Re: status - beyond Cranbourne ?

[David Bromage <dbromage@omni.com.au>]

Yuri J Sos/Melbourne AUS wrote:
> >(mainly because the SGR simply could not and can not afford it for a very
> >long time; and the PTC is a stubborn as an ass).  However, there are big
> >rumours flying around that Freight Victoria may be reopening the line to
> >Nyora (and possibly Leongatha) for freight purposes.
> 
> It could all be just have been jockeying for position at the time but
> Graeme Claytor of RailAmerica said during the bidding process for VLF
> they had found enough freight for two trains a week out of that line
> (whether that included the sand train or not I don't know).  RNV
> reported a couple of months ago that a superphosphate facility
> built/to be built at Leongatha would accept rail deliveries if the
> track could be extended 600m beyond the current terminus.

That has been in the pipeline for years, and the main reason the Up Home
at Leongatha (~20m beyond the end of the line) was left in place.

> * steam will be running again this summer;
> * they are acquiring their own steam loco to restore and operate;
> * they've been involved in "good constructive talks" with FV; (Hmm a
> "you give us access to let us get steam or even fan trips down to the
> Burra, and  you can run your freights to Leongatha" scenario?)

SGR was on good terms with all the bidders for V/Line Freight. All of
them saw potential in the line for freight traffic.

Cheers
David