Owen
Darren Yates wrote:
That swamp-land near Hexham isn't the greatest place in the world to run a
rail-line...
I wouldn't want to be Transport Minister when this one comes up for
election...
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Cheers,
Darren Yates
Firebox recordings [http://www.firebox.bluemountains.net.au]Bob wrote in message <363D8C50.43FEF042@fastlink.com.au>...
>In the Newcastle press yesterday was a report about a proposed new line
>that would link the short north at Fassifern to the quad mainline at
>Hexam. Whilst the initial proposal was to allow the development of at
>least 2 new mines it also would allow Sydney/Brisbane trains to take a
>shorter route and save almost 20 minutes. Part of the proposed routr
>would run over a short part of the former Richmond Vale Railway across
>the swamps and into Hexam. It seems that the short North is during
>daytime at saturation point with train paths and any new services
>hauling coal would have dificulty getting a path. The report also
>highlighted the increase in coal from Hunter mines in the next 10 years
>and there is conscern about the railways ability to handle this
>increase. One proposal to overcome this is to remove all Cityrail
>services from Newcastle to Maitland and replace them by buses. This
>would be an unlikley outcome however as there could be a political
>backlash to any government involved in any such proposal. Interesting
>times ahead.
>Cheers
>Bob
>