Re: Alice Springs - Darwin contract signing this week

[Chris Brownbill <cbrnbill@enternet.com.au>]

Well I hope you're right, but listening to some shipping bloke on ABC radio PM
tonight, he was asserting that the cost of shipping a container from Melbourne
to Singapore by ship is much less than railing to Darwin then shipping.  He said
the ship cost is about $900 per container whereas the rail cost Melbourne to
Darwin alone would be $1600 then you'd have to add another $600 for shipping
Darwin to Singapore.  Anyone know if these figures are on the ball?

Also, dont forget that Melbourne is the largest port in Australia because it is
in the geographically best place for shipping - the trade winds or something. 
Even though its further south, its actually quicker for ships to travel at those
latitudes (forties plus) West to East than it is further north,



Goldie wrote:
> 
> Watch Darwin Port bloom when the line is completed - as Brisbane Port is
> blooming now.
> 
> Ships will hit the nearest port with SG from whatever direction they come -
> and the main ports will be Darwin and Brisbane, followed by Fremantle.
> 
> Melbourne and Adelaide are too far round from either direction, and Sydney
> not popular due demurage charges and other problems.
> 
> There is unlikely to be enough traffic for two lines though, don't believe
> the East Coast inland route will go north of Brisbane once AS/darwin is in
> place,
> 
> Goldie
> 
> "Colin Weaver" <colingw@my-deja.com> wrote in message
> 8sdpbi$fb7$1@nnrp1.deja.com">news:8sdpbi$fb7$1@nnrp1.deja.com...
> > In article <fjsG5.69$QR.3321@news0.optus.net.au>,
> >   dbromage@fang.omni.com.au (David Bromage) wrote:
> > > Just heard on ABC Newsradio that the agreement to build the Darwin
> > line is
> > > to be signed this week. Chief Minister Denis Burke said that the
> > contracts
> > > will be ready tomorrow. He will be visiting Adelaide on Wednesday and
> > the
> > > Prime Minister is due to visit Darwin on Friday.
> > >
> > > Cheers
> > > David
> > >
> >
> > This is on the ABC news site at:
> >
> > http://www.abc.net.au/news/newslink/nat/newsnat-16oct2000-25.htm
> >
> > Of course, this is all symbolic and does little or nothing to bring the
> > line to reality, as the article goes on to say:
> >
> > "Signing the contracts will not be the final hurdle for the project,
> > which is still waiting for a private ruling from the Australian Tax
> > Office, and for the banks to agree to lend the consortium the money it
> > needs."
> >
> > My own opinion: I really can't see how this line will ever generate
> > sufficient traffic to cover its costs, and would not be surprised to see
> > the whole thing stall due to lack of finance. I hope everybody isn't too
> > upset when this project fails to commence construction.
> >
> > --
> > This account is a spam filter.  Please send e-mail replies to:
> > colin.weaver<AT>boeing.com
> >
> >
> > Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> > Before you buy.