Location: NSW
Ohhh and in regards to your busses carrying 2000 ton of grain "More efficient freight handling by routing freight trains away from the congested Bendigo Line and through Maryborough to Geelong"
Greens announce transport policy
x42
Junior Train Controller
Location: NSW
freightgate
Minister for Railways
Location: Albury, New South Wales
Is this statement in support of te line reopening or for it to remain closed ?
x42
Junior Train Controller
Location: NSW
To be reopened !!! Castlemaine Maryborough offers rail operators an alternate freight path and more flexibility. Many a train has been cancelled by operators due to occupation/signal faults/loco faults/Paths. Think of running a freight train via Geelong to ballarat rather that up the straight via baccus marsh. Same principal. When things go bad and they do rail operators need flexibility.
jdekorte
Deputy Commissioner
Location: Near Caulfield Station
I used to commute to Ballarat each week in the mid 90's for work catching a midday train up and usually a train around 7pm back. It was interesting as most of the time the trains were Sprinters which took the Bacchus Marsh route on the way up, but on the way back the train was sent back via the line to Geelong, then back up to Melbourne. With a stop at North Shore the trip was only 15 mins longer. The trains on this up trip were also Sprinters. The line was reasonably quick but slowed down around Gheringhap and over the Mooroobal bridge. I'm not sure about the condition of this line but I think that it could be brought back up to a reasonable standard, enough for VLocities.
dean65
Locomotive Driver
Location: Ballarat
Railrevival.org if you would like to put your to bobs worth in.
Ok thanks.
dean65
Locomotive Driver
Location: Ballarat
Campaigners push for Goldfields line to be reopened
IT was full steam ahead for a historic train that ran between Maryborough, Ballarat and Geelong on Sunday as the Rail Revival Alliance ramped up a campaign to reopen the closed Geelong-Ballarat-Bendigo train lines.
The Goldfields rail line was closed in the 1970s and replaced with buses. But the Greens Party and rail alliance are now calling to reopen the Goldfield Rail Line to link Geelong, Ballarat, Maryborough, Castlemaine and Bendigo with a regular cross-state passenger service.
Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber said that since the closure of the rail line there had been an unprecedented population growth in the Goldfields area and buses were struggling to keep pace with the demand.
Mr Barber rode the 90-year-old train with more than 60 people, which also marked 140 years since the opening of a rail line between Castlemaine and Maryborough.
Rail alliance member and Ballarat resident Tracie Griffiths boarded the train in Ballarat.
The Soldiers Hill resident and PhD student said there was an increasingly unmet demand in public transport services in the region for people wanting to travel to larger regional cities or to smaller towns like Meredith and Bannockburn.
“At the moment, if I want to catch the train to Bendigo I have to catch a train to Melbourne then to Bendigo,” Ms Griffiths said. “Riding a train is completely different to riding a bus. On a bus you aren’t able to study because you will probably get motion sickness or even just absorb and enjoy your surroundings like you can on a train.”
A state government Rail Revival Feasibility Study conducted last year estimated the cost of a full reopening would be between $760 million and $935 million.
But rail alliance president and engineer Noel Laidlaw also completed an independent study, which found reopening the line to a basic service would cost around $90 million.
He maintains a rail service can be established based on the current Maryborough-Ballarat service and would be adequate to meet the community’s need for rail services between regional cities, a view that is backed by the Greens Party.
The first stage of the project would be reopening the Geelong to Ballarat rail line, with new low-cost stations at Bannockburn and Meredith.
The second stage would involve repairing and rebuilding the train line between Maryborough and Castlemaine and the establishment of faster services that would continue on existing tracks to Bendigo.
Greens candidate for Wendouree Alice Barnes and Liberal candidate for Ripon Louise Staley also attended the event.
Ms Barnes said there was a growing need for a service that allowed fast and frequent travel between regional cities for work, education health and recreation.
“It also has the ability to completely revitalise all those small towns in between regional cities,” she said.
IT was full steam ahead for a historic train that ran between Maryborough, Ballarat and Geelong on Sunday as the Rail Revival Alliance ramped up a campaign to reopen the closed Geelong-Ballarat-Bendigo train lines.
The Goldfields rail line was closed in the 1970s and replaced with buses. But the Greens Party and rail alliance are now calling to reopen the Goldfield Rail Line to link Geelong, Ballarat, Maryborough, Castlemaine and Bendigo with a regular cross-state passenger service.
Victorian Greens leader Greg Barber said that since the closure of the rail line there had been an unprecedented population growth in the Goldfields area and buses were struggling to keep pace with the demand.
Mr Barber rode the 90-year-old train with more than 60 people, which also marked 140 years since the opening of a rail line between Castlemaine and Maryborough.
Rail alliance member and Ballarat resident Tracie Griffiths boarded the train in Ballarat.
The Soldiers Hill resident and PhD student said there was an increasingly unmet demand in public transport services in the region for people wanting to travel to larger regional cities or to smaller towns like Meredith and Bannockburn.
“At the moment, if I want to catch the train to Bendigo I have to catch a train to Melbourne then to Bendigo,” Ms Griffiths said. “Riding a train is completely different to riding a bus. On a bus you aren’t able to study because you will probably get motion sickness or even just absorb and enjoy your surroundings like you can on a train.”
A state government Rail Revival Feasibility Study conducted last year estimated the cost of a full reopening would be between $760 million and $935 million.
But rail alliance president and engineer Noel Laidlaw also completed an independent study, which found reopening the line to a basic service would cost around $90 million.
He maintains a rail service can be established based on the current Maryborough-Ballarat service and would be adequate to meet the community’s need for rail services between regional cities, a view that is backed by the Greens Party.
The first stage of the project would be reopening the Geelong to Ballarat rail line, with new low-cost stations at Bannockburn and Meredith.
The second stage would involve repairing and rebuilding the train line between Maryborough and Castlemaine and the establishment of faster services that would continue on existing tracks to Bendigo.
Greens candidate for Wendouree Alice Barnes and Liberal candidate for Ripon Louise Staley also attended the event.
Ms Barnes said there was a growing need for a service that allowed fast and frequent travel between regional cities for work, education health and recreation.
“It also has the ability to completely revitalise all those small towns in between regional cities,” she said.
The Vinelander
Minister for Railways
Location: Ballan, Victoria on the Ballarat RFR Line
It's always a courtesy to quote the source for articles such as those above...
freightgate
Minister for Railways
Location: Albury, New South Wales
There is yet another news item at Railpage supporting the reopening of Inglewood to Bridgewater and probably bendigo.
When was the last boort goods ?
Another contract failure by PN.
When was the last boort goods ?
Another contract failure by PN.
speedemon08
Mary
Location: I think by now you should have figured it out
Think of running a freight train via Geelong to ballarat rather that up the straight via baccus marsh. Same principal. When things go bad and they do rail operators need flexibility.
Yeah the Geelong line ain't the easiest to get a path on either.
dean65
Locomotive Driver
Location: Ballarat
It's always a courtesy to quote the source for articles such as those above...
Yes of course - sorry.
http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/2399505/campaigners-push-for-goldfields-line-to-be-reopened/?cs=62
Campaigners push for Goldfields line to be reopened
By MELISSA CUNNINGHAM
July 6, 2014, 11 p.m.
ZH836301
Chief Commissioner
Location: BleakCity
Sweet, I was waiting for one of these deluded rail revival nuts to come play - you can't do it on their sites since they tend to eradicate any dissenting opinions.
Cool story bro - I see we've skipped from try to justify passenger services by piggybacking on freight.
Even if you upgrade for freight (which should be based on economic realities) that still doesn't provide a case for passenger services.
Ohhh and in regards to your busses carrying 2000 ton of grain "More efficient freight handling by routing freight trains away from the congested Bendigo Line and through Maryborough to Geelong"
Cool story bro - I see we've skipped from try to justify passenger services by piggybacking on freight.
Even if you upgrade for freight (which should be based on economic realities) that still doesn't provide a case for passenger services.
VRfan
Moderator
Location: In front of my computer :-p
To be fair, the line from Ballarat to Maryborough is up to a good standard now and even at 80km/h south of Ballarat, a service from Geelong to Maryborough connecting with trains at Ballarat for passengers to Melbourne wouldn't be that hard to implement. You don't need the gold plated double track mainline at 160km/h to commence a service.
After following the DERM on the weekend, I don't think there would be much difference in the travelling times of a bus or a modern railcar at 100km/h. The train is certainly more comfortable. I also travelled on the Sprinter that used to come back from Ballarat via North Geelong a few times and quite a few people seemed to use it to travel between the two towns. There is also alot of traffic on the Midland Hwy these days. Yes you can say take the bus, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who would rather drive my own car if road is the only option.
Maryborough to Castlemaine and Bendigo is a different prospect in my opinion. Unlike Ballarat and Geelong, which are relatively close to each other, how much traffic really goes between Bendigo/Castlemaine and Ballarat/Geelong? Maryborough itself is relatively small so I don't think the town on its own can support a rail service both south to Ballarat and east to Castlemaine/Bendigo.
After following the DERM on the weekend, I don't think there would be much difference in the travelling times of a bus or a modern railcar at 100km/h. The train is certainly more comfortable. I also travelled on the Sprinter that used to come back from Ballarat via North Geelong a few times and quite a few people seemed to use it to travel between the two towns. There is also alot of traffic on the Midland Hwy these days. Yes you can say take the bus, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who would rather drive my own car if road is the only option.
Maryborough to Castlemaine and Bendigo is a different prospect in my opinion. Unlike Ballarat and Geelong, which are relatively close to each other, how much traffic really goes between Bendigo/Castlemaine and Ballarat/Geelong? Maryborough itself is relatively small so I don't think the town on its own can support a rail service both south to Ballarat and east to Castlemaine/Bendigo.
dean65
Locomotive Driver
Location: Ballarat
"Yes you can say take the bus, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who would rather drive my own car if road is the only option."
In this household when the train is not running we drive rather than sit on a crowded bus.
ZH836301
Chief Commissioner
Location: BleakCity
There is no justification whatsoever when there are only two buses each day, weekdays only.
Then drive. The extra uptake from bus-fearing types does not justify the expenditure.
Yes you can say take the bus, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who would rather drive my own car if road is the only option.
Then drive. The extra uptake from bus-fearing types does not justify the expenditure.
Simbera
Train Controller
It is worth noting that it is already Greens policy to increase the number of buses between these towns (especially Ballarat and Geelong) and that this should go ahead either independent of, or previous to, reintroducing passenger rail. Which to me seems the way to go - I think that by the time the political wheels turn, a service between Geelong and Ballarat will be justified, and buses are both a good way to prove this and a good stopgap measure. The Ballarat-Bendigo leg, not so much - buses are all we need for the foreseeable future.
As to the question of whether buses would continue after trains were reintroduced - neither the Greens nor the Regional Rail Alliance has said anything on this subject, as far as I'm aware, but I would like to see a small number of buses that would continue to run in between trains, both to supplement the trains and to continue a basic service for the towns too small to justify rail - roughly like what happens between Ballarat and Ararat.
The Rail Revival Alliance Facebook page attracts a lot of nutters, but by being way off to that extreme, they pull the moderates in their general direction, which to me is a good thing, because some parts of the project do have merit. Similarly, the Greens might not win government any time soon and that does tend to make them over-ambitious in their projects (since they won't have to pay for them) but they do have the effect of influencing Labor and the Libs, who don't want to lose votes from them, and who have to deal with them in the Upper House. Such is politics.
Anyway, I've blogged some more detailed thoughts on the project at large here and the Greens' proposal specifically here if anyone's interested.
As to the question of whether buses would continue after trains were reintroduced - neither the Greens nor the Regional Rail Alliance has said anything on this subject, as far as I'm aware, but I would like to see a small number of buses that would continue to run in between trains, both to supplement the trains and to continue a basic service for the towns too small to justify rail - roughly like what happens between Ballarat and Ararat.
The Rail Revival Alliance Facebook page attracts a lot of nutters, but by being way off to that extreme, they pull the moderates in their general direction, which to me is a good thing, because some parts of the project do have merit. Similarly, the Greens might not win government any time soon and that does tend to make them over-ambitious in their projects (since they won't have to pay for them) but they do have the effect of influencing Labor and the Libs, who don't want to lose votes from them, and who have to deal with them in the Upper House. Such is politics.
Anyway, I've blogged some more detailed thoughts on the project at large here and the Greens' proposal specifically here if anyone's interested.
dean65
Locomotive Driver
Location: Ballarat
Have just returned from Ballarat station and a somewhat troubled meeting with the platform manager. My discussions there were extensive and far reaching. My information is that trains may not return to the Ballarat line before Thursday as the derailment at North Melbourne is causing all sorts of problems. Also found out that the service that departs Wendouree at 6:05 am and arrives in Melbourne at 7:28 will now arrive at 7:27 - saving of one minute. For most other services there will be no time savings and some will take longer. These matters require urgent discussion.
The Vinelander
Minister for Railways
Location: Ballan, Victoria on the Ballarat RFR Line
Have just returned from Ballarat station and a somewhat troubled meeting with the platform manager. My discussions there were extensive and far reaching. My information is that trains may not return to the Ballarat line before Thursday as the derailment at North Melbourne is causing all sorts of problems. Also found out that the service that departs Wendouree at 6:05 am and arrives in Melbourne at 7:28 will now arrive at 7:27 - saving of one minute. For most other services there will be no time savings and some will take longer. These matters require urgent discussion.
V/Line website is saying Wednesday for the return of trains.
Timetable discussion below...
http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11378391.htm
dean65
Locomotive Driver
Location: Ballarat
V/Line website is saying Wednesday for the return of trains.
Timetable discussion below...
http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11378391.htm
Thanks - I'll head on over.
freightgate
Minister for Railways
Location: Albury, New South Wales
The rail revival alliance website is basic and does not offer forum services such as these.
Contacting one of the leaders at RRA off forum who advises Railpage holds the discussions.
They would certainly read here and reference posts and news.
What they hve achieved and have for a great job is doing so is bringing attention to the need for better public transport in regional Victoria.
Contacting one of the leaders at RRA off forum who advises Railpage holds the discussions.
They would certainly read here and reference posts and news.
What they hve achieved and have for a great job is doing so is bringing attention to the need for better public transport in regional Victoria.
ZH836301
Chief Commissioner
Location: BleakCity
They're not interested in better public transport - if they were, they'd be looking at improving local bus services and Vline services to Melbourne.
This just gives them a chance to fulfil their foamer fantasies. Think, why do they always skip the first step - upgrading existing coach services?
This just gives them a chance to fulfil their foamer fantasies. Think, why do they always skip the first step - upgrading existing coach services?
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