Sydney’s monorail is to be ‘pulled down’ to clear the way for a new convention centre at Darling Harbour, the NSW Government announced last week.
The Government said it has purchased the company that owns the monorail, Metro Transport Sydney, for $19.8 million. For now, the operation of light rail and monorail services will continue as usual as per the contract with Veolia.
The monorail will be removed ‘as soon as feasible’, NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian announced.
“This is good news for Sydney – it delivers certainty for business wanting to invest in the Darling Harbour precinct and allows the efficient development of the light rail network,” Mr O’Farrell said.
“The monorail is not integrated with Sydney’s wider public transport network and has never been truly embraced by the community.”
Ms Berejiklian said the simplified contractual arrangements would make it easier for the Government to expand the light rail network in the future.
“The NSW Government is committed to expanding light rail and extending the Inner West Light Rail to Dulwich Hill.
“The Light Rail Strategic Plan – examining the feasibility of extending the light rail network through Sydney’s CBD, to the University of Sydney and the University of NSW – will be completed in the middle of this year, and the government looks forward to examining its findings.”
