Transport Minister Eric Abetz says light rail on Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor ‘not ruled out’

His predecessor in the job effectively ruled out light rail on the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor but new Transport Minister Eric Abetz has now made clear his own views on the matter.

Transport Eric Abetz says the state government has “not ruled out” light rail on the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor. Picture: Chris Kidd

A light rail system connecting the Hobart waterfront and the Northern suburbs has not been ruled out, even as the state government develops a business case for a bus rapid transit network along the city’s old rail line.

Transport Minister Eric Abetz said the Liberals’ “preferred option” for the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor was rapid buses but they were not yet prepared to draw a line through light rail.

“We are now developing a business case to see whether it stacks up for rapid buses and also to determine what is the best way forward,” he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.

An artist’s impression of the former Labor-Green government’s proposed Riverline light rail service, which would have run from Franklin Square, around the waterfront, and along the old railway line to Moonah, Glenorchy, and the Museum of Old and New Art.

“We had a study done in [2020] by PricewaterhouseCoopers, if I recall correctly, which ruled out light rail as being far too expensive.

“As a government, we haven’t ruled light rail out but we are very conscious of how expensive it is.”

Mr Abetz’s predecessor in the transport portfolio, Michael Ferguson, effectively did dismiss light rail, saying just last year that it was “implausible” and that the rail infrastructure on the corridor was “not usable” and “has to be removed”.

The 2020 PwC transport mode study for the corridor estimated that the pre-pandemic cost of constructing light rail would be about $596m, while a bus rapid transit (BRT) network would cost about $445m.

The minister told the Mercury the business case and all requests for funding were expected to be completed “within around three years”.

The Albanese government has committed $38.5m to help plan for upgrades to road, public and active transport networks in Hobart, including the propsed bus rapid transit system.

Mr Abetz’s comments come after the government released a Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor Growth Strategy on Sunday, which detailed a vision for transport-oriented residential and commercial development between Granton and Macquarie Point.

Concept images of the proposed BRT network have also been published, showing a pass station on Algona Rd at Blackmans Bay and a new interchange at Franklin Square.

A concept design of a bus rapid transit station on Algona Rd near Blackmans Bay. Picture: Supplied/Department of State Growth

The Tasmanian Greens are continuing to push for light rail on the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor, saying it’s the “best transport option” for the region.

Labor transport spokeswoman Meg Brown said the Liberals had failed to deliver on their 2019 promise to pull out “all stops” to bring light rail to Hobart.

“Tasmanians continue to suffer long waits for buses that don’t show up, and under this Liberal government they’ll still be waiting in another five years’ time,” she said.

Committee for Greater Hobart executive director Keryn Nylander said any discussion of improved public transport in the state capital was welcome but she warned against “planning in isolation”.