Re: My trip to Adelaide (was The overland - input wanted)

Maurie Daly (mauried@commslab.gov.au)
Tue, 21 Apr 1998 04:55:08 GMT

I think we need a serious reality check here.
Firstly , under the new regime of ARTC who will be the operators of the track
and collect the track access fees , ie horizontal integration , there is
absolutely no incentive whatsoever for the track owner to improve the track
unless they are guaranteed a massive increase in track access charges , which
most observers already agree are way too high.
To recover the sorts of income necessary for the track improvements required
would require massive increases in charges for all operators , not just GSR.
NR for one are already complaining, understandably about the high level of
track access charges compared to those effectively levied against their main
competitors, ie the trucking lobby.
Once the Federal Govt has sold its share in NRC , then you will find that the
Federal Govt will lose all interest in Rail, which means that any track
upgradings will have to be borne by the track users.
Upgrading melb to Adelaide to 200km/h standards for just 2 passenger trains
per day is economic lunacy, no matter how desirable the outcome may seem.

cheers
MD