Gippsland Southern Railway Connect are in the stages of forming a new committee and accordingly working with the PTV and VicTrack in the process of building a heritage rail preservation organisation.
Led by Leongatha resident Doug Pell, a group of six local business people and railway enthusiasts has over the last few months, been in discussions with VicTrack, which owns the railway land, and they say they’ve been granted permission to run a train from Korumburra to Kardella.
“We’ve pretty well got the go ahead,” says Mr Pell.
“We’ve just got to go through the accreditation process, but that’s not a problem. That’s just paperwork.”
Yup.Led by Leongatha resident Doug Pell, a group of six local business people and railway enthusiasts has over the last few months, been in discussions with VicTrack, which owns the railway land, and they say they’ve been granted permission to run a train from Korumburra to Kardella.
“We’ve pretty well got the go ahead,” says Mr Pell.
“We’ve just got to go through the accreditation process, but that’s not a problem. That’s just paperwork.”
Doesn't sound like he fully understands what killed off the SGR...
Doesn't help that it's basically in an area that sucks for tourists...
Is all the rolling stock still based at the old SGR yard?some of it is still there
“We’ve just got to go through the accreditation process, but that’s not a problem. That’s just paperwork.”Let's see.
No it's not, mate - it's bureaucratic Utopia.
PTV, ONRSR, an insurer (public liability and volunteers insurance), WorkSafe, local water authorities...LD in this scenario do you need to deal with BOTH PTV and VicTrack and BOTH ONRSR and TSV?
But the Big Kahuna is ONRSR/TSV.
All of the rollingstock is still there besidesdidn't the Y class go to the Yarra valley railway?
MT200 (Derm/Brill) trailer which is now at Daylesford
The 2 ganger trolleys have been moved was told they went to Walhalla
All of the rollingstock is still there besidesdidn't the Y class go to the Yarra valley railway?
MT200 (Derm/Brill) trailer which is now at Daylesford
The 2 ganger trolleys have been moved was told they went to Walhalla
RAIL INFRASTRUCTURE SURVEY COMPLETED
Today Southern Rail completed its rail infrastructure survey. The survey involved us walking the 36km rail corridor between Nyora and Leongatha whilst stopping at each station.
Some of the surveyed items are:
Checking the rail & rail related items.
Sleepers.
Ballast.
Earth works & drainage.
Bridge and road crossing conditions.
We are very pleased to report that the conditions of these items are to a standard that we expected. With this survey now completed we can take this data to our rail construction contractor for final project scope analysis and finalisation of costing. This information will now be shared in our meetings with various state government bodies, we have had preliminary discussions and have been called in to discuss going further.
A survey from Nyora to Clyde is currently been planned.
Southern Rail is committed to returning rail services to South Gippsland to showcase the area to the growing tourism market through our planned heritage trains in turn boosting the local economy and providing over 80 jobs for the area.
When you take away the weeds and fallen trees, the railway line is in very good condition and can be brought up to a very high standard by our rail contractors so we can operate a commuter service reliably. With the railway infrastructure bones being at such a very good standard we are disappointed that the Korumburra Round Table Group are still pushing council to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars in removing this vital piece of infrastructure. There are options for them to achieve their goals and promote the return of rail, not in the next 50 years but in the next 4 to 5. Government is looking for private partners to help with these kinds of projects.
Remember once the infrastructure is removed, you make it very hard for it to be returned.
If you would like the rail service to return now is the time to act. Please share this post to all the community group pages if you want to see the rail service returned to South Gippsland by Southern Rail
Hi everyone, just a quick update on a few things that Southern Rail have been doing of late. Firstly, once again thank you for such a great response to our last post about the railway infrastructure survey we conducted. With over 170 shares on the post, it's really pleasing that our project has been shared by the community in large numbers. We know that the community are in desperate need of a passenger train, as the other forms of public transport in South Gippsland are not able to cope with the growing population or suite the communities needs. It is really disappointing that the council can not see the high demand by the community for the railways return. Southern Rail will construct and operate a reliable rail passenger service for the South Gippsland region, that will integrate with existing and future bus services giving the whole community the transport system they deserve.
So what's been happening since the infrastructure survey?
We have compiled a detailed track and infrastructure report, which will be used in forming a more detailed and accurate plan for the project. We have been in discussions with various government and corporate bodies which will help get the project off the ground and ensure we are successful in producing and maintaining such a vital service for many years to come.
With the state election just around the corner once again there is major investment in rail all over Victoria, but sadly not for South Gippsland. Southern Rail are constantly working very hard to change that outcome and to ensure that we return rail to the community of South Gippsland.
Finally the name change. We feel the name; Southern Rail Group, better summarises what our group wishes to achieve. Southern Rail will return the railway for public transport, tourism and logistics.
Please keep sharing our project with a strong community voice we can make it happen. In the meantime enjoy a photo taken from the railway just west of a foggy Korumburra morning.
Question: is there any other "preservation" group in Australia that currently operates something more than a tourist-oriented service, or that has future plans to? I am not too familiar with the preservation scene so sorry if that's a dumb question.Bendigo Tramways have done trials in the past and still have a 'commuter pass' for locals, but they aren't running commuter-oriented services.
Of course, as those familiar with the VGR will no doubt vouch for, the big hurdle to any such proposal would be the reluctance of the authorities to allow a "preservation" service to interface with the mainline in any way.I wouldn't say that's been the VGR's experience, as their partnership with Steamrail Victoria has shown.
True but that is with V/Line Heritage Crews and I assume they don't come cheap.Of course, as those familiar with the VGR will no doubt vouch for, the big hurdle to any such proposal would be the reluctance of the authorities to allow a "preservation" service to interface with the mainline in any way.I wouldn't say that's been the VGR's experience, as their partnership with Steamrail Victoria has shown.
Sorry, I was thinking more in 2004(?) when VGR began running into Castlemaine for the first time - weren’t there some major safeworking changes required to keep whoever was the infrastructure manager at the time happy?If by major safe working changes you mean waiting a year or so for FA to book the Castlemaine > Maryborough line out of service then yes!
That'll be what I was thinking of then, thanks.Sorry, I was thinking more in 2004(?) when VGR began running into Castlemaine for the first time - weren’t there some major safeworking changes required to keep whoever was the infrastructure manager at the time happy?If by major safe working changes you mean waiting a year or so for FA to book the Castlemaine > Maryborough line out of service then yes!
As I have posted before Hell will freeze over before the RTBU will sanction volunteer drivers on the V/Line or Metro networks. Aint gonna happen. Apart from the obvious safety and insurance ramifications it would open the flood gates to any old organisation declaring themselves a Heritage operator and running trains without paying crews (ie it's a thin edge of the wedge argument)
Any THR who wished to interface with the "real" railway would need to pay for V/Line crews and use V/Lines accreditation or get their own accreditation (hugely expensive and time consuming) and employ their own crews (note employed not volunteers).
BG
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