Re: [VIC] Langwariin -sparks??

[Richard <richard_snook@primus.com.au>]

Probably reality dictates that any New Mornington station be commenced on the inner side of Npn Hwy...with ped bridge to
other side..maybe OK.
Now Im no expert on tourist railways..so Ill await the inevitable corrections!!...but I could only imagine that regular
operations of timetable trains be nothing if not a coup for this line.....A clever (and I mean clever, lateral, forward
thinking, glass is half full types!) would see this as an amazing opportunity to consolidate their opportunities and
raise the bar of what they could achieve.;
The Mornington Peninsula area . is a bomb of potential awaiting its ignition!!
A regular tourist railway operation tied in with bus tours, winery tours, other places of interest, holiday crowds, the
in-crowd etc etc. What other tourist lines would have such a captive audience??
Lets think "dinner trains"  and Lunch time ones...featuring food and wines of the region ..tied into tours of the
originating producers!!  Think outside of the box here...could be a gold mine for a clever operator...dont fight the
extra use of the rail...exploit it!!

With the fairly decent amount of good hotel rooms in Frankston...the Lunch and Dinner specials could originate in 
Frankston...even stop at the "sheds" at Moorooduc etc.
Geez...if westcoast can turn aline to profit and bring back regular steam, then there is no reason that the application
of similar positivity could not realize a splendid result.
Steam Railfanning is big business worldwide..and this could be another jewel in Victoria's crown!!

John Cleverdon wrote:
> 
> Richard wrote:
> 
> > <snip>
> > Tis a real shame that Mornington got ripped as this was such a logical progression...sparks to Mornington with existing
> > local hauled to Frankston...maybe still is.
> >
> > Anyone know what is the current state of affairs (disrepairs!!) re Mornington...is it totally impractical to consider a
> > re-establishmnet of rail into town centre or near to.
> > Frankston is/has been /becoming more of a regional hub...existing bus coneections are inadeqaute and dont suit
> > many....older...handicapped/other...young  etc.
> > Existing Heritage ail operations need not be a hindrance indee can be part of the attraction.
> > Given the vast sums wasted on silly things I would think that like some other deserving areas that the Peninsula could
> > really transform itself better and quicker witha good dose of infrastructure improvements
> 
> At Mornington, the Nepean Highway is the limit, because of construction over the reservation in several places on the down
> side of the highway. As well, there is the new shopping centre going in on the site of the former Mornington station
> (depsite much local opposition). The only way in now would be to build a tunnel, and of course that would be $$$$$
> 
> Also, the Mornington Railway Preservation Society already runs between Mooooduc station and Yuilles Rd (just on the up side
> of the highway), so I don't know what they would think of someone else coming in :-).
> 
> One problem I see with the Mornington line is that becuase it is not direct (unlike the highway), the travelling times are
> lengthened, thus making it less competitive.
> 
> IMHO, the loco-hauled service between Frankston and Stony Point should also be replaced by a Sprinter (or similar) if
> possible, as this will free up the motive power for somewhere else.
> 
> The ideal situation would be to have a dual diesel-electric train that could run electric to Frankston, and then diesel to
> Stony Point/Mornington (but then this is just wishful thinking). A similar setup could be useful for Pakenham/Warragul (and
> other lines?).
> 
> John
> --
> John Cleverdon, B.App.Sc. (Cartography), AMMSIA
> Land Titles Automation Project - Beveridge & Williams, Melbourne
> Amateur astronomer & Railway enthusiast | Bombers - 2000 AFL Premiers
> E-mail:  johnc@cdi.com.au | Phone: 03 5987 1535 (H) | Dromana, Victoria
> The Locomotive Page: http://www.railpage.org.au/loco
> Astronomical Society of Frankston: http://www.cdi.com.au/~johnc/asf.htm