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Wow! I remember back in the 1980s when the Eyre Peninsula Network paid for the rest of the state's network. Basically, it seems that it's been allowed to run down to the point where it's no longer viable. Could it possibly be in the Government's (in the publics') interest to upgrade the system to keep grain on rail? Probably, but unlikely that they will.
Being run down to the point that it is no longer viable seems to have been the GWA standard operating practice across all of SA's former regional rail network. Perhaps it is only continuing the trend from previous government ownership.
Presumably the outcome of the DPTI+GWA review was to determine that the road network upgrades are more cost-effective than the rail network upgrades that would be needed from the current state.
[quote=rhino post_id=177863 time=<a href="tel:1551221637">1551221637</a> user_id=70]
Wow! I remember back in the 1980s when the Eyre Peninsula Network paid for the rest of the state's network. Basically, it seems that it's been allowed to run down to the point where it's no longer viable. Could it possibly be in the Government's (in the publics') interest to upgrade the system to keep grain on rail? Probably, but unlikely that they will.
Being run down to the point that it is no longer viable seems to have been the GWA standard operating practice across all of SA's former regional rail network. Perhaps it is only continuing the trend from previous government ownership.
Presumably the outcome of the DPTI+GWA review was to determine that the road network upgrades are more cost-effective than the rail network upgrades that would be needed from the current state.
[/quote]
I'm sure their review would show that. It is a false economy though isn't it? Road upgrades are invariably band aid solutions to only the most critical points, then the local residents are left to contend with crumbling roads over most of the area, as the number and weight of trucks tear up roads never designed for such traffic. Then the upgrades that are done, require resurfacing within 20 years.
Shared in a railway forum I follow, originally posted by The Port Lincoln Tourist Railway Lobby Group on their Facebook page.
Hello! And welcome to the Port Lincoln Tourist Railway Lobby Group's official Facebook page.
We are a group of enthusiastic railway enthusiasts who have all formed together to now lobby for the soon to be closed Eyre Peninsula Railway line out of Port Lincoln to have a section retained and converted to a Tourist Railway.
We are in the process of devising feasible as well as realistic ideas to try and have at least the section between Port Lincoln and Cummins retained and to operate tourist trains on this line.
We believe a tourist railway here would create a revitalisation of the Eyre Peninsula, so here is where we should all get together and make it happen!
Thanks
PLTRLG Committee
(Please note we are NOT affiliated with the Port Lincoln Railway Museum, Genessee Wyoming or any other railway or transport related entity, just a group of passionate enthusiasts who know better and who know how to really run a railway)
Followed up in the comments by:
We will be making a formal approach to the Port Lincoln Railway Museum on what they can do for us to make this vision a reality!
From ABC South East SA's Facebook page about the CSIRO's freight rail and road study
RAIL STUDY ALMOST READY
A report card on the possibility of a viable freight rail route in the South East is due to be released in September.
The CSIRO began its investigation into the possibility of reinvigorating the South East's dormant rail freight corridors - including the Mount Gambier, Heywood and Wolseley lines - in November last year.
Dr Elizabeth Perkins from the Limestone Coast RDA says the study is building data on the current freight task.
From ABC South East SA's Facebook page about the CSIRO's freight rail and road study
RAIL STUDY ALMOST READY
A report card on the possibility of a viable freight rail route in the South East is due to be released in September.
The CSIRO began its investigation into the possibility of reinvigorating the South East's dormant rail freight corridors - including the Mount Gambier, Heywood and Wolseley lines - in November last year.
Dr Elizabeth Perkins from the Limestone Coast RDA says the study is building data on the current freight task.
This has been in the pipeline for a while, and may prove a double edge sword. There have been strong rumors the study will find it more economic for rail freight to be East out of Mount Gambier ie linking with the Western Victorian network and not North to Port Adelaide. It would effectively make SA's Limestone coast a shire of Victoria (as far as rail is concerned anyway). The Victorians are spending a lot on rail on their side of the border, and you can guarantee if it makes their upgrades more financially feasible to grab trade from over the border...that they will, by pushing their lines through. Same goes for the Riverland.
From ABC South East SA's Facebook page about the CSIRO's freight rail and road study
RAIL STUDY ALMOST READY
A report card on the possibility of a viable freight rail route in the South East is due to be released in September.
The CSIRO began its investigation into the possibility of reinvigorating the South East's dormant rail freight corridors - including the Mount Gambier, Heywood and Wolseley lines - in November last year.
Dr Elizabeth Perkins from the Limestone Coast RDA says the study is building data on the current freight task.
This has been in the pipeline for a while, and may prove a double edge sword. There have been strong rumors the study will find it more economic for rail freight to be East out of Mount Gambier ie linking with the Western Victorian network and not North to Port Adelaide. It would effectively make SA's Limestone coast a shire of Victoria (as far as rail is concerned anyway). The Victorians are spending a lot on rail on their side of the border, and you can guarantee if it makes their upgrades more financially feasible to grab trade from over the border...that they will, by pushing their lines through. Same goes for the Riverland.
A hundred years ago, Victoria was pushing its railways into southern New South Wales to gain freight for its ports.
South Australia lacks a decent port west of the Mount Lofty Ranges, and a decent railway line over them. If we took state rivalry away, then exports through Portland make sense for both the Southeast and Riverland areas, especially if the Morkalla line was reopened and extended to Loxton.
The southeastern railways were originally built to access the ports at Beachport and Kingston SE, but neither of those is suitable for modern shipping. Is there anywhere between Portland and Cape Jervis that could be developed into a modern, safe bulk and/or container port?
So long as freight is being transferred from road to rail I don't much mind if it's Vic that benefits. Although I wonder (being mostly unfamiliar with regional rail) if the equation for the Riverland would change if somehow linked to Mildura (via Barmera or Pinaroo lines??), given Adelaide is much closer to Mildura than Geelong or Melbourne.
So long as freight is being transferred from road to rail I don't much mind if it's Vic that benefits. Although I wonder (being mostly unfamiliar with regional rail) if the equation for the Riverland would change if somehow linked to Mildura (via Barmera or Pinaroo lines??), given Adelaide is much closer to Mildura than Geelong or Melbourne.
Fair enough it makes economic sense on a national level to export from the Limestone Coast via Portland, however the Vics also want to push over the border to capture the Riveland/Mallee freight. SA just sits back and lets its regional rail go to ruin, and its trade go east. Lost rail and port jobs for SA. Just as it makes more sense to freight from SE SA via Portland, it makes sense to freight NW Victoria via Adelaide....but you can bet that will also go via Geelong, along with Mallee and Riverland trade from SA. We should be as aggressive at capturing some of the Victorian Regional trade, where it makes sense to do so.
South Australia lacks a decent port west of the Mount Lofty Ranges, and a decent railway line over them. If we took state rivalry away, then exports through Portland make sense for both the Southeast and Riverland areas, especially if the Morkalla line was reopened and extended to Loxton.
All our ports are west of the Mount Lofty Ranges. We have none east of the ranges.
The southeastern railways were originally built to access the ports at Beachport and Kingston SE, but neither of those is suitable for modern shipping. Is there anywhere between Portland and Cape Jervis that could be developed into a modern, safe bulk and/or container port?
About 20 years ago the government of the day wanted to build an export port at Cape Jaffa. The huge woodchip plantations and the pulp mill were going to need an export facility, and Portland couldn't handle containers and had no room for expansion.
From memory, the Cape Jaffa locals thought that an export port would detract from the amenity of the district, and petitioned against it. Plans were then made to rail the pulp in containers to Port Adelaide for export (the ports at Portland and Port Adelaide were both owned by Flinders Ports).
South Australia lacks a decent port west of the Mount Lofty Ranges, and a decent railway line over them. If we took state rivalry away, then exports through Portland make sense for both the Southeast and Riverland areas, especially if the Morkalla line was reopened and extended to Loxton.
All our ports are west of the Mount Lofty Ranges. We have none east of the ranges.
The southeastern railways were originally built to access the ports at Beachport and Kingston SE, but neither of those is suitable for modern shipping. Is there anywhere between Portland and Cape Jervis that could be developed into a modern, safe bulk and/or container port?
About 20 years ago the government of the day wanted to build an export port at Cape Jaffa. The huge woodchip plantations and the pulp mill were going to need an export facility, and Portland couldn't handle containers and had no room for expansion.
From memory, the Cape Jaffa locals thought that an export port would detract from the amenity of the district, and petitioned against it. Plans were then made to rail the pulp in containers to Port Adelaide for export (the ports at Portland and Port Adelaide were both owned by Flinders Ports).
Oops - you're right I meant east of the Mount Lofty Ranges. There are several ports with fishing fleets, and Victor Harbor, Beachport and Kingston SE (at least) have previously carried bagged grain, but shipping technology has moved on a long way since then. I doubt any of them have space deep enough for modern ships and shelter suitable to use them safely in an ordinary storm.
I don't remember the Cape Jaffa proposal. I guess it didn't go far.
Port Wakefield Overpass and Highway Duplication Project - Concept Animation July 2019
I think this has been well thought out. I like it.
The "bypass" bit is interesting - presumably all those servos will have back entrances added so that they get all of the Southbound business as well as the Northbound. They would be happy with this as they have more usable land.
Port Wakefield Overpass and Highway Duplication Project - Concept Animation July 2019
I think this has been well thought out. I like it.
The "bypass" bit is interesting - presumably all those servos will have back entrances added so that they get all of the Southbound business as well as the Northbound. They would be happy with this as they have more usable land.
I like the change to the Copper Coast highway intersection.
I think the southbound bypass needs a little more refinement, particularly the Balaklava Road realignmnt. If the servos have back entrances and effectively end up on a large median strip, then their aprons are going to become the main road between Port Wakefield and Balaklava, rather than what appears to be the requirement in the concept video that vehicles have to come out of town, turn north onto the highway, then do a U-turn and go halfway back south to turn into the Balaklava Road. BP is going to become the usual route to alaklava Road, so it might as well facilitate there being a proper road on its southern side not just a car/truck park.
