Re: [vic/NSW] Engineers urge $500m upgrade to eastern corridor

[taliesin@NOSPAMchariot.net.au (Taliesin Walker)]

Unfortunately, rational transport policy seems beyond the
comprehension of our polititons.

Tali

On Mon, 7 May 2001 18:54:45 +1000, "James C."
<james_ccj@optusnet.com.au> wrote:

>http://www.theage.com.au/business/2001/05/07/FFXKCGKODMC.html
>
>Engineers urge $500m upgrade to eastern corridor
>
>By PHILIP HOPKINS
>Monday 7 May 2001
>
>
>A leading engineering body has urged the Federal Government to upgrade the
>strategic Sydney to Melbourne rail corridor at a cost of $500 million.
>
>At the same time, the head of the Australian Rail Track Corporation, David
>Marchant, has hailed the vast increase in rail freight traffic to Perth as a
>model for the Melbourne-Sydney corridor.
>
>The Railway Technical Society of Australasia said improved track alignments
>would enable faster and longer freight trains to be much more competitive
>with road transport, and would also allow the introduction of new high-speed
>tilt trains for passengers.
>
>The organisation is a technical society of the Institution of Engineers,
>Australia that promotes the science and practice of railway engineering and
>related technology.
>
>The organisation's government relations spokesman, Philip Laird, said track
>upgrading and track straightening between Australia's two largest cities
>were essential for faster and heavier freight trains.
>
>"It will also create the opportunity for high-speed tilt trains to link
>Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. This would provide a solution to more costly
>high-speed rail proposals," he said.
>
>The organisation has produced a brochure, Sydney Canberra Melbourne -
>Bringing Rail Up to Speed that outlines a number of improvements that should
>be carried out to better the performance of rail between Sydney and
>Melbourne.
>
>These include improving track formation, sleepers and rails in Victoria to
>bring XPT services up to speed; installation of modern signalling to replace
>antiquated safeworking systems; upgrading of level crossings at various
>locations in New South Wales and Victoria; and other work in NSW.
>
>Dr Laird said $4 billion had been spent on the Hume Highway over the past 25
>years. Now, 86per cent of the highway was four lanes.
>
>"It is ironic that the Federal Government now needs to spend half a billion
>dollars, quite possibly more, on the Albury Wodonga road bypass," he said.
>
>"For this amount of money, the entire Melbourne-to-Sydney rail corridor
>could be upgraded to a standard that would allow fast freight trains to
>complete the journey in 11 hours. This in turn would remove many of the
>trucks from the Hume Highway, and alleviate congestion problems at more than
>just one location."
>
>
>The Australian Rail Track Corporation said rail's market share of freight
>traffic from the eastern states to Western Australia has risen to a record
>77 per cent, its highest level for over a decade. It was at a low of 65.2
>per cent in 1995-96.
>
>During 2000, rail carried about twomillion tonnes of freight to Western
>Australia, compared with 700,000 tonnes for road. On an average month,
>around 160,000 net tonnes are moved by rail from the eastern states to
>Western Australia.
>
>Corporation's chief executive David Marchant said freight rates were
>estimated to have fallen at least 30 per cent since competition was
>introduced on this corridor.
>
>Through an investment program of track upgrading, passing loop extensions
>and improved signalling systems, the corporation had played a big part in
>assisting this process, he said.
>
>Over the past two years, about two-and-a half hours had been cut from
>freight train transit times between Adelaide and Perth.
>
>
>Cheers
>James
>
>

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