Re: Geelong loco, Austrac, Overland & A81

[Scott Martin <semartin@idx.com.au>]

Aus loco discussion mailing list

David, you stated:
>Passenger trains in America would have all ceased by now if it had been 
>left up to the
>private coys. Same is happening in Aust and we are probably giving them a 
>subsidy to aid them in their endeavors.

This is a tough issue, but what choice do GSR have ?. They're in the 
business to make money and appease their owners (Serco, who incidentally, 
if they run GSR as well as they run the messing, security and 
accomodation on ADF bases will be out of the railway business in 
Australia). I believe the only government subsidy GSR receives is CSO 
(community service obligation) payments to stop at non-terminal regional 
towns (which incidentally, other passenger rail operators such as 
Countrylink receive).
You may have a point regading an Amtrak style operation being set up 
here, but this government would never do it. And anyway, do we really 
need long distance non-tourist trains ?. Of course we do, but rail's 
enemies can marshall some very convincing arguments suggesting the 
opposite. 

Anyway, back to the trains....
Scott


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