Re: GST & the Budget

[krel4203@netconnect.com.au (Krel )]

On Tue, 1 Jun 1999 12:35:57 GMT, mauried@commslab.gov.au (Maurie Daly)
wrote:

>Despite what most readers say about the Melb -Albury line its not as bad as 
>people make out.
>The XPT still travels the Albury - Melb route in 3 hours for 317 km which is a 
>faster average speed over this distance than anywhere in NSW. 
>Freights run at 100 km/h over most of the route which has been partly 
>relaid with 60kg/m rail.

Although train speeds haven't dropped yet, the NESG is getting worse.
The rail itself is 'life-expired'.  Some sections are worse than
others, the best ride is still where the derailments occurred two
years ago and the rail had to be replaced. The 80 km/h 'temporary'
speed restriction over the BG grade crossing at Kilmore East has been
ther for years.  Locos (and the XPT cab) still ride rougher south of
the Murray than at the faster speed north of the border; which is a
worry because the ride on the Albury-Junee leg has deteriorated (sp?)
noticeably over the last couple of years.
One can only hope that ARTC lift the standard soon.

>The trouble here is not the track but how much it 
>costs to run over it .
>If funds are going to be spent on rail by the Feds then 
>a better solution would be to leave the Melb - Albury line exactly as it is 
>and abolish all track access charges for running over it.
>The same goes for all of ARTCs lines .
>With no track access charges then we are starting to dramatically level the 
>playing field.
>
No arguement there. 

Cheers


Cheers

Krel

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