Just an idea? Plans for an South-Eastern Suburbs Freight Intermodal Centre.

[pcc@ocean.com.au (Les Brown)]

PROBLEM:

Now that Vline Fright have announced that they intend to "temporarily"
(3 years so they say. I say: yeh,right) transfer to road their Fast
Track parcels and pallet freight to certain major country centres due
to the fact that North Dynon can't hold everything, perhaps now is the
time to think about a new freight terminal?

WHERE:

The south-eastern suburbs

Why?

Because freight coming from the industrial eastern suburbs to North
Dynon has to go across Melbourne to get there. Major wharehouses and
industries have their manufacturing centres and distribution
wharehouses in the eastern suburbs. In order for freight to get to
North Dynon, I believe the South Eastern Freeway is the primary route
taken. Currently in the process of massive re-widening, the trucks
using that route would probably contribute to further increases of
traffic flow as more industry moves out there.


LOCATION:

I would propose that Dandenong be the best place.

Why?

1/ Because it is located close to major highway and freeway access. If
the proposed Eastern Ring Road goes ahead as it most likely will, this
will only enhance the location.

2/ Rail access infrastructure could be increased for relatively little
cost as compared to say the widening of the South Eastern Freeway (BTW
- further widening of this road is more than likely in the next 20
years as population and industry continue to move out there and along
the corridor towards Warragul)

3/ Land is available at either the Dandenong Stock Yards which are
expected to close down at the end of the year, or at the old GMH
facility which is now up for sale. The latter is probably the best
option as far more land is available and rudimentary siding facilities
are in place and is in greater proximity to the South Eastern Freeway.

RAIL ACCESS:

Both Broad and Standard-Gauge access must be available. A third
broad-gauge from Caulfield has been on the drawing boards for decades.
It will have to be built sooner-or-later as Cranbourne develops. A
Dandenong rail-freight centre would be able to capitalise on the third
track.

Standard Gauge access would be more difficult and more costly. 

If built through Caulfield it would have the beneficial effect that it
could branch off to Long Island as well. It would be very costly as it
means the contruction of a new line from North Melbourne, across on a
new viaduct between Spencer and Flinders Street stations, not to
mention a wider rail bridge across the Yarra at South Yarra and other
horribly expensive and environmentally frightful options.

The other option is to route it more or less along the path of the old
outer-circle line and follow the inner-circle to North Melbourne. The
advantage of this method is that it could be dual-gauge which would
relieve any burden on trying to path long freight trains through the
Melbourne Metro area. It could be built for double-stacking together
with a further possibility of use as an alternative route for a VFT.

It might (would!!) in fact be more economically wiser to convert all
of Melbourne's suburban lines to Standard gauge as the best option of
all. Nevertheless, I think a new track into Dandenong would still be
needed.

FUNDING:

Same as for the South Eastern Freeway. Build-Own-Operate-Transfer
(BOOT). Private enterprise to have exclusive rights for 30 years or so
to own and run freight trains in and out of the freight centre. Plus,
perhaps (and this is a bit cheeky), a toll on trucks over a certain
gross tonnage using the South-Eastern Freeway. Plus Federal and State
government grants as means of containing automotive-originating gas
emmissions. Such an advantage would be very attractive to dwellers
along the path of the freeway.

There may be other centres with better possibilites, but I am more
familiar with Dandenong. I am sure that a need will exist in time.

Les Brown