Re: Ararat rail return at a crucial stage

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

On Fri, 23 Mar 2001 14:02:40 +1100, "Les Chandra"
<les_chandra@asparagus.hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>You're damn well right that pass services ought to be operated to Stawell,
>Horsham and Dimboola.
>
>GSR hasn't the slightest interest in providing proper regional rail
>services: they are being paid special subsidies to stop their pathetic
>Overland "service" at a few stations 4 times a week.
>
>NX would be interested, but claims it has no rollingstock to spare (what
>happened to all the old Vinelander stock, and for that matter the ex
>joint-stock Overland sitting cars?). It would want a subsidy too.
>
>WCR wouln't want to convert their nice preserved carriages and steam trains
>to standard gauge.
>
>The Ararat reopening is significant for several reasons:
>
>* it breaks a drought for introduction of new rail services without too much
>hard work
>* it can be operated with existing stock (be extending Melbourne- Ballarat
>services)
>* it goes to Ballarat (people from western Victoria don't really want to go
>to Geelong)
>
>Let's hope it happens.
>
>Les
>

I really wonder though whether its a good way of spending $5 million
to re open a railway line to a town of 5600 people.
A BG rail service to Ararat will ensure that there never is any hope
of a passenger rail service beyond Ararat.
If the $5 million were spent on buying or converting some existing BG
rolling stock to SG , then a pass service could be re instated back to
Dimboola immediately.
As for people wanting to go to Balarrat but not to Geelong , how much
of that is because historically you couldnt do it , ie there was never
a pass service from Ararat to Geelong.
Just what is ir thats available  in Balarrat that isnt available  in
Geelong.?


MD