Re: Fixing the Nth Coast Line.

[Barry Campbell <barryC@qimr.edu.au>]

Maurie Daly wrote:
> 
> Arthurs Hansard reports make timely reading and reinforce the requirements
> that urgent funding is needed to fix the Rail Infrastructure.
> Most observers rightly point out that the Nth Coast line north of Maitland is
> by far the worst of the whole national network.
> I however have never seen or heard of any reports as to how this line might
> be fixed,short of closing it completely and building a new one.
> Are there any reports or possible new alignments proposed.
> Closing the line would be impratical due to the number of medium sized towns
> that it goes through,and I really doubt that we can afford two lines to
> Brisbane.
> 
There is no question that this line is in urgent need of something.
There is no reason why a completely new line would not be feasible if
this was the more economical solution. Considering that major coastal
centres such as Port Macquarie and Ballina are not served by the line
and that Coffs Harbour which is the biggest centre served has been
reduced to platform only status, there seems to be no reason why a new
line would not be possible.

Barry Campbell