News & Discussion: Regional Transport

[Heardy_101]

Would love to see 160 km or 200 km traind goin to iron triangle riverland mount gambier it would open up investment in these rural towns in my opinion tourism yes might cost a bit but at least infrastructure is there then . poiticians have no vision sadly lol . just a opinion .

There is no doubt that a rural rail network would create investment, employment, tourism and revitalisation to the areas they run through. Industry and businesses will want to set up in those towns and along the lines.

As for 168-200kms hour... Maybe not anytime soon.

I do have a draft for a Iron triangle passenger service that would run Monday's and Friday's twice on those days but haven't progressed far with it.

[Heardy_101]

Bit of an update.

Journalists from the Sunday Mail have spoken with another SARRA representative today in Burra, we are of the understanding that there is to be a two page spread in this weekends Sunday Mail.

ABC North and West 639 AM have also done a few reports on SARRA as well, and meetings will soon be taking place with the Liberals and SA BEST.

[Goodsy]

What's the punishment if Genesee and Wyoming don't maintain the lines? could the government just announce that they're returning services to those lines then force G&W to hand the lines back when they find out they're stuffed?

[[Shuz]]

Legally, they're already in breach. Significantly. The government is just looking the other way. Disgraceful.

[Heardy_101]

What's the punishment if Genesee and Wyoming don't maintain the lines? could the government just announce that they're returning services to those lines then force G&W to hand the lines back when they find out they're stuffed?

This is the issue we are trying to resolve first and foremost.

Honestly the best case scenario we are outlining is GWA hand back the lines as they are and the Govt tender them out to interested parties (excluding GWA).

Even better scenario would be GWA are forced to fix them up to a minimum standard then hand them back as above.

Someone else suggested GWA are handed a massive fine. But that would draw out the process longer as they would appeal such a decision.

Watch this space.

[Heardy_101]

Legally, they're already in breach. Significantly. The government is just looking the other way. Disgraceful.

Been in breach for over 5 years, which is even more disgraceful.

Worse part is, Mulligan sends us a letter stating they must maintain the lines to such a standard so a train can run in two weeks notice. That's all when and good but when we point out that this is not the case and provide evidence, he goes back into his hidey hole.

[EBG]

This also applies to the lines to Pinaroo and the Murray Mallee. GWS just abandoned these lines and the State government just looked the other way and left the regional local councils to maintain the road network to cover for the increase in road transport.

[Heardy_101]

This also applies to the lines to Pinaroo and the Murray Mallee. GWS just abandoned these lines and the State government just looked the other way and left the regional local councils to maintain the road network to cover for the increase in road transport.

We're looking into those as well.

Pinnaroon in particular given over the border, victoria are currently standardising the Mildura line, it has potential as a second route to Melbourne

[claybro]

Legally, they're already in breach. Significantly. The government is just looking the other way. Disgraceful.

Been in breach for over 5 years, which is even more disgraceful.

Worse part is, Mulligan sends us a letter stating they must maintain the lines to such a standard so a train can run in two weeks notice. That's all when and good but when we point out that this is not the case and provide evidence, he goes back into his hidey hole.

Surely it is possible, for an interested party to take legal action on behalf of the state, as ultimately the infrastructure in question and the agreement in question relates to property formerly owned by the state on behalf of the residents of the state. It may well not be successful....but the messy legal arguments would create significant embarrassment for the State Government, and the operator of the line. Time for someone with depp pockets to step in and make all parties accountable.

[rhino]

What's the punishment if Genesee and Wyoming don't maintain the lines? could the government just announce that they're returning services to those lines then force G&W to hand the lines back when they find out they're stuffed?

I was under the impression that if GWA breached their conditions, the lines reverted to Government ownership. I guess not

[[Shuz]]

Legally, they're already in breach. Significantly. The government is just looking the other way. Disgraceful.

Been in breach for over 5 years, which is even more disgraceful.

Worse part is, Mulligan sends us a letter stating they must maintain the lines to such a standard so a train can run in two weeks notice. That's all when and good but when we point out that this is not the case and provide evidence, he goes back into his hidey hole.

Surely it is possible, for an interested party to take legal action on behalf of the state, as ultimately the infrastructure in question and the agreement in question relates to property formerly owned by the state on behalf of the residents of the state. It may well not be successful....but the messy legal arguments would create significant embarrassment for the State Government, and the operator of the line. Time for someone with depp pockets to step in and make all parties accountable.

Xenophon / SA Best - take note.

[rhino]

Honestly the best case scenario we are outlining is GWA hand back the lines as they are and the Govt tender them out to interested parties (excluding GWA).

Rather than tender them out to other interested parties (who will make a quick profit, defer maintenance and we'll be back to square one), I would like to see the State Govt take them back and run them. Yeah, they won't turn a profit running just grain and bulk, but they will save money currently being spent by rural councils, on roads that need to cope with long-distance grain haulage.

Honestly, I'm so sick of being told that private enterprise can do it better and cheaper, only to see services run down and prices go up. At least sell only to Australian companies, with clauses that any further sale has to be back to the Government, not to a multi-national who will take a quick profit which will go overseas, pay zero tax, and let the whole thing run down. If a private company doesn't like that clause, they don't have to buy the asset/service.

Interesting article in the news today regarding the billion dollars Engie pulled out of Loy Yang and hid overseas while claiming a government subsidy to keep the power station running. Bloody crooks! Less power, higher prices, no tax revenue, and profits hidden overseas. And still our governments tell us this is the better way to do things.

[rev]

Been in breach for over 5 years, which is even more disgraceful.

Worse part is, Mulligan sends us a letter stating they must maintain the lines to such a standard so a train can run in two weeks notice. That's all when and good but when we point out that this is not the case and provide evidence, he goes back into his hidey hole.

Surely it is possible, for an interested party to take legal action on behalf of the state, as ultimately the infrastructure in question and the agreement in question relates to property formerly owned by the state on behalf of the residents of the state. It may well not be successful....but the messy legal arguments would create significant embarrassment for the State Government, and the operator of the line. Time for someone with depp pockets to step in and make all parties accountable.

Xenophon / SA Best - take note.

He'd probably cut a side deal to shut up about it with the operators.

Besides are we sure there isn't some obscure clause or loophole in the contract that lets them get away with not maintaining the tracks?

[Heardy_101]

What's the punishment if Genesee and Wyoming don't maintain the lines? could the government just announce that they're returning services to those lines then force G&W to hand the lines back when they find out they're stuffed?

I was under the impression that if GWA breached their conditions, the lines reverted to Government ownership. I guess not

Been my point for the past few years.

[Heardy_101]

Surely it is possible, for an interested party to take legal action on behalf of the state, as ultimately the infrastructure in question and the agreement in question relates to property formerly owned by the state on behalf of the residents of the state. It may well not be successful....but the messy legal arguments would create significant embarrassment for the State Government, and the operator of the line. Time for someone with depp pockets to step in and make all parties accountable.

Xenophon / SA Best - take note.

He'd probably cut a side deal to shut up about it with the operators.

Besides are we sure there isn't some obscure clause or loophole in the contract that lets them get away with not maintaining the tracks?

We're expecting to have a meeting with Xenophon and SA BEST sometime this week, just waiting to hear back.

We've been through the Lease Agreement ten fold and back to front and upside down. Nothing about the above.