A call for expressions of interest to build and operate a light rail project in Newcastle underlines the rapidity with which public transport authorities are revising their lack interest in street rail public transport for Australian cities.

The NSW government, flush with the proceeds of privatising a large proportion of the electricity system's poles and wires, is either already building or carefully planning a number of light rail projects – that is, tram systems – as part of coping with rapid population growth and increasing traffic congestion.