Re: Implications of high speed trains in Victoria

[James Brook <ajmbrook@ozemail.com.au>]

Peter Berrett wrote:
> One wonders
> whether in light of the high speed line that services to Maldon and
> Daylesford might be considered?

Both of these towns are fairly small and this would not warrant the
replacement of these lines. The Maldon line is 60lb (D?) rail. The
Daylesford line has been ripped up from Carlsrhue to Bullarto and the
section that is left is a mixture raging from 60lb to 75lb of various
types. There may be a bit of 80lb as well, but I'm not sure. Another
major problem is that both lines would require 100% sleeper replacement.
Of course, the biggest obstacle is the alginment of the route. Both were
designed as branch lines and the curves and gradients reflect this. Both
lines feature sharp curves and the Maldon line has many 1 in 40 grades
(not sure about Daylesford). For modern high speed purposes you would
have to construct a new railway, which is obviously not an option when
Maldon is only half an hour away from Castlemaine by road and Daylesford
is only about 40 mins to an hour (depending on traffic) away from
Woodend by road. The most logical choice in both these cases would be to
upgrade the existing bus service.


-- 
- James Brook -

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