Weekly Times story - 4 lines possible re-opening

["fg" <andrei@axs.com.au>]

Hi all.

This week's Weekly Times carries a font page story, with the first sentence
starting, "Rail lines across the state are set to open..."

It goes on to state that the 4 lines are:
-Sale to Bairnsdale
-Heywood to Millicent
-Cranbourne to Leongatha
-Tocumwal to Narrandera

reasons:
Mr Van Olsen had said that Sale to Bairnsdale and Heywood to Millicent were
being considered largely to haul timber to Geelong and Portland.
South Gippsland Shire officers are apparently identifying rail customers.
Tocumwal to Narrandera - obviously for the grain.

It stated that the Bairnsdale line had the greatest chance of success but
would involve, "well in excess" of 1million to fix the bridge at Stratford.

Millicent would cost 20million and would need strategic alliance with Scott
Corp.

Leongatha didn't get much of a mention in the article.

The NSW line was interesting because apparently Silverton had tried to
reopen the Narrandera line 4 years ago, had hired an engineering firm to run
a cost analysis, but got turned off by RAC's reluctance to provide exclusive
leasing rights.  Silverton's  Graham Clements had said it would cost
10million to reopen the line to Narrandera.  The line has apparently been
closed for 15 years.

Mr van Olsen said FV would need to conduct delicate negotiations with RAC.
"It may be difficult for NSW people to come to grips with opening the line
for transport of grain through to Victorian ports," he said.

Now for my questions.  :-)

a) 20million for Mt Gambier, I assume means converting to SG ?

b) Wasn't the line beyond Tocumwal always a SG one ?  If so, are FV
considering running SG trains from Narrandera to Tocumwal then reloading or
changing bogies or are they going to convert NSW line to BG.  Or are they
considering funding the SG rehabilitation with the hope that, NSW operators
destined for south of the border go to Tocumwal rather than going via Albury
to Melb/Geelong/Portlnd. There is always the problem that the grain could
end up in Sydney, rather than in a VIC port.  The problem is FV's not mine.
Another possibility - FV might want to run SG trains north from Tocumwal to
Narrandera then to VIC via Albury.  Doesn't sound likely.

Interesting article.

Any comments?

Andrei
(Hughesdale VIC)