November
Major train network to grind to a halt in pay stand-off
A train network used daily by more than one million people in Sydney could be out of action for days because of industrial action, throwing the transport system into chaos.
- Luke Costin
October
- Opinion
- Driverless cars
Ride-sharing robopods are the future of cities
Self-driving, on-demand cars could change the way we move around cities and dramatically increase throughput of congested streets.
- Vinod Khosla
Tasmania ferry failures ‘farcical and embarrassing’
Tourists planning to pop their caravans on a big new ship to Tasmania and holiday around the Apple Isle could be stuck on the mainland after state’s “diabolical failure” to build a berth to handle new vessels.
- Jenny Wiggins
- Opinion
- Automation
Why Elon Musk’s robotaxis will have to share the road – or disappear
The day after Tesla revealed its driverless Cybercab, the company’s stock dropped 9 per cent. Seismic shifts in transportation happen slowly.
- Tim Rossanis
Bids delayed for Kinetic’s $4b auction; buy-side work in short supply
Street Talk’s tally on Sunday revealed no suitor has signed a buy-side mandate yet – an unusual if not unheard of move – ahead of non-binding indicative bids.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
September
OPTrust’s bus operator Kinetic juices up forecasts for $4b-plus sale
The business’ geographical expanse – it owns Melbourne’s SkyBus as well as London’s red double-deckers – has befuddled investors and sparked expectations of a breakup.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Australia’s grand new transport hubs lure top restaurants and bars
Sophisticated drinking and dining is now just a ferry or a train-ride away as an explosion of new openings mark the completion of major infrastructure projects.
- Necia Wilden
August
- Exclusive
- Start-ups
Uber scraps $105m Aussie car-sharing division
Uber will shut down its Carshare business, bringing the end to an Australian experiment it began in 2022 with the $105 million acquisition of Car Next Door.
- Paul Smith
July
One-bed unit, no car park – the price? Almost $1m
There were not many takers for this nice, but expensive, property. But one buyer valued it differently – and was prepared to pay for that.
- Michael Bleby
June
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
From 40 red buses in Melbourne to $400m a year and a $4b payday
Bus company Kinetic is one of Australia’s unheralded success stories. In an industry full of family operators, no one has cracked it like Kinetic’s crew.
- Anthony Macdonald
May
Fifty cents for Qld trains, buses – but they’re still ‘old and slow’
The Queensland Labor government’s slashing of public transport costs has been welcomed, but an advocacy warned of major network issues failing passengers.
- James Hall
Miles’ 50¢ fares unlikely to save Queensland Labor
Queensland Labor’s $150 million pre-election cash splash follows a $1000 power bill rebate, but experts say most voters have already made up their minds.
- Gus McCubbing and Ronald Mizen
Macquarie readies sale of $450m-a-year Kinetic; seeks 10x multiple
Kinetic recently ruled off a $1.6 billion refinancing which Macquarie reckons puts it in a position to accelerate the decarbonisation of its fleet.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
April
More Queensland construction workers to get at least $200k a year
Civil contractors say the Queensland Labor government has “created a monster” with its civil project conditions that are lifting costs for everyone.
- David Marin-Guzman
OPTrust’s Kinetic secures $1.6b refinancing; 21 lenders tip in
Of note, Kinetic will bid farewell to more expensive, LBO-style debt in lieu of an infrastructure-style deal that would lower the group’s financing costs.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
March
Defining legacy: Brisbane’s messy path to the Olympics
It will be a long haul to transform the QEII stadium to Olympic standard. That’s just one of the hurdles for Queensland.
- Updated
- Zoe Samios, Michael Bleby and Tess Bennett
February
How Denmark is using its design knack to transform trains
The country is investing almost $3 billion in its new IC5 train fleet. Expect carriages fitted out to give passengers the feeling of “cosy friendliness”.
- Robert Bevan
Federal auditor to probe Labor’s $2.2b Suburban Rail Loop commitment
The auditor-general will examine whether the approval of Commonwealth funding for the $125 billion project was “informed by appropriate departmental advice”.
- Gus McCubbing
January
How a hot wellness trend is taking over in real estate
The real estate industry has picked up on the Blue Zone tag created to flag places with healthy lifestyles. But is it any more than a marketing tactic?
- Jane Margolies
OPTrust-backed Kinetic hires Macquarie for $4b-plus strategic review
Homegrown bus giant Kinetic Group has taken the first step towards a blockbuster $4 billion deal.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
