Re: Southern rail link to Darling Downs promoted

[Ken Duncan <kaduncan@gil.com.au>]

in article %XJ45.21405$N4.835905@ozemail.com.au, Barry Campbell at
campblbm@ozemail.com.au wrote on 23/6/00 1:49 PM:

> 
> David Bromage wrote in message ...
>> The Cunningham rail link proposal has been touted as the freight solution
>> for transporting produce from the Darling Downs and border region to
>> Brisbane.
>> 
> There is not much detail in the abc report. Is this the Via Recta again?
> 
> Barry Campbell
> 
> 


There was suggestion two or three years ago about a standard gauge
link/corridor between Melbourne and Darwin via existing lines to Qld
(perhaps by extending the line from Moree) then dual gauging to Mt Isa and
building new track to Tennant Creek then north to Darwin (or linking with
the new Alice Springs-Darwin line). This grand plan intended to service the
major primary production regions in eastern Australia and provide a
cheaper/faster route to SE Asia. Part of the plan was a new standard gauge
link to Brisbane from the Darling Downs.

The proposal was laid out in a large article in the Sunday papers in
Brisbane at the time. Could this report be someones' idea to give this
proposal another airing? Other than that, I can't see why a new link would
be required. The existing line from Warwick is underutilised now!

KD