Re: Ararat BG connections- Lets Standardise instead!

[dbromage@fang.omni.com.au (David Bromage)]

Grahame Ferguson (grahamef@users.mcmedia.com.au) wrote:
>     If you standardise Gheringhap-Ballarat-Ararat, you provide an alternate
> route from Gheringhap to Ararat.  Leave one line Ballarat to Warrenheip
> broad gauge to go via Melton for the commuter trains.

But then you lose the connection from Ballarat for Geelong for ALL trains
off the Mildura line. Better to build a second sg track from North geelong
to Warrenheip parallel to the bg line. The space is there, it used to be
double line.

>     The Ballarat to Mildura line can be standardised as it will have access
> to Melbourne and the Geelong Grain Terminal.

The problem is that there is a LOT of freight off that line which will be
stranded during the conversion process. You can reroute via Castlemaine
for a while, but more than 50% of the line is beyond that.

>     Then later on consideration can be given to standardising Pinnaroo to
> Ouyen,

Why later consideration? There is gypsum traffic off the line now.
Regauging this would have to be integral to doing the Mildura line.
�
>     Why not keep going:- Mangalore to Tocumwal, recondition Tocumwal to
> Narranderra and you tap into the Riverina 'Fruit Bowl'.

This has more merit than Mildura in the first instance.

The big problem is, who pays for it?

Cheers
David