Re: Grenfel to Greenthorpe line
Robert Parnell (rparnell@netspace.net.au)
9 Feb 1998 08:09:14 GMT
"The line only needs a few thousand dollars spent on it to get it going
again." - quoted from an article on the LVR in the COUNTRY edition of the
Sun Herald August 10, 1997. Weddin Council would like regular steam tourist
services to Grenfell as the station was recently restored by local
community groups. From my quick inspections of the area 1995/96, there is
not a great deal of work required to bring the track up to standard. Mainly
weed removal, and level crossing improvements that I could see, probably a
few brdges may need attention.
I would like to see it re-open to haul freight - the roads out there are in
a SHOCKING state, being destroyed by trucks that could have been replaced
by a rail service. The bridge fire at Holmwood doesn't help the cause
either, as this Cowra - Blayney link will cost a bit to reopen - a new
bridge at Holmwood, major attention to bridges at Mandurama and Carcoar,
plus a few other minor bridges. Resleepering will also be required at a few
locations. In the mean time, this and many other lines that should have
freight on them are deteriorating at rapid rates, while the cost of
maintainnig them would be less than the cost of reopening them.
The Cowra - Trajere (Eugowra) line would also be useful for carting wheat -
again this line is severly overgrown with bridge repairs required at
Canowindra, and the timber bridges in Cowra itself will need attention very
soon.
Robert .
David Bromage <dbromage@metz.une.edu.au> wrote in article
<6bhfl8$dn1$1@gruvel.une.edu.au>...
> From ABC News. Can anyone from LVR comment?
>
>
> Rail opening unlikely
>
> Thursday 5 February, 1998 (10:58am AEDT)
>
> An attempt to re-open a rail line in the central-west looks likely to
> fail, after the local council was told the move would cost nearly $2
> million.
>
> Weddin Shire Council has been campaigning for the Rail Access Corporation
> to re-open the Grenfell to Greenthorpe line, to allow freight to be
> transported by rail rather than road.
>
> But Council's General Manager Trevor Lobb, says the line is unlikely to
be
> re-opened as the move will cost an initial $1.8 million to set up, and an
> extra $500 million [I think they mean $500,000 - DB] every following
year.
>
> He says the rail line is needed, as freight trucks are damaging local
> roads.
>
> Council will contact the State and Federal Governments, Lachlan Valley
> Rail and Graincorp to determine if there is funding available for the
> project.
>