Re: Mt Gambier network - thoughts

[mauried@commslab.gov.au (Maurie Daly)]

In article <934961831.964938@diddley.primus.com.au> "Steven Hurst" <hurste@primus.com.au> writes:
>From: "Steven Hurst" <hurste@primus.com.au>
>Subject: Re: Mt Gambier network - thoughts
>Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 17:20:15 +1000

>fg wrote in message
>> An obvious step forward would be connectedness to the rest of rail
>network.
>> There are 2 options:
>> a) Change to SG
>> b) Connect to BG

>    What about re-opening the line between Hamilton and Denington
>(Warnambool)?  This would give access to Broad Gauge and be shorter than
>going to Ballarat via Ararat as the distance between Denington and Hamilton
>is pretty much the same as that between Ararat and Hamilton.

>    Possibly this would also open up passenger traffic for West Coast
>Railway - A short extension to Port Fairy from Koroit and also could link to
>Hamilton or even Portland...

>    Is this line reservation still there, is hilly or does it have a lot of
>bridges etc. ?

>    After all this rattling on about it, I think SG would probably be a
>better option!!!


>    Also, any chnce of WCR extending to Port Fairy in the future anyway?

>regards,

>Steven Hurst


I guess that before any guage conversion or track re opening takes place ,one 
needs to identify exactly what traffic we are trying to pick up and what the 
value of that traffic is.
There is a major wheat silo at Frances ,.the first station south of Wolseley 
on the old line and obviously the traffic must have been lost to road .
Guage conversion to the silo at least would cost around $1 - $2 M , not a 
great deal,but the difficulty is in whose interests it would be to pay.
Im pretty sure that the existing BG line has reverted to the SA Govt who 
obviously have no interest in funding any guage conversion.
The difficulty for either FV or ASR in funding this bit is that who would get 
the benefit.
This issue doesnt just affect the MG line , but any sections of the National 
Network where private operators are expected to pay for track upgrades 
themselves and then have to allow their competitors to use the upgraded 
facilities.
What other grain silos are there south of Frances?
I can vaguely remember silos at Naracoorte and Penola, any more?

MD