Re: Rumour - Extensions to QR
David Bromage (dbromage@metz.une.edu.au)
17 Nov 1997 23:52:08 GMT
Neill Turner (sci-npt@jcu.edu.au) wrote:
>On 17 Nov 1997, David Bromage wrote:
>
>> John Cleverdon (clev@minyos.its.rmit.EDU.AU) wrote:
>> >
>> >I have heard a rumour recently that QR will extend its main-line
>> >electrification from Rockhampton to Cairns,
>>
>> I recall this being announced in about 1992, but the then Minister
>> (Hamill?) cancelled the project. Had it not been cancelled, the wires
>> would have reached Cairns by about ecember 1995. Projected running times
>> between Brisbane and Cairns were 24 hours for passenger trains and 28
>> hours for freight.
>>
>These times are already being recorded for the trains with the recent main
>line up grade project-passenger times 22 hrs and i think it is 30 hrs for
>freight(don't quote me on that).
The shortest journey time is on the Queenslander which is currently over
28 hours.
>I'd like to see them try, the resumption costs through the beach and
>resort suburbs north of carins would be huge and what possible benifit
>could be had for building the line, when a coach conection straight to the
>port douglas resorts would be cheaper and easier. Port douglas only has
>around 2000-3000 people and the only frieght source would be bulk sugar
>from mossman mill to carins bulk sugar termnial.
And the populations of Kuranda, Normanton, Croydon, Mt Surprise and
Forsayth are....?
Cheers
David