: Id really like to know the real story here, NRs option wasnt a very expensive
: proposal at all, just 2 ground frames and 2 intermediate staff instruments,
: wouldnt have cost much at all, I suspect the real problem is the Rail Access
: Corp which doesnt want any improvements,or insists on a full bells & whistles
: solution,(track circuiting the triangle , power points and power signals on
: all legs , a real overkill,) which begs the question,whose responsibilty is
: it to effect rail improvements in NSW anyway, surely its not the customers.
:
: I wonder if the real thorny issue is the track access charges levied in NSW
: and the object of the exercise is to minimise the number of ntk/s accumulated
: in NSW at the expense of accumulating more in VIC.Does the PTC publish any
: track access charges?
Good points that need answers before the AN sale goes ahead.
: The problem with running trains via Melb / Adelaide is the shocking alignment
: thru the Adelaide Hills and the severe grades , which really mean poor
: running times and costlier trains due to the higher HP/Tonne needed.
: Basically any Melb / Adelaide train will need at least 2 X NR for any load
: above 1750 tonnes, since most trains are over 1750 tonnes , but a lot less
: than 3500 tonnes then all Melb /Adelaide trains will be overpowered, just to
: get over 35 kms of rising 1:45 thru the Adelaide hills.
As was shown at the last Rail 2000 meeting, $80 million could give a
"reasonable" and certainly cost-justifiable upgrade to the Mount Lofty -
Monarto South stretch of track, but that doesn't eliminate the need for banking
locos either, and in any case, proper track upgrades on the SG line between
Serviceton and North Shore (Geelong) would be even more cost-justifiable for
reducing travelling times.
: In a way its a real pity that Griffith to Roto was pulled up.(actually
: Hillston to Roto)
: I just wonder if it still existed today and was upgraded to
: category 1 line status we would have seen trains running via Albury / Junee /
: Griffith / Roto / Broken Hill, (makes the mind boggle.)
Where is Roto?
: Whilst NR is stuck with loco quarantining,due to idiot State rules they will
: never get the best utilization out of their loco fleet.
Hopefully not due to idiots in SA <g,d,r>
--
Arthur Marsh, telephone +61-8-8370-2365, fax +61-8-8223-5082
arthur@dircsa.org.au
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