Heritage railway carriages are to be converted into trams for possible use in Dunedin’s city centre from 2024.
A return to the glory days of tram travel has been advocated in detailed designs for the planned makeover of the central city, including George St, released this morning.
The $25million project is set to be included in the Dunedin City Council draft annual plan for public consultation after staff trimmed other planned capital spending.
It represents a significant revision of what had been planned for the central city and the council anticipated retailers would be enthusiastic.
Sixty car parks could be lost, but it was expected "mode shift" would compensate for that.
"Once the idea was suggested, we knew we had to act fast to take advantage of the upgrade work that is happening in the retail quarter in the next two years," council planner Dave Green said.
"It makes sense to add light rail to the transport choices available to people in central Dunedin and it will align well with both our Carbon Zero aspirations and our identity as a heritage city," Mr Green said.
"We believe students will be keen to get on board and the initiative will help ease traffic congestion that we expect to result from construction of the new Dunedin Hospital."
As recently as January, Dunedin Railways had planned to sell six wooden carriages built between 1912 and 1923, but there had since been a rethink and management had determined converting them into trams could be done relatively inexpensively.
It is hoped the project will complement the work of the Dunedin Heritage Light Rail Trust, which was formed with the aim of reinstating the Mornington cable car line.
The first Dunedin cable car line opened in 1881 at Roslyn and the High St line to Mornington started two years later.
The last car on the High St line ran in 1957.
Consultant Dr Angela Piri-Postros said a nostalgic fondness for the little matchbox cars, combined with their tourism potential and an increased need for attractive public transport options, should ensure the success of the council’s project.
Dr Piri-Postros said the proposed plan would justify ratepayer investment.
A pedestrian-friendly one-way George St could be accommodated within the adjusted vision, as well as priority for public transport in Princes St, she said.
A case for funding has been put directly to Minister of Transport Michael Wood, who is due to visit Dunedin this month.
The council is to reveal more detail about the plans at noon.
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Comments
Well that's trammeled April 1st!
And the date today is.........
It’s so frustrating that the Council and even the ODT continue to publish realistic ideas in April Fools Day.
A tram through Dunedin needs to be realised but never will.
The council and the Mayor is the joke.
Have to assume this is an April fool stunt, right?
How interesting. Ten years ago I day dreamed this, put a map of the route together and sent it to the council. The route if I recall tried to tie in the central shopping area, supermarkets, Hospital, University, major hotels and the various key tourism spots. The route if I recall was Exchange-Princess St-George St -Albany St- Cumberland St- Queens Gardens & back to the Exchange, which seemed to either pass them directly or very close. Interesting to see what the council propose. One of my thoughts at the time was to work with the students association or university to add an annual fee in exchange for free use. $100 would net around 2 million a year. Decent base income to start with. Would it work, maybe we might see. Be interested to see the council plan when it comes out..
Congratulations on a great idea Dunedin City Council. About time!
Oh dear, all the Dunedin people who have been fooled.
Yep, got me. In my defense I am writing this on the other side of the world on the 31st.. Still think it's a good idea. Thought I recognized the image, that is the no.28 tram in Lisbon, which I took a ride in only a few months ago on amazingly steep narrow winding streets.