Better access & connectivity at UNSW Sydney with new light rail lines
The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney has welcomed the state government’s launch of two light rail lines that will significantly improve connectivity and accessibility to the university for staff and students.
The new light rail tram system provides an unprecedented improvement to the campus’s infrastructure.
The Central Business District and South East Light Rail (CSELR) network links the Sydney Central Business District with Randwick via Central station.
The L2 Circular Quay to Randwick Line will be opened to commuters from December 14 onwards, providing a more efficient and environmentally sustainable transport option for staff and students travelling to the university’s Kensington campus.
The 12km route will feature 19 stops from Circular Quay through the city, servicing Bridge Street, Wynyard, Queen Victoria Building, Town Hall, Chinatown, Haymarket and Central station, where most UNSW students and staff will board.
Whereas the L2 Randwick branch line will go along Alison Road, past Randwick Racecourse and UNSW’s High Street entrance, before continuing to Randwick.
Meanwhile, the L3 Kingsford branch line is slated to open in March 2020 and will connect Moore Park to ES Marks Athletics Field, the Anzac Parade entrance to UNSW and The Juniors Kingsford.
| Dec 12 | 2 mins readUNSW President and vice-chancellor Profesor Ian Jacobs said in a media statement that the light rail will play a vital role in alleviating current transport issues faced by students and staff and will improve campus accessibility.
“Staff and students alike will benefit from this modern, more efficient light rail system,” said Jacobs.
“It is an exciting development, and a significant piece of infrastructure that provides the UNSW community with greater connectivity to the heart of Sydney.”
The initial peak period to cater for UNSW students and staff, as well as other commuters, will be from 7am to 7pm with a frequency of every four to eight minutes between Circular Quay and Central, and every eight to ten minutes between Central and Randwick.
Whereas the tram services on the L2 Randwick line will operate daily between 5 am and 1am.
According to Arc Chair Ben Jones, the light rail offers a streamlined and safer transport option that will add to the quality of the UNSW student experience.
“The efficiency and accessibility of the Light Rail will mean that more students are on campus, further enhancing the student experience,” he said.
“Numerous activities will be established near the UNSW Light Rail stops to ensure students feel immersed in the UNSW community from the moment they enter the campus.”
Besides providing a safe and convenient transport alternative for UNSW, the tram system will also provide a significant impact on the environment.
The availability of alternative transportation will reduce the number of cars and buses on the road which will result in a 663,000-tonne reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition, the light rail system also uses 10 times less energy than a car.
The new light rail lines have been designed to complement and not replace existing transportation options to form a seamless network of infrastructure for the area.
The South East bus services, express, all-stops and cross-city services will continue to operate as usual.
There are currently plans to amend certain bus services, however, these will only be implemented four to six weeks following the launch of the L3 Kingsford branch line in March 2020.
