Re: End of the Sand Train?
Brian Evans (bevans@omni.com.au)
Sun, 01 Feb 1998 02:27:20 GMT
In article <34C49C40.49FF@webaxs.net>, fjones@webaxs.net wrote:
>Craig Haber wrote:
>>
>> G'day,
>>
>> Victrack scheduling notice W.98/102 shows the following services
>> cancelled
>> 0543 light loco Syth Dynon - Spotswood (Tu, Th, Sa) CANCELLED
>> 9599 block sand Spotswood-Newport (Tu, Th, Sa) CANCELLED
>> 9409 block sand Newport-Lang Lang AGS (Tu, Th, Sa) CANCELLED
>> 9597 block sand West Tower-Spotswood (MoO) CANCELLED
>
>When does this take effect from? I had heard it was from 17/1/98 but
>another rumour says it has been given 1 month's reprieve.
>
>For the record, P23 was noted leaving Newport at about 5pm with the sand
>train ex Spotswood as the RTA Tait special arrived. Was this the last
>one? There were still wagons in the siding at Spotswood however.
>
>I wonder what the excuse is for the loss of this contract. Could the
>underlying reason be that we couldn't be bothered maintaining the line
>past Cranbourne, which I believe is now in poor condition (30km/h speed
>limit, from one report)? Sounds a familiar story... a bit like the
>Melton Viaduct story in the TV news the previous week...
I don't personally believe v/line lost the contract, I believe they have been
planning ways to get out of the contract for some time. Just like the cement
working in Geelong that was lost to road.
Regards,
Brian