Re: Airport rail link

["Alex Pout" <alpout@optusnet.com.au>]

Anthony Morton <amorton@mullian.ee.mu.oz.au> wrote in message
8uajbt$ae8$1@mulga.cs.mu.OZ.AU">news:8uajbt$ae8$1@mulga.cs.mu.OZ.AU...
> (crossposted to aus.rail from melb.general)
>
> whitehat <whitehat@alphalink.com.au> wrote:
>
> >Both the Kennet and Bracks Governments had plans to do this. The current
> >government's plans are striking two problems:
> >
> >1) They are keen to be seen to consult widely regarding the route, but
> >various protest groups are saying 'not in my back yard'.
> >
> >2) They want the private sector to pay for it but not to own or operate
it.
> >The private sector is having trouble with this concept.
>
> Both problems boil down to the fact that the whole thing's being run as a
> typical DoI bureaucrats' project, where they spend twice as much money as
> they need to and get something half as good.  For a relatively modest sum
> they could extend the existing Broadmeadows line three kilometres right
into
> the basement of the terminal building.  Instead they propose running
special
> high-speed trains along a new dedicated track at enormous expense, and
> terminating the trains on the far side of the car park!
>
> The money they save by not building excessive infrastructure could be
spent
> instead on eliminating all the level crossings on the Broadmeadows line,
which
> would go a long way toward placating the local residents.  Vicroads has a
big
> fat budget for road projects, so the level crossings could be removed
without
> having to hold out the begging bowl to the private sector.  If this proves
too
> difficult you could run the trains via Albion instead - but the single
track
> raises problems here.
>
> I don't believe it's necessary to compensate Transurban if a passenger
service
> to the airport materialises.  Freight service is a different matter.
>
> (Note: these are my views and my views alone.)
>
> Tony M.
>

I forgot to mention that my other problem with Melbourne's public transport
was the lack of 24 hour running.  Even in Newcastle, I can catch a train
home at 4 in the morning after a night out, whereas in Melbourne, it was
time to shell out a cab fee home.

Alex