Re: Vic Gov't to reopen passenger lines?

[mauried@tpg.com.au (Maurie Daly)]

On Fri, 27 Apr 2001 16:11:28 +1000, "Grahame Ferguson"
<grahamef@users.mcmedia.com.au> wrote:

>
>Maurie Daly wrote in message <3ae69553.34939874@can-news.tpg.com.au>...
>>Umm, exactly what do you mean by it takes a lot longer to reach Ararat
>>by SG.
>>According to GSRs current timetable , the Overland takes 3 hours 14
>>minutes on SG from Melb to Ararat.
>>When it ran on BG via Ballarat it took 3 Hours 16 minutes, ie its now
>>quicker on the SG than it was on BG.
>>Although its much further on SG , there are no grades like the
>>Inglston bank to crawl up which gives it a much higher average speed.
>>
>>MD
>>
>Maurie is correct.
>Secondly when NEX are oredering there fast DMUs then specify standard gauge
>for some of them.
>What will happen if Seymour to Albury goes standard gauge as proposed??
>
>What a waste to reopen Ballarat to Ararat just to service Ararat!
>
>At least if you ran trains to Dimboola again on the sg then you would not
>only serve Ararat on an working line but you re-introduce services to the
>Wimmera.
>
>Grahame
>
>
It does seem silly to be re -opening BG lines , when at the same time
the Vic Govt is pushing for Federal funds to convert parts of the Vic
country network to SG.
Also , is the $6 million which is the estimated cost of re opening
Ballarat to Ararat realistic , given that this line has now been
closed for 8 years.
What will be the arrangement at Ararat?
A dual guage line thru the platform with a BG run around.
It will be a safeworking nightmare .

It would make far more sense to spend the $6 million on converting
part of Newport to Pyreenees Loop to CTC, which would further reduce
the running times .
It was originally estimated that $12 million was needed to convert all
of the line , but with a $6 million injection from the Vic Govt , it
could help ARTC to find the remainder.
This would allow pass trains to run again to Horsham , and possibly
Dimboola , and would benefit all the users of the existing SG line ,
as they could junk the ASW gear.

To logical though I expect.

MD