Re: [VIC]yet more talk, re:country pass. re-opening

["Rod" <freight_man@hotmail.com>]

I would guess that Freight Australia will not be much interested in
upgrading this line to even 80kph for Pass operations.
One way would be to do think about the Swan Hill connection?

--

Rod Young
http://hobsonmodelrail.rrdepot.com/
Foundation President and Co-Founder
Hobsons Bay Model Railway Club Inc.
Operators of Australia's only 'Australian' Model Railway Show
Every Easter in Melbourne.
and my page
http://hobsonmodelrail.rrdepot.com/rods


Dimitri Souprounovich <dima@alphalink.com.au> wrote in message
38CA09EA.4A403A9D@alphalink.com.au">news:38CA09EA.4A403A9D@alphalink.com.au...
> Found this while cruising the web -
> Andrei Soup.
>
> media release:
>
http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/web_notes/newmedia.nsf/366feaa87308bebf4a25
6811007f839b/e41833f1ff2e46144a25689d007c4a17?OpenDocument
>
> FROM THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT
>
> DATE: Thursday, March 9, 2000
>
> MINISTER ANNOUNCES MILDURA PASSENGER RAIL SERVICE
> REVIEW
> The Minister for Transport, Mr Peter Batchelor, today announced that a
> Community Reference Group
> has been formed to help the Bracks Government investigate options for
> re-opening a passenger train
> service from Melbourne to Mildura.
>
> Mr Batchelor said the Community Reference Group would provide local
> input into the Mildura Passenger
> Train Feasibility Study.
>
> "The study will review the performance of coach services that were
> introduced following the former
> Kennett Government's decision in 1993 to close the Vinelander rail
> service to Mildura," said Mr
> Batchelor.
>
> "The study will also take into account the impact on regional economies
> as well as the commercial
> viability of resuming a passenger rail service between Mildura and
> Melbourne."
>
> The Member for Mildura, Mr Russell Savage, has been invited to take part
> in the Community Reference
> Group.
>
> The Transport Minister has also sent letters to the Mildura Passenger
> Train Committee, the Mildura Rural
> City Council, and the Shire Councils of Yarriambiack, Buloke and
> Northern Grampians asking them to
> nominate representatives.
>
> Mr Batchelor said the Government would ensure that other councils along
> the Melbourne-Mildura rail
> corridor were kept informed of the progress of the study.
>
> The study is part of the Bracks Government's policy commitment to review
> the Kennett Government's
> closure of five country rail passenger services - the Mildura, Ararat,
> Bairnsdale, Leongatha and Cobram
> lines.
>
> "The Kennett Government walked away from rural Victoria when it closed
> these important rail links for
> regional communities," Mr Batchelor said.
>
> "The Bracks Government recognises that regional train services have the
> potential to generate significant
> economic activity in Victoria's provincial communities and add to the
> State's overall economic strength."
>
> "This review of rail line closures is an important element in the
> Government's Linking Victoria strategy -
> a $1.5 billion program to revitalise the State's roads, rail and ports
> over the next four years in partnership
> with the private sector.
>
> Mr Batchelor said the Mildura community should be congratulated for
> their sustained effort over seven
> years in campaigning against the closure of the Vinelander and keeping
> this important issue on the agenda.
>
> He said the Mildura Passenger Train Review would be closely coordinated
> with the Government's North
> West Freight Transport Study, which is investigating the most effective
> and efficient means of
> transporting goods into and out of the Sunraysia region.
>
> A report on the Mildura Passenger Rail Service Review is expected to be
> presented to the Government by
> June 2000.