Re: Another Austrac rumour

[bevanwall@ozemail.com.au (Bevan Wall)]

Austrac have just finished successful negotiations with SETTS to lease
(with the eventual intention to purchase outright) the four car
single-deck suburban set. The plan is to run their own shuttle service
during the commuter peak periods on the Carlingford line. Electric
power might actually NOT be used. Austrac are investigating the
economies of using two of their 48 class to haul the train push-pull
compared with the cost of paying for electricity, however they have to
use rollingstock  capable of utilising electric power in case of loco
failure (which would cause chaos during the commuter peaks), hence the
use of the single deck suburban set rather than conventional passenger
carriages. If this is successful, the long term plan is to purchase
three eight car Tangara sets to provide a service on the Carlingford
line when it is extended to Epping,etc. A range of locos, including
leased Silverton jumbos, two C class from National Rail, John Currey's
4465, and some modified Victorian X class will haul the the Tangaras
push-pull.

BW.