Transport in Hobart

The city of Hobart, Tasmania is served by a wide variety of transport. While the city's main form of transport is private transport on the road network, Transport is also available by Bus, Ferry and Aircraft. A suburban train service operated between Hobart and Brighton from the 1870s until 31 December 1974 ["The Hobart Suburban Passenger Service 1875-1975" Stokes, H.J.W. Australian Railway History, February;March 2005 pp43-67;108-119] . There has been, however, talk in recent years of reinstating a train service in the northen suburbs.cite web | year = 2007 | url = http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,22001739-5007221,00.html | title = Hobart still on rails | publisher = The Mercury | accessdate = 2008-07-22] cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,24297769-3462,00.html | title = Tassie fuel paradise | publisher = The Mercury | accessdate = 2008-09-06]

Cycling

There are many bike tracks in the greater Hobart area, one of the most noteable being the intercity bike track which Runs from Hobart 12km north to Glenorchy along an unused rail line of the Hobart-Bridgewater rail corridor. [cite web | year = 2007 | url = http://www.biketas.org.au/rides/Route_SE_CR_20031121.php | title = Century Ride | publisher = Bicycle Tasmania | accessdate = 2008-07-22] Other known bike routes travel through Mount Wellington and the waterfront of the Derwent River at various locations.

Road

The car is the dominant mode of transport for Hobart residents. There are 3 major Highways Servicing the greater Hobart area. These are the Souther Outlet, Tasman and Brooker Highways.These Highways connect at the city center, and other smaller Highways connect to these as they travel out of the city.

Taxis and Limousines operate with no ties to Metro. Taxi Combined holds the largest fleet of taxicabs in Hobart. Yellow Cabs service the city to a lesser degree. Wrest Point Hotel Casino Limousines provide luxury transport in Hobart.

Rail

Hobart Started a Tram service in 1893, the first in Australia. [cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://enc.slider.com/Enc/History_of_Tasmania| title = History of Tasmania | publisher = Slider | accessdate = 2008-08-04] During the year of 1960 the Tram service was decommissioned in favor of the Trolleybus, this service only lasted 8 years, being replaced in 1968 for the normal Bus. There has been talk in recent years of reintroducing the Tram to Hobart, however this has never eventuated.

Hobart has a Narrow gauge rail corridor which starts at the City Center and travels north towards Bridgewater. This line is currently only used for Freight trains, however a $400,000 feasibility study is currently underway for the possible introduction of commuter trains along the Hobart-Bridgewater rail corridor. The Australian Institute of Architects and the Planning Institute of Australia have the identified Hobart-Bridgewater rail corridor as an ideal route for an express O-Bahn styled service.cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,24120424-3462,00.html | title = Bus traffic could be diverted to rail | publisher = The Mercury | accessdate = 2008-08-03] The rail corridor will be available for use when the Hobart freight yards are moved to Brighton thus freeing the train lines of freight trains. A state of the art Light rail or retro fitted buses could then ride the rail corridor creating a new express route to Hobart.

Water

There are currently three operators that run ferries upon the Derwent River. They are “Hobart Cruises” “Navigators”, "Hobart Yellow Water Cab".

Ferry services operate twice daily express river crossing services for commuters in morning and evening rush hour slots from Bellerive Quay to Sullivans Cove, and return. The trip takes approximately 7 minutes operated by Hobart Yellow Water Cab. The trip allows commuters from Clarence to arrive just a five minute walk from the CBD.

Hobart serves as Australia's main sea link to Antarctica for the Australian Antarctic Division located in Kingston. Hobart is the home port to the Australian Icebreaker the Aurora Australis which serves the Australian Antarctic Territory during the summer months. Hobart is also home to the French ship l'Astrolabe, which makes regular supply runs to the French Southern Territories located around Antarctica.

Hobart has the second deepest natural port in the world, second to only Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. [cite web | year = 2008 | url = http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/adele/travelling2004/1085537040/tpod.html | title = Greetings from Hobart, Tasmania | publisher = Travelpod | accessdate = 2008-08-04]

Airports

Hobart is served by Hobart International Airport in the city's east for regional, domestic and international flights and Cambridge Aerodrome in the city's eastern suburbs for general aviation and charter flights.

ee also

* Transport in Australia

References