Re: Darwin Gateway to Australia: was.... (OT)Re: Darwin port to be expanded.

[mauried@tpg.com.au (Maurie Daly)]

In article <ff0ahsk77a09p15n9tct8mi5j24ul51ntr@4ax.com> "< Tell >" <telljb@netozemail.com.au> writes:
>From: "< Tell >" <telljb@netozemail.com.au>
>Subject: Re: Darwin Gateway to Australia: was.... (OT)Re: Darwin port to be expanded.
>Date: Sun, 07 May 2000 15:13:11 +0930

>It certainly is the point, and will work if the right
>people are involved with it.

>Double stack is "standard" on the TAS & TAR lines.
>From Darwin to Tarcoola they can go either West or
>South, but unfortunately for the foreseeable future
>will have to be singled to go from either Adelaide to
>Melbourne, or Parkes to Sydney.

>Forget the VFT Melbourne to Darwin folks, rail in Oz
>can do the job right now for a fraction of the cost and
>road transport will NEVER compete with 1.8 km (or
>longer) double stack conventional freights.

>.....Tell


One has to be extremely optimistic to see how the AP to darwin line is going 
to be viable if the private crowd have to pay and recover the reported $700 M 
to build it.
The concept of land bridging containers from darwin to the other 
major capitals is an excellent one ,but in order to stop any freight from 
going by truck which it currently will do ,rail track access charges must be 
drastically reduced / abolished alltogether ,or road users must be forced into 
paying a mass / distance charge ,(no chance in hell of this happening.)
The other problems that face this sort of idea are 
1/ Adelaide hills are a major obstacle to 1800 M freights ,(too expensive to 
drag trains thru them,and no double stacking capability.)
2/ To get to any capital city from darwin will involve access agreements with 
at least two track access providers.
3/ Sydney,Brisbane and Perth will require agreements with three access 
providers.
 In short , if there isnt any substantial rail reform in the next few years 
,then AP to darwin will turn out to be a colossal white elephant.

There are some other non rail related problems too.
Can you see the MUA of Australia simply accepting that all the shipping coming 
into the current mainland capital ports simply stops and all goes via Darwin.
Just how many of their members would be put out of work.
Also ,its not in the interests of any of the State Govts to see their ports 
not being used in favor of Darwin.
ie the worst problems of federation will surface , when the good of the 
country as a whole ,isnt in the best interests of the major States.
Dont hold your breath.

MD