Agreed Maurie, and there is the problem of trains that
are scheduled to cross another and head into a switch
set for the crossing loop at 100 clicks or so.?
It is a bit late too try and stop it then, you would
need to extend the system so that trains would be
detected several Km's away from the crossing loop and
if a driver does not acknowledge the warning, a full
brake application is made to prevent the thing
barrelling into the loop at high speed.
This happened last year out on the Trans and resulted
in a very expensive pile up.!
An automatic train control system with a modern CTC
installation would cost big money, considering the
number of crossing loops between Melbourne - Adelaide -
Perth. Given that the Feds have contributed peanuts to
the national rail network as distinct from NRC, I can
not see them funding a project of this magnitude.
If the user pays principle is applied, the rail access
charges will sky rocket and put rail even further
behind the road transport industry.
----Tell
Alice Springs NT