Re: Future of Blayney - Cowra

[Bruce Greening <bgreeni@attglobal.net>]

Maurie Daly wrote:

> Interesting article in this months Digest where Carl Scully has
> admitted that this newly re opened line is unlikely to ever carry any
> freight traffic ,and that the re opening was intended for use as a
> "Tourist Line."
> With a 25km speed limit ,its unlikely to be used for anything.
>
> More importantly though is just why was this particular line chosen to
> be re opened as a tourist line ?
> Surely there are far better examples of lines that could be re opened
> as tourist lines , especially at NSW Govt expense.
> Tumut to Batlow, Tarana to Oberon ,for example .
> or dare I say it , Glenreagh to Dorrigo.
>
> One wonders whether,the same fate will befall the newly opened
> Kandos-Mudgee-Gulgong line ,ie how long will we have to wait until
> freight trains run over this line ?
> Indeed , can the line support 81 & heavier locos like NRs anyway.
>
> One indeed wonders whether both of these lines have been re opened
> simply so the NSW Govt can claim that its re opening lines , without
> any sort of economic analysis being done beforehand ,as to the lines
> likely usage.
>
> cheers
> MD
>
>

The speed restriction has now been lifted (thoiugh some 'spot'
restrictions remain). RSA will shortly comence a major re-sleepering
program, inserting $3M worth of steel sleepers.

--
Bruce L. Greening
bgreeni@ibm.net