>Further,
>
>Is it not bizzare this the majority of growth in container traffic in
>Melbourne is coming out of the Webb Dock area with the new ports down there
>being apporeved for development. Looks like V/Line has yet again "stuffed"
>up since no rail access will be available down here after this movement.
We should probably move across to aus.rail as Constable Bromage from
the Bandwidth Police will charge at any moment <g!>.
It's not V/Line's fault, it's state government policy. The Melbourne
Ports Authority was told to vacate Victoria Dock because of City Link
and the billions to be made in property development; thus Webb Dock
was chosen for major re-development and expansion. Patrick's wanted
the existing rail line used (the Appleton Dock line was actually Plan
B), but the railway line gets in the way of the Docklands project and
the Docklands Stadium and the Ports Authority therefore had to develop
trucks as the major access for Webb Dock. The only mistake was that
this line (heavy welded rail on concrete sleepers) should have been
dual or standard gauge).
>In reality, who would want to live down around the docklands development
>with 2000 trucks a day passing your front door?
No, they'll go on the City Link from Graham Street to points north
(though the City Link has already said that the B-triples, used
between Swanson Dock and NR's terminal will not be permitted on their
toll ways, only on government roads). Footscray Road is to be
narrowed to 2 lanes in each direction to discourage / delay traffic
and divert it onto the City Link.
The grim reality is that rail is getting in the way of
a. football and
b. the big money waiting to be made by a few people/companies in the
Docklands.
It also shows the governments' (plural) grip on understanding how to
improve efficiency and infrastructure on our docks (once they sack
workers, they're out of ideas).
Ok, David, I've finished now, but sightings *has* been quiet this week
Regards
Yuri
--
Dr Yuri J Sos BVSc MRCVS Sunshine Veterinary Clinic 98 Anderson Road SUNSHINE VIC 3020
Tel +61 3 9312-2500 Fax +61 3 9364-9252
Email: steam4me@enternet.com.au ================================