Re: Alice-Darwin and East Timor

["Bill Miller" <backtran@optusnet.com.au>]

Can a herc take a Leopard Tank? I doubt it.


Maurie Daly wrote in message ...
>In article <FXlE3.16215$1E2.118654@ozemail.com.au> "Ian McFadyen"
<imcfadyen@ozemail.com.au> writes:
>>From: "Ian McFadyen" <imcfadyen@ozemail.com.au>
>>Subject: Re: Alice-Darwin and East Timor
>>Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 17:14:16 +1000
>
>>Very good point. One of the main reasons for developing rail connections
to
>>the far north is to enhance our responsiveness in military and other
>>emergency situations. Rail is an essential tool for the rapid transport of
>>food, supplies, troops and in the case of attack or natural disaster,
>>evacuation. Perhaps one good thing that might emerge from the current
>>unpleasantness with Indonesia is a realisation that a rapid, heavy duty
rail
>>line from Darwin to the southern states needs to be completed sooner
rather
>>than later.
>
>>Ian McFadyen
>
>
>I suggest that you all have a read of the Defence depts submission to the
>AustralAsia Railway Consortium on the building of the AP - Darwin line.
>Its available on the NCCs web site.
>In essence it states that if there were to be such a railway built then the
>Defence Dept would use it as would any other commercial user if there was
any
>need to do so.
>It also states that there is no specific defence need that would require
the
>railway to built in its own right.
>For Rail to provide a quick easy method to transport anything to Darwin
from
>anywhere else, requires that there are sidings available at military
>establishments where trains can be quickly loaded.
>These days , its much faster to fly everything we need fo Darwin in
Hercules
>aircraft.
>
>MD
>