Re: Steam builds for Alice to Darwin rail link

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

In article <B5578E25.FE53%markbau@altavista.com> Mark Bau <markbau@altavista.com> writes:
>Subject: Re: Steam builds for Alice to Darwin rail link
>From: Mark Bau <markbau@altavista.com>
>Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 09:02:01 GMT



>> From: dbromage@fang.omni.com.au (David Bromage)
>> Organization: Another Optus Customer
>> Newsgroups: aus.rail
>> Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 07:23:59 GMT
>> Subject: Re: Steam builds for Alice to Darwin rail link
>> 
>> Maurie Daly (mauried@tpg.com.au) wrote:
>>> None do ,and thats why all other interstate lines had to built and paid for
>>> in 
>>> their entirety by Govts ,both Federal & State.
>>> Expecting the private sector to build a $700M rail line to carry 1 train per
>>> day is economic stupidity.
>>> But to explain where the 30 trains per day come from.
>> 
>>> One train per day would generate enough revenue to cover the running costs
>>> and 
>>> maintenance costs,but not the capital cost.
>> 
>> You're limiting yourself to a 1000t train. Make it two 1500t trains (say
>> one NR and one Patricks) and a 5000t iron ore train from Coober pedy per
>> day and see how the numbers look.
>> 
>> Cheers
>> David
>> 

>I'm sure traffic projections for this line have been done by someone at some
>stage of the planning process, it will all hinge on how much business flows
>through Darwin's port for points south obviously.

>Trying to guess traffic densities is a bit like trying to predict the final
>score for the 2002 Grand Final, a bit of fun but ultimately meaningless.

>BTw, why would a 5000 tonne train have trouble with a 1 in 50 grade? Make a
>helper district, install Locotrol, if the 1 in 50 is short enough make it a
>momentum grade, lots of options!

>Mark

Yes your right, ultimately the traffic will determine the viability.
Most BOOT projects though require that the final owner ,(in this case the 
SA & NT Govts) guarantee the revenue base of the line,so that the financiers 
arnt open to any risk,if the project fails.
Im pretty sure that this hasnt happened,at least not yet anyway.

And yes ,Locotrol can solve the grade problems.
Its just that Aus railways have been pretty slow to adopt this sort of 
technology.
Apart from the Iron Ore lines ,only Queensland uses locotrol.
I was presuming that the line will be operated by current SG operators,none of 
whom use locotrol.

MD