The people of Hobart would do well to think long and hard before they jump into the proposal to buy the Sydney Monorail and relocate it to their city. They could find themselves saddled with a system that was an abject failure here - and because of it's age and condition - would quickly turn into a bottomless pit of maintenance requirements.
When it was first mooted it was supposed to jump start the new Darling Harbour entertainment complex as it's prime tourist attraction. It's sponsors expected big crowds to queue to ride this " transport system of the future " , but a big percentage of Sydney people disliked it's intrusion onto the city streetscape - and it was never popular.
Over the years, patronage slipped lower as the fare increased from a one dollar per passenger entry to a figure that only appealed to tourists looking for a novelty experience. It simply had little to offer. It was slow and ambled along on a circle that started and ended at the Darling Harbour entertainment district.
The idea of using it to link Salamanca Place to North Hobart will horrify many people. Part of the charm of Salamanca Place's old stone warehouses would be lost if steel columns supporting a garish Monorail were imposed in front of them, and as a Monorail must be elevated to fit it's traditional role, the idea of it defacing the streetscape from there to north Hobart would change the entire character of the city.
Perhaps there is some other place in Tasmania where it could fit in more appropriately - such as at an amusement park - but it would still be a very dubious financial risk. Even if the New South Wales government gave it away as a gift, the cost of moving, refurbishing and installing it would be frightening.
Certainly it's Hobart sponsor should get full marks for looking for a tourist opportunity, but in this case the best end for the tired old Sydney Monorail would be a melt down to end it's life gracefully !
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