory light rail system funded?  What is the fare box recover ratio?  What is the source of funds to cover the difference between the fares and the operating expenses?

 

I have been to Canberra several times.  It is a beautiful city.  I lived in Melbourne for more than five years.  It too is a great city.