Re: Ballast hoppers from US (was: Re: Freight wagons from China)

["chris@enet21.com.au" <chris@enet21.com.au>]

There VFT still needs approval from the NSW govt, and they are not very happy with
the speedrail group. I recall the Transfield proposal was the NSW govt's prefered
operator. So unless Bob Carr gives the okay (unlikely - for political and
financial reasons - I think speedrail want $3 billon in tax concessions), the line
won't go ahead. After all, why build a expensive line like that to a big country
town. Apart from that, I heard that leightons have very few staff working on the
project.(mostly PR people - one or two I recall)

Chris

David Bromage wrote:

> Rod Gayford (rjaygee@smartchat.net.au) wrote:
> > I wouldnt mind betting that the VFT project to Canberra gets the green light
> > as the Liberals can then drop Badgery's Creek but still appear to be
> > something about the congestion at Mascot.  It would be a good distraction
> > from the GST and a lead in to an election that is rumoured to be held in
> > September just prior to the Olympics.  It all sounds cynical enough to be
> > true.
>
> It would also be long overdue. If Speedrail Mk 1 in 1993 had been given
> the green light then, it would have been operating between Sydney and
> Canberra by the middle of 1999.
>
> Cheer
> David