Re: NSW country rail lines upgrade

[keithm@happy.dca.gov.au (Dave Malcolm)]

In article <7uuana$254s$1@otis.netspace.net.au> "Garry Hoddinett" <hoddos@netspace.net.au> writes:
>From: "Garry Hoddinett" <hoddos@netspace.net.au>
>Subject: Re: NSW country rail lines upgrade
>Date: Sun, 24 Oct 1999 17:00:08 +1000


>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!

As the line is still officially open (services have just been suspended), the 
road realignment is technically illeagal and as such it is up to the RTA to 
reinstate the railway line if required.

Dave Malcolm