PM Tony Abbott supports Capital Metro light rail in Canberra

Prime Minister Tony Abbott provides yet more support for the ACT light rail project in contrast to his Canberra Liberal comrades. When asked a question about whether the federal government would fund an extension to the Gold Coast light rail, Prime Minister Abbott praised the ACT Governments approach to Capital Metro funding by using asset recycling money and the Federal Governments $60 million contribution.

ABC News online reports on it here.

ABC Canberra TV carried a report on its 10 Jul 2015 evening news bulletin.

A full transcript of the interview is here.


For more frequent updates on Capital Metro and light rail related news, please visit our Facebook page 'Light Rail for Canberra'.  

Canberra Liberals survey on light rail

The Canberra Liberals have a survey online, using an interesting URL:

http://www.lightrailcanberra.com/

It sends you to a simple survey with an interesting first question.

After answering the detailed one question survey, you are presented with this inaccurate information. 

I am sure it's not deliberate but the Canberra liberals are wrong. The population within 1 kilometre of the corridor of Capital Metro Stage One is actually a little under 8% of the Canberra population, as of the last census.

I urge you to share your thoughts with them.

For more frequent updates on Capital Metro and light rail related news, please visit our Facebook page 'Light Rail for Canberra'.  

The benefits of Capital Metro light rail

The communications team at Capital Metro have been working on some new promotional material illustrating the benefits that light rail will deliver along the Civic - Gungahlin corridor, and to wider Canberra as a whole. 

For more frequent updates on Capital Metro and light rail related news, please visit our Facebook page 'Light Rail for Canberra'.  

ACT Light Rail meet the people

On a chilly zero degree Sunday morning Committee members of ACT Light Rail arrived at the Jamison Trash and Treasure markets in Belconnen. We were there to talk about the 'all of Canberra' benefits of light rail and integrated transport with members of the public that aren't along the Capital Metro stage one corridor, and who may not be engaged in the public transport policy debate. And to give away stickers and buttons supporting light rail. 

Stickers old (top) and new (bottom)

The cardboard trams were a hit with the kids.

Deputy Chair Ian Ruecroft and Committee Member Robert Knight

Former Chair and current Committee Member Mark Loney instructing in the fine arts of cardboard tram assembly

Our table of information - stickers, buttons, Capital Metro mythbuster cards (popular), cardboard trams and route maps.

The morning was a resounding success. Many people asked us questions and we managed to provide factual information that allayed concerns about the project. It is clear that people are looking a a reason to support light rail. They have also absorbed some of the anti light rail rhetoric, but when introduced to the facts (the Mythbuster cards are great) they do come around. Of course, we encountered many disinterested people and a few anti light rail people, but overwhelmingly it was a positive experience. 

It was also great to meet some of the nearly 500 members of the 'Light Rail for Canberra' Facebook group. 

Jamison in Belconnen was chosen because it isn't along the Capital Metro corridor. We will be going to other places across Canberra to do more promotion of light rail. If you know an event that would suit us, please leave a comment or send us an email.

For more frequent updates on Capital Metro and light rail related news, please visit our Facebook page 'Light Rail for Canberra'.  

Meet ACT Light Rail and get a free sticker!

What are you doing on Sunday morning on July 5th?

If you would like to meet some of the Committee members of ACT Light Rail and pick up one of our free stickers or buttons, come along to the Jamison Markets in Macquarie, Belconnen between 8AM and midday on Sunday.

We will be manning a stall with information about light rail and the Capital Metro project, and handing out stickers and buttons for FREE!

We look forward to talking to the public about the benefits of public transport and the Capital Metro project.

Many thanks to Transit Graphics who donated the design and contributed to printing costs.

Information on the Jamison Trash and Treasure is here.

For more frequent updates on Capital Metro and light rail related news, please visit our Facebook page 'Light Rail for Canberra'.