Re: Ropers Creek Branch.

[Martin Barr-David <mart@tig.com.au>]

Do you if this development goes ahead there maybe a chance that the Rope's Creek
line be reopened.

"C. Dewick" wrote:

> "John McCandless" <johnmc@topend.com.au> writes:
>
> >I just checked out Rolfe Boziers' NSW rail site, and I found it fascinating,
> >even for a dyed-in-the-wool QR fan such as myself!
>
> >I have a question? What is the status of the northern end of the former
> >Ropers Creek Branch (the part that's in Commonwealth - i assume Dept of
> >Defence - property)?
>
> >The pictures I saw - http://www.triode.net.au/~rolfeb/nsw/ropes_creek.html
> >of Cochrane and Ropers Creek - especially Ropers Creek - showed stations
> >that seemed in remarkably good nick for an abandoned line.
>
> >Are there any preservation groups etc, allowed in?
>
> The whole Ropes Creek line is pretty much a no-go area. The St Mary's end is
> still being heavily utilised by the FreightCorp 'Sandman (tm!)' trains
> coming from Rozelle, and this will probably continue until all the crushed
> sandstone being excavated from the Sydney Water tunnel is shifted to St
> Mary's in preparation for some sort of proposed mini freight centre.
>
> Apart from that there is zero rail activity. The line has enormous potential
> as a heavy rail passenger line if any of the proposed major housing
> developments for the commonwealth arms factory precinct ever go ahead, and
> with all the former freight sidings and industrial trackage still pretty
> much intact, a combined residential and commercial region with emphasis on
> rail transport for both freight and passengers is highly feasible, and the
> potential for the line then increases even more.
>
> However with organisations like the Bosnjack Inc. West-e-bus company having
> such a large political influence in the region as a result of them
> eliminating all serious competitors by buying them out and creating a
> monopoly, any push to create a solid rail marketplace would be tempered by
> the pro-road lobby groups which think they should get free access to road
> transport facilities without paying a brass razoo to compensate for the
> maintenance costs of the infrastructure.
>
> Regards,
>
> Craig.
>
> --
>             Craig Ian Dewick            |       Stand clear - jaws closing
>  Send email to craigd@lios.apana.org.au |  Visit my Australian rail transport
>    Professional Train Driver, Cityrail  |      and rail modelling web site:
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