Switched to .xhtml extension, fixed some minor bugs

1 files changed, 160 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/project/templates/sydneyrail.xhtml b/project/templates/sydneyrail.xhtml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c5873e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/project/templates/sydneyrail.xhtml
@@ -0,0 +1,160 @@
+
+{%- extends "base.xhtml" -%}
+
+
+
+{%- block title -%}Sydney Rail Maps{%- endblock -%}
+
+
+
+{%- block content %}
+<h4>Sydney Rail Maps</h4>
+
+<p>Git repository: <a href="/cgi-bin/cgit.cgi/rail-maps">Link</a></p>
+
+<h5>21/9/2021</h5>
+
+
+<h5>Overview</h5>
+
+<p>Over the years there have been more than a few railway network maps created for Sydney,
+Australia. All sorts of <a href="https://cdn.tourbytransit.com/sydney/images/Sydney-Trains-Network-Map.png"
+class="external">official</a>, <a href="https://www.railmaps.com.au/sydney.png" class="external">
+unofficial</a>, <a href="https://www.tripindicator.com/images/compare/attraction-map/sydney-metro-map.jpg"
+class="external">hypothetical</a>, <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Sydney_railway_map.gif/1270px-Sydney_railway_map.gif"
+class="external">geographical</a>, and <a href="https://64.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3oc8qUgSZ1r54c4oo1_1280.jpg"
+class="external">historical</a> ones can be found via a
+websearch with your favourite search engine. This is my contribution to that
+pile of pictures.</p>
+
+<div class="figure">
+    <a href="/img/sydney_rail_map_full.png">
+        <img src="/img/sydney_rail_map_preview.png"
+             alt="Hypothetical Sydney rail map"
+             height="700"
+             width="750" />
+    </a>
+    <div class="figcaption">A hypothetical Sydney heavy rail map</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>The above map represents a lot of proposals actually implemented and opportunities taken instead
+of missed. The map was constructed as a 3000x2800 SVG, but due to rendering consistency issues it
+has been exported into PNG format here. Click it to open a full scale version. Since emphasis is on
+a "what if" for heavy rail lines, no grid, index, light rail, or other transport services have been
+included.</p>
+
+
+<h5>Line Differences and Notes</h5>
+
+<p>There are 12 lines depicted, including 6 suburban double deck, 5 metro single deck, and 1
+suspension monorail. For the most part the colour of preexisting lines has been made consistent with
+recent official maps.</p>
+
+<p><i>Suburban lines</i>:</p>
+
+<ul>
+    <li><i>Northern:</i> The line now terminates at Central, as trains going any further would need
+    to share with North Shore services. Shares track with the Strathfield metro.</li>
+    <li><i>Western / North Shore:</i> All trains now run express between Blacktown and Central, and
+    the Richmond branch has been given over entirely to the Cumberland line. This allows a maximum
+    level of throughput without having to add a third track pair between Blacktown and Granville.
+    Clyde station no longer exists due to the reworking of the Carlingford line.</li>
+    <li><i>Airport / East Hills:</i> All trains now run via the Airport tunnel, and an additional
+    station is located at Waterloo. Terminates at Leppington instead of Macarthur.</li>
+    <li><i>Southern / Inner West:</i> The Inner West branch extends to Blacktown while the Southern
+    branch extends to Macarthur. Clyde station no longer exists. Shares track with the Cumberland
+    line.</li>
+    <li><i>Illawarra:</i> All trains now run express between Hurstville and Central, and terminate
+    at Central.</li>
+    <li><i>Cumberland:</i> Shares track with the Southern / Inner West line. The Richmond branch is
+    now served exclusively by this line. Now covers a new track section out to Camden instead of
+    Leppington. While there has been a line to Camden
+    <a href="https://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/lost-rail-camden.html" class="external"> in the
+    past</a> prior to 1963, the alignment here is different in order to avoid the steep gradient of
+    the old line.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p><i>Metro lines</i>:</p>
+
+<ul>
+    <li><i>Strathfield:</i> Connects Strathfield to Hurstville as proposed in the
+    <a href="http://www.simonrumble.com/transport_2010/" class="external">Action for
+    Transport 2010</a> plan. This line likely has the weakest justification as it results in an
+    unavoidable excess of trains running between Strathfield and Hornsby. Shares track with the
+    Northern suburban line.</li>
+    <li><i>Bankstown / Castle Hill:</i> The Lidcombe branch has been given over to a new Olympic
+    Park metro line. The Liverpool branch now terminates at Cabramatta. The alignment through the
+    CBD is the Metro-Pitt option, stopping at The Rocks. Uses the same corridor as the North Shore
+    line between St Leonards and Chatswood. Adds the unfortunately unbuilt station at the former UTS
+    Kuring-gai campus. Adds stations at Marsfield and Thompsons Corner. Extends the end of the line
+    through Schofields to Marsden Park.</li>
+    <li><i>Bondi Junction:</i> Handles the all-stops services between Hurstville and Bondi Junction
+    formerly on the Illawarra line.</li>
+    <li><i>Northern Beaches:</i> Rail service to the Northern Beaches has been proposed as early as
+    1974 in the Sydney Area Transportion Study, and also in the Action for Transport 2010 plan in
+    1998 as well as recent Metro plans. Like the Sydney Area Transportation Study this line goes
+    all the way to the vicinity of Mona Vale. A likely obstacle would be Narrabeen Lagoon. Unlike
+    all of the proposals listed this line goes via a new, high bridge replacing the current bridge
+    at The Spit. The alignment through the CBD is the Metro-West option for the northern end,
+    stopping at Barangaroo, then merges into the Metro-Pitt option at the southern end. Choice of
+    stations between Central and Parramatta is more in line with the 2008 West Metro proposal and
+    terminates at Parramatta, although the current proposal of extending to Westmead may also be an
+    option.</li>
+    <li><i>Olympic Park:</i> Oddly, at the time of writing I am not aware of any proposals to make
+    use of the Olympic Park branch or better connect it into the network in this way. Uses the
+    Lidcombe branch formerly of the Bankstown line. This line extends through the major employment
+    centre of Macquarie Park, and terminates at Gordon to allow for easy interchange with potential
+    bus rapid transit to and from the northern beaches.</li>
+</ul>
+
+<p><i>Monorail lines</i>:</p>
+
+<p>Despite everything else this may be the most controversial idea here. In the past Sydney had a
+very poorly designed, low capacity <a href="http://monorail.com.au/" class="external">monorail loop</a>
+between the CBD and Pyrmont. What is proposed here is much closer to monorail systems found in
+countries like Japan and China where monorails are constructed to provide services like a heavy
+rail line. The technology would be a modified SAFEGE system to allow for 6 car trains and 80km/h
+service speed.</p>
+
+<ul>
+    <li><i>Carlingford:</i> In the past, connecting the Carlingford line to Epping or extending rail
+    service southwest of Parramatta has been considered too expensive. Use of monorail here would
+    likely bypass that problem by allowing construction above ground over existing road corridors.
+    This is the only line on the network where this is possible due to the alignment not overlapping
+    with any other and having no issues with underground stations or overly built up areas.</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<h5>Unmapped Features</h5>
+
+<p>The Southern / Inner West, Airport / East Hills, and Cumberland lines all overlap track, as do
+the Northern and Strathfield lines. All other lines use their own dedicated track pairs exclusively.
+This means the hypothetical network is made up of 9 independent sectors overall.</p>
+
+<p>Despite the above, there is some overlap with intercity services. Southern Highlands services
+would operate via Glenfield, Wolli Creek, and Sydenham, which makes up for the lack of express East
+Hills services from Campbelltown. Central Coast services would still operate via Hornsby, Epping,
+Strathfield. In both cases minor interference between sectors is possible.</p>
+
+<p>Other modes of transport have been intentionally left out. This includes an extensive
+hypothetical light rail network covering the eastern suburbs, as well as the CBD, parts of the inner
+west, and a few lines around Parramatta. There is also potential for important bus rapid transit
+services between the North Shore and Northern Beaches, as well as one around Liverpool.</p>
+
+<p>Finally, there are three options for extending public transport to the second Sydney airport at
+Badgerys Creek. The Airport / East Hills line could be extended, the Carlingford monorail could be
+extended, or a new branch of the Western line could be constructed from St Marys as in current
+official maps. In the long term all three options may be ideal. The current proposal of the solitary
+St Marys branch may have the unacceptable downside of overcrowding on the Western line.</p>
+
+
+<h5>Closing Remarks</h5>
+
+<p>It is interesting how increased connectivity in a transit network leaves less and less room for
+the distortions necessary for the clean schematic lines expected of such maps.</p>
+
+<p>At some point I would like to go back and make a map that includes some of the mentioned unmapped
+features. Although at that point it may be more practical to use computational routing methods.</p>
+{% endblock -%}
+
+