Newcastle Integrated Services Market Sounding

⁠⁠⁠Newcastle is the capital of the Hunter Region and is one of Australia’s major regional economies. Future growth prospects of both the Hunter Region and the Newcastle Local Government Area are strong and exhibit positive signs of a shift to a more productive knowledge based economy. However, Newcastle city centre employment growth is low and the contribution of the city centre to economic output of the whole city is the lowest in Australia. Public transport patronage in the city is falling, despite an increasing population.

The implementation of the Newcastle Light Rail is an opportunity to re-think the Newcastle transport network with the aim of substantially growing public transport patronage. The Minister for Transport and Infrastructure has announced that “…we are asking global leaders to create Transport for Newcastle, connecting the second city of NSW – with one major operator to plan and run Newcastle Light Rail, buses, ferries and interchanges”.

In recognition of this, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is seeking input from experienced and innovative transport operators on the best way to implement an integrated, multimodal transport solution for Newcastle.

This market sounding is seeking innovative ideas from the leading transport operators in the world, on how they can work with the community of Newcastle and Transport for NSW, to grow patronage and support urban renewal by delivering seamless integrated transport services across all modes. The results of this market sounding will assist TfNSW to further refine the commercial principles and risk sharing options for planning and Request for Proposal from service providers.

Your interest in the Newcastle Integrated Services Market Sounding must be registered via email at

NIS@transport.nsw.gov.au

. Enquiries submitted in any other format will not be accepted.

Participation or non-participation in this market sounding will not advantage, disadvantage or preclude any appropriately skilled, experienced or qualified organisation from participating in any later phases of the project.