Canberra light rail | Panoramic cab ride | Gungahlin Place to Alinga Street | Canberra Metro

Experience the complete ride on the Canberra light rail (also known as Canberra Metro) with an amazing panoramic cab ride. This 12-kilometre line starts in Gungahlin, follows Flemington Road, the Federal Highway and Northbourne Avenue to the southern terminus between Alinga and Rudd Streets in the City Centre. It has the following stops:
00:04 - Gungahlin Place
01:43 - Manning Clark North
03:50 - Mapleton Avenue
05:21 - Nullarbor Avenue
07:09 - Well Station Drive
10:39 - EPIC and Racecourse
12:40 - Phillip Avenue
14:49 - Swinden Street
16:36 - Dickson Interchange
18:57 - Macarthur Avenue
20:17 - Ipima Street
21:52 - Elouera Street
23:37 - Alinga Street
Disclaimer: permission from the driver has been asked.

[@railfanworld]

For photos, please visit railfanworld.com/photos/australia/2019/canberra-light-rail

[@emmas4336]

Wow, those trams move fast. Compared to the video I watched of the new Sydney tram, this is like a rocket.

[@railfanworld]

Yes, I rewatched my own video and came to the same conclusion, haha!

[@JohnSmith-lu4ex]

Of course they’re fast. Where are the pedestrians?

[@peterbreis5407]

Same trams, same speed. Actually half the speed of the buses they replaced. The express bus from Gunghalin to Civic, did the trip in 12 to 15min. The Tram takes 25-30 min, but does stop more along the route. The bus did stop at more convenient locations however, like outside the gates to EPIC not half a km down the road. The bus also stopped at the kerbside, not in the middle of the road, waiting for lights to change to cross.

[@Roadrunnerz45]

@@peterbreis5407 it is not only time when comparing buses to trams. it is convenience. and reliability. there is a whole lot of factors. it is clear it was the right decision. it now needs to be extended further south to get the best value for all as canberra expands.

[@peterbreis5407]

@@Roadrunnerz45 It is ALL about the time and the convenience. When it takes you all morning to get somewhere and back again. Currently it is possible to go from Woden to the City and back again in the time it will take the tram to do just one leg. Say you want to go to either in your lunchtime. Possible with the bus. You won't even try it with the tram. Further the tram will go down the middle of Adelaide Ave avoiding virtually all proximate destinations that any commuter can want to do. All at eye watering cost that will impact on all the other transport that you will need to use because the trams do not service those locations. The EPIC/Racecourse stop on the Gunghalin route is particularly galling. It is not close to either and forces you to cross a very busy road in a really bleak area.. I've given up going to the Farmers Market completely, it is just too difficult and unpleasant. Also you are faced with a long walk when you get to Gunghalin because it doesn't go through Gunghalin to the far side, one more stop, to where Planning has put all the high rise residential in its usual ugly incoherent planning move. Trams are NOT a long distance transport solution, they are just too expensive and slow. If it takes twice as long to do the trip it has half the capacity. They are the unimaginative, cheap bastards solution to patch Canberra's bad urban planning, where all the destinations are inconveniently placed and far too far apart to be linked by public transport. Worse the approaches to all the stops are riddled with pedestrian barriers, multiple road crossings, landscaping and no pedestrian paths from alternate entry points to make it even more inconvenient to use. The tram should not have been laid in the middle of long distance major busy roads. They should have been run in an inner urban kerbside loop firstly around the Inner North to make an increased moderately denser urban area walkable, secondly around the Inner South.

[@jamesfrench7299]

Canberra's come of age. I had no idea it was this long. A good investment in the future.

[@hcrun]

An excellent video and for one who lived for 30 years in Canberra (1984 - 2014) it is wonderful to see this line in action. Many years ago (1970's, I believe) the NCDC made provision for a rail line from the city to the future town centre of Gunghalin. Now their plan has finally come to life.

[@railfanworld]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Duke20001032]

A decent piece of track with some decent speeds. Well done Canberra!

[@railfanworld]

It sure is. A top speed of 70 km/h!

[@neilforbes416]

@@railfanworld WOW! I think that dinky-toy tramway has a maximum 40 Km/h in Newcastle!

[@youtubeviewer7030]

Neil Forbes now this is what I call a tram ride

[@ThomasNing]

ahh, I think sydney's dulwich hill is only 60, even on dedicated light rail track with sleepers and rail bed with camber in turns ;-; (not to mention the south east light rail which will be 40 with no tram priority at intersections... owch) *actually the dulwich hill line does hit 70, but only the last 5 stops, aka straight after I get off so I never realised, oops

[@neilforbes416]

@@ThomasNing Dedicated "TRAMWAY tracks! They were former goods railways that freight trains once traversed but were repurposed for a tramway. I've grown to UTTERLY DESPISE that term, "Light Rail", learning that it originated in America, the home of stupid, pretentious GIMMICK words and phrases.

[@robertdebono5688]

Thank you for posting! Left Canberra weeks before this service started, so missed out... A great initiative.

[@railfanworld]

Thanks, mate!

[@clich126]

Sucked in

[@thinkingjohn2099]

Enjoyed this video spent some time in Canberra in the past so looking forward to taking this tram journey on my next Canberra visit

[@railfanworld]

Thanks mate!

[@leehaber]

With it's speed and signal priority, this puts Sydney's line to shame!

[@railfanworld]

Can’t argue with that!

[@OutermostGold]

@@railfanworld Except Sydney has more population, less distance to travel between " CBD " stops and has a lot more vertical changes

[@Roadrunnerz45]

signal priority has improved a lot as well for sydney@@OutermostGold

[@youtubeviewer7030]

I just love the announcements

[@Roadrunnerz45]

same here. i know some find them annoying but just imagine being the child or the family and hearing that recognizable voice on the tram

[@hypercomms2001]

I lived in Canberra, 2002-2004, and 2015-2017.... and the tram will be a great asset to Canberra, but I do remember getting car sick with the buses... how I remember waiting to get the bus down to Tuggeranong from Woden..... !

[@railfanworld]

Thanks for sharing. Go on it for a ride and hopefully you won't get tram sick :)

[@hypercomms2001]

@@railfanworld Nah mate, I grew up in Melbourne, I love trams.... now back in Melbourne.... when I lived in South London, I used to get the tram from Croydon to Wimbledon...

[@OliversElevators]

Wow, compare this to another fairly new LRT system - the ION LRT in Waterloo, Ontario, and what a difference it is. ION supposedly has signal priority, but it’s not great and nowhere near as amazing as this system. Also, the speeds on this are MUCH much faster than most other new light rail systems I know of - 70 km/h for most of the line! That’s pretty good! Honestly I think they could’ve done a little more grade separation with fences or landscaping and such, and they could’ve probably gotten speeds up to 80 km/h. But the speed of this thing as it is is still fantastic.

[@railfanworld]

Thanks for that detailed comparison, very interesting!

[@rjl110919581]

thank you share this detail video

[@railfanworld]

Thanks mate!

[@cam4007]

Looks amazing. Now all Canberra needs is passengers.

[@democracymanifest8256]

It’s packed during peak hours.

[@Roadrunnerz45]

to the point they have said try and avoid during peak. that's when you know you have created a great service. it was always going to be thus.@@democracymanifest8256

[@haidaraljwher2904]

Nice driving

[@jackhawkes4046]

very nice!

[@railfanworld]

Thank you so much!

[@marianalu9885]

Wow the light rail is faster than other countries wow i really wish that i can ride

[@railfanworld]

Thanks for sharing!

[@ThomasNing]

seems like there is no mirrors? that seems -dangerous- less safe. how come, even though it seems like the same model?

[@railfanworld]

The mirrors are there, the driver is blocking your view. Please have a look at my photos on www.railfan.be/albums/australia/2019/canberra-light-rail

[@ThomasNing]

did you get lucky (long traffic timers for main road), or are there sensors before and after intersections so they change to let the tram through at full speed? opposite of the south east sydney metro, which needs to stop at every intersection every time, then wait a full cycle.

[@railfanworld]

The traffic signalling system in Canberra works to provide light rail vehicles with priority as they approach intersections. They did not do that in Sydney, I still don't understand why...

[@ThomasNing]

railfan_be probably because the trams do not travel at consistent enough speeds, compared to on this median strip completely separated from road, pedestrian and cyclist traffic. Or more likely, because the intersections are too close so the signal does not have enough time to change compared to these ones. (although it should be possible at intersections with stops before, aka a lot of them. additionally, with their frequency/closeness it could just be too difficult/expensive to implement.) Or potentially even more likely, they don't want to disrupt traffic because sydney's intersections change a lot more frequently - the line does not run along a single main road, so with a tram potentially every 5min, or

[@15sixmedia]

railfan_be I wish we had proper priority in Sydney. It’s really dragging us down in terms of our travel times, especially on L2. This is a beautiful looking line. I’d love to ride it. Seeing as though I’m certified to drive Urbos 3 in Sydney, I’d love to drive it too! Flawless priority and decent track speeds.

[@ThomasNing]

@@15sixmedia Very nice, thanks for keeping L1 running. Maybe you'll get a go on the paramatta LR. (or are those going to be citadus' too?)

[@Roadrunnerz45]

it is fixed now. i sent canberra an email about having triangles installed on their signals for the next stage like sydney for a smoother ride and make it easier for the drivers@@railfanworld

[@class8007]

Hobart remains the largest city in Australia without any sort of rail public transport. We're suffering.

[@bannedheretic2971]

How's ridership right now? Hopefully the line can be extended. The speed and signal priority is impressive 👏

[@krs4395]

They're working on Stage 2 of the tramway right now, it continues directly on from that final interchange to the town center of Woden and goes by a university over a Lake and past Parliament house. There are also further stages being planned. Last I heard Ridership exceeded expectations and had replaced most of the bus fleet that took this route.

[@democracymanifest8256]

They’re building what they call 2a which is down to the Lake. 2b which is over the lake and on to Woden. It’s standing room only at peak times and reasonable enough at other times.

[@islandletters]

In an official video there was talk about 15 000 riders a day.

[@Roadrunnerz45]

@@democracymanifest8256 hopefully with further stages the frequency can be increased. more trams will be needed. it is 5 mins in the am and 6 mins in the pm. 4 should be the goal. it is 15 mins on the weekend, that should ideally be every 10 mins, certainly in the day. that would be achievable right now. with an election this year hopefully some pressure can be applied.

[@michellematthews2113]

Got to thank the driver

[@neilforbes416]

So Canberra finally has a tramway and a fleet of trams. 12Km of track, quite substantial! Certainly beats that dinky-toy system foisted on Newcastle!

[@youtubeviewer7030]

A tram ride that lasts twenty four minutes well that’s worth my ticket

[@youtubeviewer7030]

Neil Forbes blame Newcastle city council for that

[@neilforbes416]

@@youtubeviewer7030 It might've been better had you not referred to "Robert Hughes".

[@youtubeviewer7030]

Neil Forbes ok on another subject I be going to the Gold Coast in a months time so I be hoping to get a ride on the trams

[@neilforbes416]

@@youtubeviewer7030 Make sure your battery is fully charged. Should be a good experience.

[@steventsai200]

tram speed so good

[@Roadrunnerz45]

yes, dedicated track and priority at intersections. designed well.

[@florencegomer7937]

For every car that tram passes at speed there's a big hint ... you should be on this, not in that.

[@railfanworld]

Nice one!

[@peterbreis5407]

I'm for trams, but that is a furphy. IF the tram actually does hit top speed and manages to overtake any cars, the cars overtake at the next tram stop and the tram never catches up again. Maybe in peak hours with cars stuck in traffic, but in Canberra they don't last that long. Trams simply should not be used for long distance commutes. We need to build tighter inner city Paris style density, with trams acting like horizontal on-street lifts to supplement foot and cycle traffic.

[@peterbreis5407]

Thought I might watch the entire video to see if I could spot what you were talking about. First thing I spotted was the white Tradies Ute that had pulled alongside at the first stop, then rapidly shot away from the Tram. The Tram caught up at the next stop because the Ute was held up by the lights. Again the Ute took off to half a km ahead the of Tram and disappeared into the far distance by the next stop. How could the car drivers be jealous of the "fast" Tram. They wouldn't be aware of the Tram far back in their side mirrors even if it was in sight. ALL the cars left the Tram far behind within two Tram Stops. Have no idea what you wre seeing. Yes the drivers should get out of their cars and take a relaxing ride into the City, but they won't be doing it if they are carrying anything, or in a rush.

[@balieychatfield9852]

Canberra Is Good to have trams

[@davidlang1125]

Wow! Where are all the people? Is the ridership going to be able to support this light rail? Is Canberra so sparsely settled (still)? Looks pretty much like how I remember it from a couple of decades ago.

[@railfanworld]

I filmed during the week in the afternoon, so I have no idea if there are more people during rush hour or the weekend.

[@JohnJones-tx9qg]

It is packed during week, the residential instesification of the rail corridor is increasing. Particulary in dickson, Braddon and Gungahlin town centre at this stage. A lot of work to do, it is all zoned for residential of 6 to 10 stories throughout. Outside of business hours the traffic is lighter.

[@vicwhiteley5185]

Don't you understand the principle? You develop the transport system first and then attract the people. There's nothing worse than Sydney's rampant south western suburbs' development with no effective infrastructure, with still no plan to build a railway to the new airport. Congratulations Canberra!

[@democracymanifest8256]

As John said it’s packed at peak time. Sometimes additional people can’t get on by Dickson Interchange. There are redevelopment sites on Northbourne Ave and up near Gungahlin.

[@davidlang1125]

@@JohnJones-tx9qg I hope the planners got this right by integrating with robust land use planning.

[@listohan]

All that concrete pavement must have been expensive.

[@hcrun]

It was....and the Canberra ratepayers were not too pleased.

[@listohan]

And concrete isn't the greenest.

[@samuelx5466]

They were obviously going for a contemporary look but I think cobblestone would've aged a lot better

[@PhilipVels]

I reckon they could increase the speed limit :)

[@woohooboy]

Canberra has a population of 400,000 people. By contrast Sydney and Melbourne have populations of more than 5 million. In larger cities, trams go at a much slower rate because of urban density. Truthfully trams are better used in locations like Canberra (ie: smaller to medium sized cities) where the population and buildup is much lower. Trams don't really add to efficiency in larger locations (where the population is more than 3 million). In smaller locales, they can go faster and contend with noticeably less traffic.

[@jaredatherton2120]

0:22 Is it just me, or are those points not open for the tram to pass though? Hear the wheel 'clunking' that follows

[@QuazarCG_Studio]

It's a spring switch. Just enough give to let the wheels through without needing to switch the point. Saves complexity.

[@Roadrunnerz45]

@@QuazarCG_Studio thanks for the explanation. i know there is always issues with motorized points when it gets clogged up so with a spring it avoids these issues. can only be used in certain areas with low speed limit?

[@matthewkessler2366]

What is the MAS?

[@railfanworld]

Sorry, what do you mean?

[@matthewkessler2366]

@@railfanworld: Hi! MAS is an abbreviated term in railroading, used in the United States, to mean Maximum Authorized Speed or Maximum Allowable Speed.

[@railfanworld]

@@matthewkessler2366 I see, thanks for explaining, I did not know that. There is a top speed of 70 kph on some sections. So converting to your measurements, that would be about 43 mph then :)

[@andrewjameson5918]

Why are all eastern tram systems in AUS painted red.

[@railfanworld]

Maybe because road users are not used to trams, so they've took a more visible colour. I am just guessing here!

[@deanl4575]

Andrew Jameson The G:link on the Gold Coast is yellow actually and Melbourne is green. Adelaide is yellow/red

[@raph6931]

All of the NSW/ACT trams are red

[@spacyorspicy]

Where are those trams? And what country is it?

[@jaguar3248]

Canberra, Australia.

[@metricstormtrooper]

I spent 1 week in Ganghalin visiting my son and used the light rail most days, the light rail was absolutely fantastic, my wife took her folding bike to explore and it was never a problem on the light rail even when unfolded and put in the rack, I really miss it and would love the stupid tasmanian governments to get of their areses and use the Bridgwater rail corridor, complete with rail to give Hobart a decent public transport system for once.

[@WBTravels]

This "metro" system is actually a light rail and usually I hate or am annoyed by misdamed transit but the trams are so grade separated, and go so fast that i think its actually ok to call it a metro

[@neilforbes416]

At EPIC and Racecourse, and for the first few stops, it sounds like a small girl, not quite in her teens doing the public announcements.

[@railfanworld]

Yes, indeed, students in years 11 and 12 four schools along Canberra’s Light Rail route had the opportunity to be chosen as the voice of light rail!

[@neilforbes416]

@@railfanworld Canberra Tramway! I've learned where the term "Light Rail" comes from, It's a PRETENTIOUS American BULLSHIT term! The term "Tramway" has stood the test of time as is as valid in the 21st Century as it ever was!

[@neilforbes416]

By the way, those kids did a good job!

[@youtubeviewer7030]

Neil Forbes announcements you hear at railway stations similar

[@youtubeviewer7030]

Neil Forbes The English terms tram and tramway are derived from the Scots word tram, referring respectively to a type of truck (goods wagon or freight railroad car) used in coal mines and the tracks on which they ran. The word tram probably derived from Middle Flemish trame ("beam, handle of a barrow, bar, rung").

[@billmair568]

Great video of Canberra light rail. Too bad the camera couldn't have been suspended above driver's head. Lady making announcements was dreadful.

[@railfanworld]

Thanks for your comment. The announcements are actually students in years 11 and 12 four schools along Canberra’s Light Rail route that had the opportunity to be chosen as the voice of light rail!

[@automandan3066]

Male and female announcment?

[@railfanworld]

Not only male and female, but students in years 11 and 12 four schools along Canberra’s Light Rail route had the opportunity to be chosen as the voice of light rail!

[@JohnJones-tx9qg]

@@railfanworld did they run out of money to hire someone to do it properly?

[@asimmalik5611]

Great, but i would have prefered to have tram track built on grass or greener turf like the ones in Europe.. it would have been awesome and aesthetically better as well..

[@railfanworld]

Thanks for sharing. Anyone any idea why they chose for concrete?

[@democracymanifest8256]

It’s grassland rather than grass. Canberra can have long drought periods so you’re realistically not going to get green turf all year round.

[@Adroyo]

Need less maintenance for concrete.

[@gardenman3]

they should have added a bike path beside the tram tracks.

[@Roadrunnerz45]

@@democracymanifest8256 there will be a section for 2a with green track. they are trialing what will work, as you said climate variables and potential for the grass to be dead which is certainly not the intention.

[@peregrinemccauley5010]

Canberra has gone from a garden city to a hellish concrete nightmare.

[@Roadrunnerz45]

disagree entirely. concrete is the standard for the base for trams for longevity. green tracks are in the works for future stages.

[@Tysxno]

Why so many different voices??

[@deanl4575]

They were high school students from a high school in Canberra, I can’t remember which one

[@oforid2227]

Why does the girl who says we are now arriving at manning clark north sound like a kid (had to edit it after mapleton avenue)

[@railfanworld]

Students in years 11 and 12 four schools along Canberra’s Light Rail route had the opportunity to be chosen as the voice of light rail!

[@oforid2227]

@@railfanworld oh ok

[@colinwilkie2279]

This is how they are Sirppost too run. Nice & fast unless, he's sped the film up. If they do go this fast great because Sydney's are slower then the bus. Unfortunately this sped the film up I think.

[@railfanworld]

No, everything is at its original speed.

[@colinwilkie2279]

@@railfanworld great

[@peterbreis5407]

@@colinwilkie2279 The approx. 12km trip takes 24 minutes (average speed of 24km/h), the exact length of this video. It seems fast because it is a wide angle lens. Check the cars overtaking the Tram, they are going at normal urban speeds.

[@peterbreis5407]

@@maxleonard5723 Trams in L.A. run up to 90kmh. The fact is the Tram runs slower than the buses it replaced and requires at least two changes of transport for many people who might have gone from a Gungahlin suburb to Russell or elsewhere to work, so add transfers and waiting times. I know both from personal experience. So it is definitely slower in practice.

[@peterbreis5407]

@@maxleonard5723 It does not. I've ridden them. Have you? Americans call trams streetcars and in a recent marketing ploy "Light Rail". They're all Trams. Travel times to Gungahlin are long because it was built as far away from the centre of Canberra as possible without going over the border. Thanks be to the ever so oddly unaccountable Planning in the ACT. Now they've gone over the border with Ginninderry! Genius! Maybe we'll build an airport for them.

[@yotamamit9945]

Yotam Amigwt

[@TamasKiss-bv9hz]

👍👍👍❤🤍💚

[@ashole2424]

Great traffic signal priority, but those announcements are really awful.

[@steves9388]

They're by schoolkids from Canberra Colleges (years 11 & 12).

[@AndrewCalvin]

Why does a chipmunk announce the stations?

[@thevivianbrun]

They got students from a local 11th and 12th grade "college" to do the announcements

[@JohnJones-tx9qg]

Chipmonk voice is really irritating, Glad I don't have to take it for this reason alone, hopefully it changes to attract more patronage.

[@thevivianbrun]

@@JohnJones-tx9qg It isn't irritating.

[@JohnJones-tx9qg]

@@thevivianbrun you are welcome to an opinion and I stand by and my opinion.

[@SavasPapasokratis]

the announcements are so cringe

[@ThomasNing]

Savas Papasokratis I find it quite charming

[@steves9388]

Your comment is quite cringe. The announcements are by school kids.

[@JohnJones-tx9qg]

Savas it is very cringy, hopefully someone else with voiceover experience fixes it. They need to pay to get it done properly so it can be widely understood, I don't like chopping and changing between different voices at each stop either.

[@norbertfransewitz8486]

Das geht gar nicht. Echt machen

[@peterbreis5407]

btw Notice the utter desolation the entire length of the Light Rail. This was a beautiful avenue of trees and now is baking hot concrete, dirt and struggling or dying vegetation.

[@PhilipVels]

ok boomer

[@peterbreis5407]

@@PhilipVels Just pointing out the devastation thanks to bad policy and design. You know they want to repeat this on the southside of the Constitution Ave bridge to the beautiful grove of spruce trees that lead up to Parliament House. In the name of conservation a totally inappropriate and horrendously expensive transport is about to be built in the wrong location and destroy the environment it is supposed to benefit. Like the French building an airfield in Antartica in the middle of the bird colonies they were supposed to be studying. Like everything in Canberra this is not for the benefit of Canberra, Canberrans or the environment it is all about real estate deals. Where is that Anti-corruption body we were supposed to get decades ago?

[@PhilipVels]

@@peterbreis5407 it's really not that devastating. New trees can be planted elsewhere.

[@raph6931]

@@peterbreis5407 it is for the benefit of Canberra, its fast and reliable public transport.

[@Adroyo]

Boomer

[@grahamsmith4826]

That’s not a tram it’s a railway track without fencing! I Wonder who paid for that? Not a cheap option to build should have waited until VLR is established in the near future.

[@florencegomer7937]

You can keep on waiting for the next great thing and find decades have elapsed with nothing implemented.

[@topearner2007]

What a waste of money. There are no cars on the roads so there is no need for light rail. And by the looks of it, there are no passengers. Well done Canberra,

[@loopingpong1412]

Reducing cars on road is the main point to the modern tram and it's not even rush hour

[@raph6931]

This was filmed in the off-peak, of course there aren't passengers. It's not busy 24/7

[@topearner2007]

@@raph6931 Well, with due respect.... that is not clever filming then because with all that money spent, this is the impression it gives: no need for this light rail transport. If it would have been packed with travelers, it would have given a completely different impression.

[@raph6931]

@@topearner2007 well, with due respect... they don't film this to demonstrate how many people use it. They film it because it's interesting to see from the drivers perspective. If you want to know how many people use it, check the patronage statistics

[@democracymanifest8256]

Northbourne Ave is busy during peak hours and the tram is packed. It’s a popular and successful service.

[@jslasher1]

The stations are spaced too far apart. This light-rail line, I am sorry to report, is a waste of tax-payer's money.

[@SparenofIria]

Having stations spaced farther apart is exactly why the line is able to perform at such high speeds. In addition, it serves many lower density areas, where closely spaced stations are unnecessary. Given its role as a fast means of transportation between urban and suburban areas, I think the station spacing is quite good.