The next step in investigating the potential reactivation of the Blayney-to-Demondrille railway is underway, with tenders open to develop a concept design that will examine the condition of the line and associated infrastructure.

Be good to see some traffic back on this line.

Be good to see some traffic back on this line.

Never going to happen. Wish they would stop spending money on studies/tenders to placate some local rent seekers.

The tender documents I cannot find online but I assume the operator would need to build the traffic opportunities for the line.  Young would in my mind at least have traffic as a lot of produce around that area.  Good on the people for wanting to try at least the line is there and not like SA or Vic where it is cannibalised so many times.

To make the line work an interface between cold storage of produce and the rail network is required in the region as to allow national distribution of the produce from Young or the area at least.  if this can be achieved it will drive more rail use for NSW.

The tender documents I cannot find online but I assume the operator would need to build the traffic opportunities for the line.  Young would in my mind at least have traffic as a lot of produce around that area.  Good on the people for wanting to try at least the line is there and not like SA or Vic where it is cannibalised so many times.

To make the line work an interface between cold storage of produce and the rail network is required in the region as to allow national distribution of the produce from Young or the area at least.  if this can be achieved it will drive more rail use for NSW.

Do you work in PR.

This sounds like PR dribble without actually knowing what comes from the area and what could actually be rail trafficable.

Using the Mudgee line as example, after reopening. IIRC, excluding heritage services, there was only 1 revenue train. And I believe that was an empty car movement by LVRF, from Rothbury to the state mine.
Of course open to correction on the above.
Cowra line, not happening.

@James.au - there is no longer a Blayney train in the John Holland working timetable. And the only mention of intermodal in Blayney Shire’s latest strategic plan is in the context of Parkes.

Any container traffic from Nestle Purina atm would appear to be trucked. That said, the company is apparently increasing capacity to 100,000 tonnes per annum (with $65m invested), so the picture could change. 100,000 tonnes spread evenly across a year would justify a weekly train.

@James.au - there is no longer a Blayney train in the John Holland working timetable. And the only mention of intermodal in Blayney Shire’s latest strategic plan is in the context of Parkes.

Any container traffic from Nestle Purina atm would appear to be trucked. That said, the company is apparently increasing capacity to 100,000 tonnes per annum (with $65m invested), so the picture could change. 100,000 tonnes spread evenly across a year would justify a weekly train.

I dont know much about the Mudgee line - did they reopen it all the way through or just to Mudgee?

I am astonished they re-opened the Mudgee line!

Is is still open? Does it see any regular services?

I am astonished they re-opened the Mudgee line!

Is is still open? Does it see any regular services?

AFAIK it's been open to Kandos for some time, but not further on to Mudgee, let alone Gulgong.  The track beyond is still in place, but there may be some damaged or collapsed bridges on the permanent way.

Pardon my noobery, but I can’t find one definite answer anywhere - is any part of the line currently in use at all, for freight or for LVR operations? I visited Cowra last weekend and the rail line - from what I could see from the highway - looked thoroughly dilapidated all along its length.

I wanted to take some photos of Cowra station and the surrounds, but didn’t want to be trespassing on an active line if it was indeed in use.

None of the line is currently in use. The status of the Cowra - Holmwood section will change to Operational hopefully sometime this year.

None of the line is currently in use. The status of the Cowra - Holmwood section will change to Operational hopefully sometime this year.

Is there a compelling reason why I hope new traffic?

None of the line is currently in use. The status of the Cowra - Holmwood section will change to Operational hopefully sometime this year.

Is there a compelling reason why I hope new traffic?

This freight wasn't on rail at the time and was prospective.  Weddin shire still has the report online. Refer to page 19 for where it says there would be 9000 TEU per year each way (9000 up, 9000 down).  Plenty of other interesting volume there too.

This of course needs to be updated but there were some decent existing volumes identified at the time.

http://www.weddin.nsw.gov.au/Media/WeddinShireCouncil/Engineering/SamromReport.pdf

Here is an announcement from Nestle https://www.nestle.com.au/en/media/pressreleases/nestle-purina-petcare-creates-100-jobs-and-invests-65m-in-nsw-central-west on the recent development.  Would the development if they used rail accomodate a siding to the plant obviously lowering costs?

Is there any hope for fresh produce from the lower end of the line around Young?  

NSWRAIL.NET has the line as open clearly not correct

https://nswrail.net/lines/show.php?name=NSW:blayney_demondrille