News & Discussion: Regional Transport

[Wilfy 2007]

Good morning,

Has everybody done their submissions for the Rail Service to the Barossa.

Date for Subissions for SA railways improvements closes on the 25th of October.

Regards,

[Somebody]

Has everybody done their submissions for the Rail Service to the Barossa.

"Everybody"? I'm not doing one as I'm not one of those train foamers who think every town needs an infrequent welfare on wheels train cos its better than a much more frequent bus cos it runs on rails.

Have you seen my signature on Failpage lately? I reckon the people of the Barossa would think on the same lines..

[Xaragmata]

Barossa Wine Train may return to service in March, in time for Barossa Under the Stars / March 14 if accreditation,
track access fees and insurance can be resolved. (Advertiser - Statewide - Saturday 8 Nov - P50)

[SRW]

Train set to get back on track BAROSSA VALLEY
MICHAEL OWEN, STATE POLITICAL REPORTER
The Advertiser, 8 November 2008

STATE Labor and Liberal MPs are working with the owners of the Barossa Wine Train to see it returned to service by March.

MPs hope a rebirth of the privately-run tourism attraction will happen before the next Barossa Under the Stars event, featuring U.S. musician Chris Isaak, on March 14 in Tanunda.

The city-Tanunda train, which features three renovated Bluebird railcars, stopped running in April, 2003, because of then-skyrocketing public liability insurance premiums.

In 2006, the 1952 Bluebird carriages were to be sold to Sri Lanka. They were saved in a multi-million-dollar rescue deal brokered between the Proud Australia company and entrepreneur John Geber, who owns the heritage-listed Chateau Tanunda complex at Tanunda. But since then, planned relaunches have been repeatedly delayed by issues involving accreditation, track access and fees and insurance.

A Geber spokesman told The Advertiser his company was working closely with a State Government agency to help ``speed things up''.

Labor Member for Light Tony Piccolo said the ``key outstanding issue is achieving accredited rail safety status''.

It is understood Mr Geber is being frustrated by red-tape delays in the accreditation process.

Independent MP Bob Such said ``the Government does not seem to be interested in doing anything for Adelaide - it wants it to remain a retirement village''.

Liberal Member for Schubert Ivan Venning urged the Government to adopt a ``can-do mentality'' and said it ``would be lovely to have the train back on the tracks before the next Barossa Under the Stars''.

Mr Piccolo said the Government ``supports the return'' of the train and a project team of representatives from the Tourism Commission and the Transport, Trade and Economic Development, and Premier and Cabinet departments was working with the owners.

Here's hoping it gets off the ground. I'd be a grateful passenger!

[Somebody]

Wilfy, you better make sure these guys don't get anywhere near any of your railcars to the Barossa:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 87,00.html

[Wilfy 2007]

Wilfy, you better make sure these guys don't get anywhere near any of your railcars to the Barossa:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/st ... 87,00.html

Somebody,

Have to purchase the Railcars first mate, Yes.

Regards,

[deano91]

I just found this on AdelaideNow, and couldn't find a suitable topic to chuck it into. Mods feel free to merge if there is a suitable place for it.

Barossa to Adelaide rail service 'secrets'

Article from: The Advertiser

JOANNA VAUGHAN

June 17, 2009 12:30am

INQUIRIES into a passenger rail service from the Barossa Valley to Adelaide's city centre are being kept secret by the State Government.

It has completed 13 investigations into rail services to the Barossa Valley in the past five years, but will not release details of any of them.

A document released under Freedom of Information laws shows the Transport Department has prepared the series, including an executive paper on a trial service for a Barossa express, a draft paper on a proposal for Barossa services and a report to look at opportunity.

The Government also has prepared an executive paper on a service train trial between Adelaide and Angaston and a report on a working document for an Adelaide-Tanunda train service, as well as a working document for an Adelaide-Barossa Metroticket train service.

The FoI request answer stated no documents would be released because they might go to Cabinet. "While there is a public interest . . . those interests are outweighed by the need to ensure that the confidentially of the Cabinet process is maintained," it says. "The premature release of the information could infringe on the confidentiality of future Cabinet considerations."

Family First MLC Dennis Hood said he did not see any reason for the secrecy. "Clearly, the department is investigating a rail service to the Barossa at some level and yet the Government remains highly secretive as to the purpose of these investigations," he said.

"Family First has been calling for a resumption of rail services to the Barossa for some time now and sees no reason for the secrecy."

Transport Minister Patrick Conlon said the Government had been perfectly clear on its plan for public transport.

"Reinstating passenger rail services to the Barossa is not part of the State Government's current transport plans," he said.

A parliamentary inquiry into public transport and a resumption of Barossa passenger rail services specifically will start hearing evidence today week.

I think it would definately be interesting to see a trial of this sort of service to see whether or not it is a feasible idea.

[Norman]

Might be an election thing for March 2010 for Labor.

[Cruise]

wilfy would be blowing his load over this

[Wilfy 2007]

Might be an election thing for March 2010 for Labor.

Norman,

it sure will be an election thing.
It is putting the Rann Government and Patrick Conlon on notice.
regards,

[Wilfy 2007]

wilfy would be blowing his load over this

Cruise,
Nothing like that will happen.
But I am very happy that Dennis Hood from the Family First party was able to find out how many reports have actually been carried out.
Trans Adelaide actually did another survey at the Gawler Stations on the 2nd of this month, one day before the rail inquiry started.

We have been told before that survey's Reports had been done but Patrick Conlon refused to make them public.
Regards,

[Wilfy 2007]

Gidday,
I was invited to attend the Rail Inquiry at Parliament house last Wednesday the 24th of June.
It was a very interesting meeting with 8 to 10 people giving respones about a possible service to the Barossa.
I certainly learnt a lot and some facts and figures that came out of the meeting are certainly very interesting.
Regards,

[Hindley Street Alley]

It would be really awesome if there was a standard service to the Barossa!!!

Why is there not a standard service now?

One other thing is that there are 100's of new homes that will be built in the Barossa over the next few years (even see that there are a few new estates in Lyndoch)...

I might even consider moving there if I could get some damn public transport. Seems like it would make sense to have public transport there. Any comments?

[Norman]

It's not exactly easy as in just to send down a few trains. There's a few factors that have to be considered:

• The residents in the Barossa will have to pay more for car registration, as they lose their rural car rego concession
• Track usage will have to be discussed with other users (ie G&W)
• Extra rolling stock will be needed
• Who will pay for track and station upgrades

[Wilfy 2007]

It's not exactly easy as in just to send down a few trains. There's a few factors that have to be considered:

• The residents in the Barossa will have to pay more for car registration, as they lose their rural car rego concession
• Track usage will have to be discussed with other users (ie G&W)
• Extra rolling stock will be needed
• Who will pay for track and station upgrades

Norman,
The Barossa residents only get a reduction of $24.00 a year, $2.00 a month.
GWA has already stated they will not stand in the way of a Passenger Railway service
3 Railcars is all that is needed in the beginning.
GWA and TransAdelaide/Dept of Transport could share the costs.
Freight could also be transported from the Barossa to Port Adelaide.
Regards,