Re: Wodonga Rail relocation

["geoff dawson" <geoffrey.dawson@aph.gov.au>]

Yes, freight is the more important rail business, but in this case we are
talking about a city of 50,000 with, surely, some potential for efficient
fast rail passenger business to Melbourne. I haven't seen the details, but I
presume it would mean building an ugly new passenger station in a paddock
somewhere 3km out of town, with no access to shops, hotels, local bus
services, etc etc. Hardly likely to be good for business.

Related thoughts on the fashion for taking railway stations from good
locations and rebuilding them in bad ones (Perth terminal, Adelaide/Keswick,
Bunbury...): In Adelaide, this meant building a huge new building,
duplicating existing facilities, which would lie deserted for 23 hours a
day. I have always wondered: why on earth did they do it? Surely they could
have brought the standard gauge line to Adelaide (as to Spencer St
Melbourne) much more cheaply. Not to mention what a disastrous location
Keswick is for (in)convenient interchange. Yes I know much of the station is
now a casino, but I suggest that it would not have been hard to find space
to keep the long distance passenger facilities as well.
Geoff
Dave Proctor wrote in message ...
>If the railway can be moved in conjunction with the road being moved, and
>placed on a better (high speed) alignment, I am in favour of it. After all,
>very few trains have driver changes in Albury now, it could save a lot of
>time if they placed the railway alongside the new freeway.
>
>Dave
>
>