Alice Springs to Darwin.

[mauried@commslab.gov.au (Maurie Daly)]

Interesting article in this months Digest about the progress / lack of it and 
the financial problems that still have to be overcome by the 3 bidders.
Of interest is the fact that for the first time the projects commercial 
viability is questioned,ie it will never make a profit for the successful 
bidder based on corridor projected tonnage.
Mind you the above is hardly surprising ,you dont need to be a financial 
genius to figure out how trains per day such a line would need to make it 
viable, around 20 in each direction per day just to pay the interest bill.
Also it seems the Federal Govt will tax the capital grants of $100 M each put 
in by the NT and SA govts ,thus effectively raising the projects total cost by 
around $100 M .
In a word , dont hold your breath.

MD