Transport in Canberra

On 1 July 2016, Transport Canberra, a division of Transport Canberra & City Services, was formed to manage all public transport operations within the Australian Capital Territory including ACTION bus services and light rail planning and construction, previously managed by the Capital Metro Agency.{{cite web|url=https://www.tccs.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/1113444/170908-TCCS-Annual-Report-2017-Vol-1.pdf|title=Transport Canberra and City Services: Annual Report 2016-17 Volume 1|publisher=Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate|accessdate=21 April 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321144052/https://www.tccs.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/1113444/170908-TCCS-Annual-Report-2017-Vol-1.pdf|archivedate=21 March 2019|url-status=live}}

The automobile is by far the dominant form of transport in Canberra.{{cite web |url=http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/ncet/natcapauth/report/chapter9.pdf |title=Canberra's transport system |publisher=Parliament of Australia |access-date=23 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207011010/http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/ncet/natcapauth/report/chapter9.pdf |archive-date=7 February 2012}} The city is laid out so that arterial roads connecting inhabited clusters run through undeveloped areas of open land or forest, which results in a low population density;{{sfn|Penguin Books Australia|2000|pp=23-25}} this also means that idle land is available for the development of future transport corridors if necessary without the need to build tunnels or acquire developed residential land. In contrast, other capital cities in Australia have substantially less green space.{{sfn|Penguin Books Australia|2000|pp=3-6, 32-35, 53-59, 74-77, 90-91, 101-104}}

Canberra's districts are generally connected by parkways—limited access dual carriageway roads{{cite web |url=http://www.justice.act.gov.au/page/view/3063/title/act-road-hierarchy |title=ACT Road Hierarchy |publisher=ACT Government |date=21 August 2012 |access-date=14 February 2014 |archive-date=22 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222033051/http://www.justice.act.gov.au/page/view/3063/title/act-road-hierarchy |url-status=live}} with speed limits generally set at a maximum of {{cvt|100|km/h|0}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=5787&s=29 |title=Survey shows speeding at disputed camera site |publisher=Chief Minister's Department |date=17 July 2007 |access-date=23 April 2010 |archive-date=28 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928013134/http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/media.php?v=5787&s=29 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.afp.gov.au/act/road_traffic/speeding.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091112054723/http://www.afp.gov.au/act/road_traffic/speeding.html |archive-date=12 November 2009 |title=Speeding |publisher=Australian Federal Police |date=20 May 2008 |access-date=23 April 2010}} An example is the Tuggeranong Parkway which links Canberra's CBD and Tuggeranong, and bypasses Weston Creek.{{sfn|Universal Publishers|2007|pp=57, 67, 77}} In most districts, discrete residential suburbs are bounded by main arterial roads with only a few residential linking in, to deter non-local traffic from cutting through areas of housing.{{sfn|Universal Publishers|2007|pp=1-100}}

In an effort to improve road safety, traffic cameras were first introduced to Canberra by the Kate Carnell Government in 1999.{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/impact-of-traffic-cameras-on-speed-put-under-microscope-20140310-34i1n.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311005208/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/impact-of-traffic-cameras-on-speed-put-under-microscope-20140310-34i1n.html |archive-date=11 March 2014 |title=Impact of traffic cameras on speed put under microscope |date=11 March 2014 |newspaper=The Canberra Times |first=Kirsten |last=Lawson |publisher=Fairfax Media}} The traffic cameras installed in Canberra include fixed red-light and speed cameras and point-to-point speed cameras; together they bring in revenue of approximately $11 million per year in fines.

File:ACTION BUS YUTONG ZK6131HG1.jpg E12 electric bus owned by ACTION]]

The largest public transport operator is the Government of the Australian Capital Territory owned ACTION. In July 1926 the Federal Capital Commission commenced operating bus services in Canberra. With the opening of Old Parliament House in May 1927 and the associated relocation of Australian Commonwealth Government departments to Canberra, the frequency of service offered by the Canberra City Omnibus Service increased as the population of the new city grew.

During the early 1950s, bus services were expanded to Narrabundah, Yarralumla and O'Connor. These routes were extended further in the late 1950s with the development of Dickson and Campbell.

In August 1963 the first Woden Valley services were introduced. Similar early services were provided for other areas. From 1961 the new Russell Offices complex demanded a growing number of additional peak services, including feeders from the city. The Canberra fleet grew from 25 buses in 1942 to over 90 in 1966.

In March 1968 a reformed bus network was introduced. This involved new bus timetables and driver schedules, based on regular services on all routes throughout the day with synchronised movements through the main centres. In February 1977, a new system was unveiled and the operation renamed Australian Capital Territory Internal Omnibus Network (ACTION).

Today ACTION operates routes throughout the Australian Capital Territory with a fleet of 456 buses.[http://www.actbus.net/fleetwiki/index.php?title=ACTION_Fleet_Summary ACTION Fleet Summary] ACT Bus Wiki

File:Qcity Transit (8405 MO) Volgren Optimus bodied Volvo B7RLE in June 2018.png Volgren bodied Volvo B7RLE in June 2018]]

CDC Canberra, formerly known as Qcity Transit, operates bus services from the neighbouring city of Queanbeyan into Canberra City. As well as these services it also has services that can run to the town of Yass. It is owned by ComfortDelGro Australia, who purchased the business in August 2012.[http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/foreign-firm-to-pay-53m-for-qbn-buses-20120802-23inj.html Foreign firm to pay $53m for Qbn buses] Canberra Times 3 August 2012Deane's Transit Group Queanbeyan-Canberra Australian Bus March 2013 page 10

CDC Canberra is permitted to carry passengers within the Australian Capital Territory, with the previous restriction being lifted in June 2012.[http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/380850/08_ACTION_Deane_Bus.pdf Letter to Standing Committee on Planning & Environment] Deane's Buslines April 2007

File:Murrays_Coaches_-_BCI_JXK6137_'Explorer'_(1).jpg BCI JXK613 coach in Canberra in January 2011]]

Canberra is serviced by a number of long-distance coach operators operating out of the Jolimont Centre.

• Greyhound Australia operate services to Melbourne and Sydney[https://www.greyhound.com.au/information/timetables Timetables] Greyhound Australia
• Murrays operate services to Narooma, Sydney and Wollongong[http://www.murrays.com.au/ExpressCoachService.aspx Express Services] Murrays
• NSW TrainLink operate services to Bombala, Cootamundra and Eden[https://transportnsw.info/regional-southern-line Southern New South Wales tiametable] NSW TrainLink
• V/Line operate services to Albury[https://www.vline.com.au/pdf/timetables/canberra.pdf Canberra Link] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222043103/http://www.vline.com.au/pdf/timetables/canberra.pdf |date=2014-02-22 }} V/Line 28 April 2013 and Bairnsdale[http://www.vline.com.au/pdf/timetables/canberra_via_sale.pdf Capital Link] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227032636/http://www.vline.com.au/pdf/timetables/canberra_via_sale.pdf |date=2013-12-27 }} V/Line 28 April 2013

{{Main|Railways in Canberra}}

File:CanberraRailwayStation1.JPG]]

File:Light rail vehicle approaching Gungahlin Place terminus May 2019.jpg tram in May 2019]]

Walter Burley Griffin's masterplan for Canberra included a railway that was to run from Queanbeyan to the current Canberra railway station in Kingston then north along the causeway and over the Molonglo River to Russell, along Amaroo Street to Civic and then north out of the city along Lonsdale and Ijong Streets. But aside from the current section, the only other part constructed was the line as far as Civic, albeit to temporary standards to carry construction materials; it was removed in 1940.{{cite book|last=Stokes|first=HJW|title=Railways of the Canberra and Monaro Districts|year=1984|publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society|location=Canberra}}

Canberra has been serviced by trains from Sydney since March 1927 with the Federal City Express, Canberra Monaro Express, Southern Highlands Express and Canberra Express all having provided this link, the latter being operated by an XPT from August 1983 until February 1990. An overnight service was provided with a carriage detached from the Cooma Mail at Queanbeyan. From April 1962 until March 1975 a through carriage was detached from the Spirit of Progress at Goulburn providing a connection with Melbourne.

Today Canberra is serviced by three daily NSW TrainLink Xplorer services each way with three carriages to Sydney.

The Canberra light rail stage 1 operates between Gungahlin Place and Canberra City, travelling along Flemington Road and Northbourne Avenue.[http://www.capitalmetro.act.gov.au/light-rail-integration-study Light Rail Integration Study] ACT Government 20 November 2013 An extension to Woden Valley (stage 2) is under construction.

Canberra has been on the map of various high-speed rail proposals since 1984. The last serious attempt with government backing was terminated in December 2000.[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/australia-the-39big-loser39-in-speedrail-dumping.html Australia the 'big loser' in Speedrail dumping] Railway Gazette International 1 January 2001

Canberra has an integrated ticketing system between bus and light rail using the MyWay, a smartcard system introduced in 2011 by ACTION.[https://www.transport.act.gov.au/tickets-and-myway MyWay] Transport for Canberra

File:Two Virgin Australia Embraer 190s at Canberra Airport July 2013.jpg Embraer E190s at Canberra Airport in July 2013]]

Canberra Airport is serviced by Qantas, QantasLink, Virgin Australia and FlyPelican with services to Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney, Newcastle and Dubbo. In September 2016, Singapore Airlines commenced operating international flights to Singapore and Wellington, and in February 2018, Qatar Airways commenced operating international flights to Doha.[https://www.qatarairways.com/en-au/offers/canberra.html Now flying daily from Canberra] Qatar Airlines Accessed 20 October 2019

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{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book |title=The Penguin Australia Road Atlas |year=2000 |publisher=Penguin Books Australia |location=Ringwood, Victoria |isbn=0-670-88980-6 |ref={{harvid|Penguin Books Australia|2000}}}}
• {{Cite book |title=UBD Canberra |year=2007 |location=North Ryde, New South Wales |publisher=Universal Publishers |isbn=978-0-7319-1882-9 |ref={{harvid|Universal Publishers|2007}}}}

• [http://www.transport.act.gov.au/ ACT Government - Transport for Canberra]

{{Australian Capital Territory}}

{{Canberra public transport}}

Category:Transport in Canberra