Re: 86 class withdrawal

[matthew@mail.usyd.edu.au (Matthew Geier)]

David Johnson <trainman@ozemail.com.au> writes:

>DJ NightShade wrote:

>> I was wondering if the entire fleed of 86's are to be withdrawn, and for
>> what reasons.

>Yes.

>2)  RAC want to make FreightCorp pay a much higher rate for the use of
>electricity, making electric Locos more expensive to run than diesels.

 Ahh the wonders of 'transparent' accounting. A loco fleet that pretty
well will never wear out ( if treated properly) that use a cheaper
untaxed energy suppy are dumped in favour of locomotives that need more
maintence and use a dwindling and taxed enerygy source.

 I live next to a railway line, im already feeling the effects of this,
2 years ago nearly ALL unit coal trains were electricaly hauled. Due to
their lower speed, the coal trains were often quieter than the passenger
trains.
 Now triple 81 class are hauling the same loads. 81 class under load
are not quiet engines. This isnt so much fun when they roar past in the
wee hours of the morning.

 The Western Coal fields to Port Kembla is nearly all under the wires. That
electric haulage is now considered uneconomic is absoultely stupid.

 Of course FreightCorp properly will dewire parts of the metro goods
network simply to prevent them being forced back into electric haulage
for environmental reasons. If the wire is missing it really will be 
uneconomic to re-introduce electric goods trains.