Re: 422s - Have they been Sold?

["Michael McDonald" <michael.and.colleen.mcdonald@xtra.co.nz>]

I thought the whole point of the proposal was to tap the shipping from
Singapore, the major shipping for the region.

Exnarc wrote in message <7qgf35$2qg5$1@otis.netspace.net.au>...
>
>Michael McDonald <michael.and.colleen.mcdonald@xtra.co.nz> wrote in message
>7qfvc2$75n1c$1@titan.xtra.co.nz">news:7qfvc2$75n1c$1@titan.xtra.co.nz...
>> You may be a bit pessimistic there with regard to the Darwin line.  The
>> weekend "Auckland Metroport" trains in NZ may give you an idea of what
>could
>> happen if Darwin becomes a major port for containers bound to/for South
>> Eastern Australia.  Even though the NZ operation is relatively small, the
>> extra rail traffic generated is noticeable.  How many tonnes do you
reckon
>> could be carried in such an operation?  I don't know what the figures are
>> for the metroport trains - it may equate to about 10,000 tonne each way
>> during the period, from just two ships calling at the port.
>>
><snip>
>>
>> Cheers
>> Michael
>>
>
>It would be OK if Darwin was on a shipping route, but its not, the nearest
>port to our major Asian customers (Japan, China etc). is Brisbane, why
would
>and how could a 100,000+ Container Ship negotiate its was through this maze
>of islands to get to Darwin when they can sail straight to Perth or
>Brisbane?
>
>Darwin isn't a deep sea harbour, I assume (I don't know for sure) that the
>harbour would be tidal and to accommidate such large ships surely it would
>need to be dredged regulaly?
>
>If this is the case would the potentual traffic justify the cost of
building
>the line?
>
>Bob.