Re: Can NRs run to griffith?

[Bruce Greening <bgreeni@attglobal.net>]

Maurie Daly wrote:

> Ive been looking at an interesting idea related to the AP to Darwin line.
> Its been obviously assumed that traffic from Darwin to Melb will obviously run
> via Adelaide & the Adelaide Hills.
> Ive long looked at the long closed line from Roto to griffith and wondered
> a/ Why it was ever built in the first place and
> b/ If it would ever be of any use.
>
> You get some interesting statistics from the two routes.
>
> Darwin to Melb via Adelaide is approx 3900 km and the max load for a single NR
> is 1200 tonnes , (limited solely by the Western approach to the Adelaide
> hills,which is unfixable.
> Darwin to Melb via Roto is approx 4280 km and the max load for a single NR is
> 1750 tonnes, limited solely by the 1:40 short climb from Junee to Harefield
> which is fixable , for around $7 M.
>
> The differance is distance represents 9% of the total for which we get an
> increase in load of around 30%.
>
> Obviously this would require a relaying of Roto to Griffith.
> Given the current very low train densities on the Broken Hill line , this sort
> of proposal would increase its train density and thus lower the access charges
> on a per train basis .
>
> If we could get a std guage line from Narrandera to Seymour then this idea
> becomes even more attractive.
>
> Comments??
>
> MD

You might be interested in the fact that RAC are negotiating to reopen a portion
of the line north from Hilstone to a new cotton gin being constructed.

I has also occured to me that the best route to double stack Melbourne - Darwin or
Melbourne - Perth might br vis a reconstructed route through Roto. I recently
drove the routhe and it would certainly require little earth works to rebuild. The
bridge over the river at Hilstone might require replacement or strenghting as it
is (was) only class 5 line.

--
Bruce L. Greening
bgreeni@ibm.net