Re: NSW country rail lines upgrade

["Garry Hoddinett" <hoddos@netspace.net.au>]

David Bromage <dbromage@fang.omni.com.au> wrote in message
b8wQ3.53$xw3.1024277@news0.optus.net.au">news:b8wQ3.53$xw3.1024277@news0.optus.net.au...
> Dave Proctor (daproc@spambait.umpires.com) wrote:
> > > No it's not. Logs are being hauled by road from Bombala to Pt Kembla
for
> > > export. If you reopen the line, you can tranship at Cooma.
>
> > Why not reopen all the way to Bombala then, and save trans-shipment
costs?
> > Is the formation in good enough nick to do this? (Don't worry, I am
enough
> > of a realist to know it will never happen - Bombala, that is).
>
> Cooma is doable because it's only been closed for a decade or so. Bombala
> has been closed for too long to be worth opening in the short term.
>
> It is possible (although not probable) that Bombala could be reopened some
> time after Cooma.
>
> Cheers
> David
>

To rebuild the railway from Michelago to Cooma the four crossings over the
Monaro Highway to the south have to be rebuilt.  At all four locations the
track has been bull dozed for at least 20 metres both sides of the highway
and the warning lights have also been removed.  Further the highway has been
realigned so that instead of crossing the railway at close to the
perpendicular it is now at a skew angle.  This may have some road safety
implications if the railway is reinstated.  The bridge over the Numerella
River at Chakola would also have to be repaired (I think the poor state of
this bridge was the excuse for closing the line).  I went through this area
last week in a bus - sigh -  it just does not compare to the late lamented
Cooma Mail!