The Great Light Rail Challenge of 2019: Who was the victor?
The Daily Telegraph team today competed in the Great Light Rail Challenge of 2019 to determine the fastest mode of transport following the newly-opened Randwick to Surry Hills route — car, Uber, bike, tram, bus or by foot? So, who won?
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We’ve all heard of The Amazing Race, the reality TV show in which teams of two race around the world, navigating their way through foreign countries performing physical and mental challenges along the way, vying to be the first team at the end of the final leg to win the grand cash prize.
Well, they’ve got nothing on The Daily Telegraph team who today competed in the Great Light Rail Challenge of 2019, vying to see which would be the fastest mode of transport to travel along the newly-opened light rail route from Randwick to Surry Hills during its first peak hour test since opening on Saturday.
Competing for the coveted prize was editor Ben English in his late-model Audi A3, digital editor Wendy Fitzgibbon on the tram, deputy picture editor and mad runner Kristi Miller on foot, reporter and novice cyclist Mitchell van Homrigh on his Trek road bike, fellow journalist Gary Hamilton-Irvine in an Uber and colleague Anton Rose on the 376 bus.
So who came in first? The answer may surprise you.
Here’s how it played out.
8.00am: All competitors assembled at the first stop on the new L2 line outside Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick. After a quick team photo and a bit of friendly rivalry, everyone dispersed on their various modes of transport to begin the challenge.
8.05am: Editor Ben English got out of the gates fast in his set of German wheels which were parked close by but had already hit a red light on Belmore Rd by 8.05am.
“Pitted against inferior transport modes in my late-model Audi A3, I was supremely relaxed as I crawled along Belmore Rd shortly after 8am,” he said.
“But a degree of unease set in after three successive red lights — and a fourth at Botany St. It was 8.09am and I was barely 500m from the start.”
Digital editor Wendy Fitzgibbon also got away to a good start with her tram leaving right on the dot of 8am. By 8.04am, she had already arrived at the second stop at UNSW High St.
“I started off my journey with a distinct advantage — I am a local and had already done a practice run on Sunday and had consulted the timetable and knew my tram was leaving right on the snotter of 8am and it departed right on time. I felt I was in the box seat,” Wendy said.
Deputy picture editor and mad runner Kristi Miller was already ahead of both of them though and was halfway down Wansey Rd, Randwick. Reporter and novice cyclist Mitchell van Homrigh clipped in on High St, Randwick at 8am and by 8.05am was already passing Moore Park Golf Club ahead of the pack.
Meanwhile, fellow journalist Gary Hamilton-Irvine decided to walk to nearby Clara St to order his Uber and by 8.05am was still waiting near the intersection with High St for the driver to arrive. Similarly, colleague Anton Rose was still waiting for his 376 bus to arrive on Belmore Rd, Randwick at the same time.
8.10am: As Ben was steering the Audi around the corner of Alison Rd and Anzac Parade, Mitch, on the bike was already turning onto Fitzroy St, Surry Hills.
Wendy’s tram, meanwhile, was at Royal Randwick stop outside the racecourse on Alison Rd, closely followed by Kristi on foot and Anton on the bus. Behind them was Gary in the Uber still on High St, passing the UNSW High St light rail stop.
“By the time my driver Thiago collected me at 8.08am I had time to check my emails, finish my coffee and readjust my goal to finish anywhere on the podium,” Gary said.
“We made good time along High St — with our conversation topics ranging from the light rail to Thiago’s home country of Brazil — before hitting traffic on Anzac Parade.”
8.15am: By 8.12am, Mitchell had arrived at our workplace on Holt St, Surry Hills on his speedy Trek road bike and by 8.32am he was showered and ready for work.
“I rounded Holt St and the win was mine, unfortunately, the other competitors were nowhere to be seen and my celebrations were widely frowned upon by the hoards of workers heading into the office,” Mitch said.
Meanwhile Ben, who was at the corner of Moore Park Rd and Anzac Pde, pulled into work two minutes behind him at 8.14am.
At 8.13am Wendy’s tram stopped at the Moore Park light rail stop before descending into the Moore Park tunnel at 8.15am while Anton’s bus was whizzing down the Anzac Pde bus lane. Gary’s Uber was now on Anzac Pde, passing Peter’s of Kensington.
8.20am: The tram was stopped at the Surry Hills stop on Devonshire Street by this time, while Anton’s bus was stuck at the lights on Crown St, Surry Hills and Gary’s Uber was behind on Anzac Pde, waiting at lights at the intersection with Dacey Ave. Kristi was bringing up the rear, running over the Anzac Pde footbridge.
8.25am: Gary’s Uber passed the Cricketer’s Arms Hotel, Surry Hills at 8.25am, arriving at Holt St one minute later at 8.26am. Wendy’s tram pulled into Central Station on Chalmers St at this time, getting her to work by 8.28am in fourth place. At this point, Anton jumped off the bus at the stop on Crown St and ran to Holt St, arriving at 8.29am.
“Watching a passenger next to me change out of heels into runners made me realise I had forgotten the fatal flaw in my otherwise perfect plan for victory, once I got off the bus I still had a nine minute walk, and a brisk walk in RMs was not going to be enough to bridge the gap,” Anton said.
8.30am: Kristi bolted into Holt Street still with some gas in the tank.
“My dreams were shattered when I rounded the corner and heard the cheers of my fellow competitors,” Kristi said. “Last place. But at least my workout is done for the day.”
FINISHING ORDER:
1. Mitchell (bike): 12 mins
2. Ben (car): 14 mins
3. Gary (Uber): 26 mins
4. Wendy (tram): 28 mins
5. Anton (bus): 29 mins
6. Kristi (running): 30 mins