The Commonwealth is obliged, under the terms of the Northern Territory
Transfer Act of 1911 to build a railway from South Australia's northern
border
to Darwin. It has no choice. It also has no time limit.
This matter was arbitrated in the Privy Council which found both the
obligation
and the lack of time limit.
The railway does not have to run from Alice Springs to Darwin (or more
correctly
Kulgera to Darwin) - it could run from 1 metre west of the Queensland
/SA border
through Queensland to Darwin. This would satisfy the NT Transfer Act.
to Darwin
NT | Qld \
----------|---------\-|
\|
SA \
|\<-Railway that would satify the Act.
| to Brisbane or Sydney or Melbourne
> Whilst in the past the Federal Govt has seen fit to do so,ie the TAR and the
> CAR,and it has chipped in money to fund other railway projects,like guage
> standardization,etc it is the States and the Territories responsibilty to
> build Railways.
The Commonwealth's running of the CAR is also dictated by the Northern
Territory
Transfer Act of 1911.
The Australian Constitution allows the Commonwealth, with the approval
of the
relevant states to build and operate railways. (Included mainly for
the
purpose of the Commonwealth building the TAR so Western Australia would
join
the federation)
> Naturally of course they would prefer that the Federal Govt did it.
> Once the Federal Govt sells off AN and its share of NRC then there will be zero
> motivation for any more federal funds going into any Railways anywhere.
> The only real solution for Railways in Australia is a National Railway System
> not unlike the National Highway system which is funded by the Federal Govt
> from fuel excise .
> This will never happen of course , as the States simply will never agree to
> give up control of "THEIR" Railways.
South Australia and Tasmania did in 1975.
> Basically the rot started after federation when all the States decided to go
> there own way regarding Railways and they still do,(zero cooperation between
> the States regarding Railways.)
>
> The only hope now for Railways in Australia is to hope that the States decide
> to ditch their Railways and privatise them, at least private Railway Companies
> know how to run Railways.
> Dont hold your breath though, it may take another 100 years or so.
>
I can not see either Victoria or New South Wales giving up control of
their
lines easily. That Victoria should spend the One Nation
standardisation funds
practically every where else but on the interstate main line is
scandallous -
mention has already been made elsewhere on the possibility of the
Overland
being able to do a round trip within 24 hours if the line through Cressy
was
upgraded, as it should have been in 1995, to 110 kph standards rather
than the
60 - 80 it is now (and the speed through the Adelaide Hills improved by
realigning and regrading at least on the eastern side).
> Maurie Daly.
>
-- Neil Waller (nwaller@denr.sa.gov.au) Department of Environment and Natural Resources, South Australia Telephone: Oz: (08) 8204 9218; International: (618) 8204 9218 Mail: GPO Box 1047, ADELAIDE 5001 AustraliaUnless explicitly attributed, the opinions expressed are personal and not those of DENR or the South Australian Government.