Brighton Transport Hub
Encyclopedia
The Brighton Transport Hub is a $
79 million Intermodal
Transport hub currently under construction in conjunction with the Brighton Bypass
on the northern fringes of Hobart
, in southern Tasmania
. The Bridgewater Industrial Estate was chosen as the preferred site of the Inland port
because of its close proximity with the Midland Highway and the southern Railway line
of the state. When complete, the Hub will allow freight to be easily transferred between road and rail transport and enable efficient movement of freight between Tasmania's southern and northern ports. The Brighton Transport Hub is expected to be operational by September 2011. The Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources
first assessed the need for a southern transport hub ten years ago, but it was not until 2007 when the Southern Transport Investment Program
was released that an official plan took shape.
, where the main north/south railway line follows the Derwent River
through Hobart's northern suburbs, across 21 Level crossing
s which require slow train speeds to minimize the risk of accidents. The Macquarie Point site features a poor quality surface with uneven levels which creates difficulties for the loading, unloading and manoeuvring of freight across the site. The site configuration does not allow for efficient truck consolidation and deconsolidation and adds to the delays borne by transport companies waiting for containers to be unloaded.
Management and security is also difficult because of numerous entry points and the poor rail layout.
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
79 million Intermodal
Intermodal freight transport
Intermodal freight transport involves the transportation of freight in an intermodal container or vehicle, using multiple modes of transportation , without any handling of the freight itself when changing modes. The method reduces cargo handling, and so improves security, reduces damages and...
Transport hub currently under construction in conjunction with the Brighton Bypass
Brighton Bypass
The Brighton Bypass is a A$164 million bypass currently under construction on the Midland Highway between Bridgewater and Pontville, just north of Hobart in southern Tasmania. Construction of the 9.5 km federally funded Dual carriageway started in April 2009, and is expected to be completed in...
on the northern fringes of Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, in southern Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. The Bridgewater Industrial Estate was chosen as the preferred site of the Inland port
Inland port
The term inland port is used in two different but related ways to mean either a port on an inland waterway or an inland site carrying out some functions of a seaport.- As a port on an inland waterway :...
because of its close proximity with the Midland Highway and the southern Railway line
South Line, Tasmania
The South Line, also known as the Main Line and sometimes the North/South Line or the North–South Line, is a freight rail corridor connecting Hobart to the northern ports of Tasmania. The Railway Line was built by the Tasmanian Main Line Company...
of the state. When complete, the Hub will allow freight to be easily transferred between road and rail transport and enable efficient movement of freight between Tasmania's southern and northern ports. The Brighton Transport Hub is expected to be operational by September 2011. The Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources
Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources
The Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources is the department of the Government of Tasmania responsible for management of the state's infrastructure. It reports to several ministers including Jim Cox and Michael Aird....
first assessed the need for a southern transport hub ten years ago, but it was not until 2007 when the Southern Transport Investment Program
Southern Transport Investment Program
The Southern Transport Investment Program is a road and rail transport plan for the northern outskirts of Hobart instituted in 2007 by the Tasmanian state government. It outlines most prominently an extensive upgrade of the Midland Highway, including the Brighton Bypass, the Bagdad Bypass and the...
was released that an official plan took shape.
History
The Macquarie Point facility is out of date in terms of handling the size of modern freight trains, and lacks any space for a major redevelopment. It is located in the immediate area of a residential and tourist precinct, and is close to the Hobart CBD. It features many short holding tracks that prevent trains being moved as a single continuous vehicle which causes extensive Shunting throughout loading operations. These delays occur in addition to long travel times south of BridgewaterBridgewater, Tasmania
Bridgewater, Tasmania, is one greater Hobart's northern-most suburbs, located 19 km from the city. It is situated on the eastern shore of the Derwent River. It is a suburb of the local government area of the Municipality of Brighton....
, where the main north/south railway line follows the Derwent River
Derwent River (Tasmania)
The Derwent is a river in Tasmania, Australia. It was named after the River Derwent, Cumbria by British Commodore John Hayes who explored it in 1793. The name is Brythonic Celtic for "valley thick with oaks"....
through Hobart's northern suburbs, across 21 Level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
s which require slow train speeds to minimize the risk of accidents. The Macquarie Point site features a poor quality surface with uneven levels which creates difficulties for the loading, unloading and manoeuvring of freight across the site. The site configuration does not allow for efficient truck consolidation and deconsolidation and adds to the delays borne by transport companies waiting for containers to be unloaded.
Management and security is also difficult because of numerous entry points and the poor rail layout.