The inland rail route

["Barry Campbell" <campblbm@ozemail.com.au>]

During my trip down the Newell Hwy (See thread on train orders in NSW) I
took note of the potential inland Bris - Mel route.

I see that there is a study being done on part of the dreaded Melbourne to
Darwin line, namely the bit that runs between Melbourne and Brisbane. This
is, in my opinion, the only part of the thing that will ever have any chance
of getting up and it makes me think that this may be the main aim of the
proponents.

However, I digress.

The Melbourne to Darwin consortium is investigating a route via Shepparton,
but a quick look at the map seems to indicate that using the existing sg
route as far as Coota would be just as effective and much cheaper. Does
anyone know why the Shepparton route is being proposed?

Which junctions are pointing the right way? Coota is OK, what about
Stockinbingal, Parkes, Narromine and Dubbo are all OK but where would it go
after that?

I saw a reference in Railway Digest recently about a scheme to use rail to a
trucking point (presumably Moree) and the use road transport into Brisbane.
Does anyone know the gist of this proposal?

Any thoughts?


Barry Campbell