Railway Technical Society of Australasia
PO Box E303
KINGSTON ACT 2604
5 November 2001 Media
Information
COALITION CALLED TO ACCOUNT OVER RAIL POLICY
A 120-year old railway bridge over the
Murrumbidgee River near Wagga Wagga, which reduces interstate freight trains to
a 20 km per hour crawl, will be a major
impediment to any proposals for an Inland Rail Expressway according to the
Railway Technical Society of Australasia (RTSA).
National Party Leader and Transport Minister John Anderson, will today visit
Goondiwindi to announce the go-ahead of the first
stage of the inland railway project linking
Melbourne and Brisbane. However, according to
RTSA spokesman DR Philip Laird, the project will not get
off the ground unless immediate and urgent attention is paid to the existing
interstate rail network.
Dr Laird said, "The Railway Technical Society of Australasia (RTSA), whilst
welcoming the interest shown by the Coalition today
in an inland Melbourne-Parkes-Brisbane
railway, believes that this route cannot work properly
until the rail bridge over the Murrumbidgee River near Wagga Wagga is
replaced. "This bridge is over 120 years
old, and is now subject to a 20 km per hour speed
restriction. Its replacement was given the highest priority by the government's
own National Track Audit released in May of this year."
A new rail bridge over the Murrumbidgee River would also allow for double
stacked container operation over much of the inland
route. Other top priority works in the
government's Track Audit investment package include
the essential separation of freight and passenger trains in Sydney, and
a long overdue replacement of a 70 year old signalling system between Casino
and Brisbane. The delays caused by the present outmoded system costs train
operators $2 million a year.
The Track Audit found that a basic package of work costing $507 million was
necessary to bring the existing interstate main
lines 'up to speed' and such work should
proceed whether or not an inland route proceeds. "The
Coalition's neglect of the interstate rail network is now catching up with
them. It has denied additional investment funds over the minimal funding
promised four years ago, whilst the ALP has committed an additional $60
million, and the Democrats have committed the full $507 million.
The two major parties should do better, and
at the very least, the Coalition should match
the ALP," concluded Dr Laird.
For further information contact:Dr Philip Laird on 02 4221 3421 or 0412 060 129
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