Re: Ararat rail return at a crucial stage

["Paul Hambleton" <P.HambletonREMOVE@bom.gov.au>]

Don't build any of them in BG. Convert each line to SG when the trackwork is
done. The new M>train sets should also be built in SG for use on those parts
of the suburban network that are converted to SG when the fast train work is
done. The remaining BG bits could be serviced by the refurbished Comengs.
For example, Melbourne - Pakenham should be converted to SG as should
Traralgon - Bairnsdale when the Melbourne - Traralgon fast train link is
built. Dandenong - Cranbourne should also be converted and the often mooted
link from Cranbourne to Westernport could be built in SG.
My point is that with the amount of money involved in the fast train
projects, it would be criminal to miss the opportunity to progress further
towards a complete SG network.
Paul Hambleton

"Dave Proctor" <daproc@spambait.ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
D0eC6.155432$lj4.4704356@news6.giganews.com">news:D0eC6.155432$lj4.4704356@news6.giganews.com...
> "Paul Hambleton" <P.HambletonREMOVE@bom.gov.au> wrote in message
> aZbC6.2$0P3.1964@vic.nntp.telstra.net">news:aZbC6.2$0P3.1964@vic.nntp.telstra.net...
> > Why would it cost more to build the new DMUs in standard gauge?
Obviously,
> > the government will have to be more proactive with rail infrastructure
and
> > they should be prepared to provide fair and reasonable subsidies to
> > operators who incur extra costs due to the conversion. The cost of all
> this
> > is chicken feed when compared to what they are committed to spending on
> raod
> > projects anyway.
>
> Probably more expensive on SG because they would need to have some BG and
> some SG, including one or two spare on each gauge (can hardly swap from
one
> to the other in a hurry when something fails) as well as spare bogies,
etc.
>
> Dave
>
>