Re: TALGO tilt trains

["David & Jan Winter" <winterd@icenet.com.au>]

David B.

I agree it'd be better to regauge all non 1435mm gauge lines to SG, and it
would be better to get all lines up to at least the NSW "country" vehicle
(most call it "loading") gauge.

What I'm sussing out is whether auto gauge changing will allow (for the
modest traffic on the lines concerned) with a modest fleet of wagons,
service to be sustained on otherwise marginal lines (like Mt Gambier) - as
well as open up routes and create an economic case for re-instatement of
some border routes (which could effectively become through routes) -
Boggabila comes to mind, as well as Wallangarra; and WA rural cities such as
Bunbury and through running to/from QLD provincial centres.

Agreed also that container transhipment between scheduled "Superfreighters"
largely meets the need, given that volumes justify a Superfreighter.
However, with our trend towards (call we call them) "boutique" operators, I
see auto gauge changing as a possible means of opening up lower volume
markets.

DW