Re: Darwin Railway's new rollingstock?

[mauried@commslab.gov.au (Maurie Daly)]

In article <74f822$aku$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com> thalytgv@my-dejanews.com writes:
>From: thalytgv@my-dejanews.com
>Subject: Darwin Railway's new rollingstock?
>Date: Mon, 07 Dec 1998 00:38:26 GMT

>Anybody know how many new rolling stocks requires once Darwin line is
>finished?

>My humble calculation indicates this will require 120 locomotives likely
>newly build as most of the carrier are shortage of power. Along with about
>1000 new wagons to be adeque for freight trains from Sydney, Melbourne,
>Adelaide and maybe Perth.If Great Southern Railway willing to serve this
>section, it would probabily extend its "Ghan" service to Darwin and will
>require about 40 carriages again brand new since GSR already sold most of
>surplus carriages and about 2 locomotives as well.GSR might want to provide a
>tourist shuttle service for Darwin to Kakadu National Park, this work best if
>GSR brought 2nd hand "Prospector railcars" from West rail as by that time,
>new "Prospector" should be in service.

>Any comments?

>James


Err, exactly just what is going to be hauled over this line?
Currently the total annual tonnage in and out of Alice Springs is around the 
200000 tonnes per year mark, which equates to roughly 1 freight  train per 
day in each direction.
Much of this freight is then transhipped from rail to road and goes on to 
Darwin and return.
The rest all goes by road , all the way , and will continue to do so,simply 
because its quicker and much cheaper.
Even if rail gets a 100% increase in the existing loading , ie to two trains 
per day , you wont need any new locos or wagons at all.
If the Ghan is extended to Darwin with its current frequency , then GSR may 
need another two car sets , ie another 30 carriages.

MD


MD