News & Discussion: Regional Transport

[train driver]

I believe there is a proposal for the SE from a Private Company that also intends to connect to Heywood and Portland as well as the Penola Mill hoo-ha, but haven't heard much about it. Then again it usually pops up every few months, so I'd fathom a guess it's due to re-appear in the press soon considering it has been 6 months since the last report

I heard those rumors myself, they would need about $100+m to get started I reckon, best up luck to them if they have that type of money.

[Heardy_101]

It would be good for the region. It is a shame that the Mount Gambier Council as well as Scotts (a legacy of the man himself, perhaps) are so anti-rail it's beyond a joke. Scotts could benefit by have a freight rail service of their own, lease a couple of locos or buy some second hand rollingstock and wagons (there is some older VR Locos for sale at the moment) and they would be set.

(Unfortunately, this may be too logical).

A new yard would have to be built on the outskirts of town otherwise there will be whinging about shunting in town.

[train driver]

It would be good for the region. It is a shame that the Mount Gambier Council as well as Scotts (a legacy of the man himself, perhaps) are so anti-rail it's beyond a joke. Scotts could benefit by have a freight rail service of their own, lease a couple of locos or buy some second hand rollingstock and wagons (there is some older VR Locos for sale at the moment) and they would be set.

(Unfortunately, this may be too logical).

A new yard would have to be built on the outskirts of town otherwise there will be whinging about shunting in town.

I think that you are right about the outskirts of the City, I will watch the SE with interest.

You mentioned Saddleworth railway station being demolished, that got me curious because I couldn/t remember that, so I spoke to a couple of my mates and they told me the the private owner, SACBH or Viterra demolished it sometime back

[[Shuz]]

Correct me if I'm wrong, the whinging isn't so much about the shunting process itself, but the fact that the shunting causes the level crossing & boomgates to be down for too long? Could always grade-seperate the intersections?

[train driver]

Correct me if I'm wrong, the whinging isn't so much about the shunting process itself, but the fact that the shunting causes the level crossing & boomgates to be down for too long? Could always grade-seperate the intersections?

There would be issues with road traffic delays at level crossings as you mention, road traffic movements through street near the rail yards as noise concerns eminating from the rail yards which would probably cause the EPA to prick up their ears and the yard probably isn't long enough for the length of trains today, it's not easy being a raily:)

[Heardy_101]

You mentioned Saddleworth railway station being demolished, that got me curious because I couldn/t remember that, so I spoke to a couple of my mates and they told me the the private owner, SACBH or Viterra demolished it sometime back.

2006 rings a bell.

While you may very well be correct, I do not believe that Viterra would have had any reason to demolish the Saddleworth Station, unless it was in the way, in which it wasn't. Viterra want to demolish the Burra Goods sheds for the same reason because it's in the way of the Truckies (boo friggin' hoo).

It is worth investigating more, I have exhausted myself trying to find answers regarding Saddleworth, I asked the local council and they couldn't tell me, and the DPTI won't answer questions regarding it either, and neither will GWA.

[train driver]

You mentioned Saddleworth railway station being demolished, that got me curious because I couldn/t remember that, so I spoke to a couple of my mates and they told me the the private owner, SACBH or Viterra demolished it sometime back.

2006 rings a bell.

While you may very well be correct, I do not believe that Viterra would have had any reason to demolish the Saddleworth Station, unless it was in the way, in which it wasn't. Viterra want to demolish the Burra Goods sheds for the same reason because it's in the way of the Truckies (boo friggin' hoo).

The answer is simple, it's cheaper for them to demolish than maintain and it definitely wasn't DPTI or GWA.

It is worth investigating more, I have exhausted myself trying to find answers regarding Saddleworth, I asked the local council and they couldn't tell me, and the DPTI won't answer questions regarding it either, and neither will GWA.

[Heardy_101]

Have been in contact with Robert Brokenshire; will post the details in the next few days when I get back home. In short, the Family First Party supports and is committed to the return of Regional Passenger Services in SA.

There was also mention of a campaign promise by Mike Rann at the last State Election to have Country Services returned to Port Pirie and Port Augusta.

Will post the details no later than Friday or Saturday.

Cheers.

[train driver]

Have been in contact with Robert Brokenshire; will post the details in the next few days when I get back home. In short, the Family First Party supports and is committed to the return of Regional Passenger Services in SA.

There was also mention of a campaign promise by Mike Rann at the last State Election to have Country Services returned to Port Pirie and Port Augusta.

Will post the details no later than Friday or Saturday.

Cheers.

The commitment you mention was in the Strategic Infrastructure Plan and it said--- "Encourage the shift to rail transport for passenger and freight movements where justi?ed by environmental, economic or social imperatives. Doesn't do it.

Family who they have two members in the Legislated council now and after the next election they will have none from the way they are polling, irrespective of who ever wins the election.

[skyliner]

It would be good for the region. It is a shame that the Mount Gambier Council as well as Scotts (a legacy of the man himself, perhaps) are so anti-rail it's beyond a joke. Scotts could benefit by have a freight rail service of their own, lease a couple of locos or buy some second hand rollingstock and wagons (there is some older VR Locos for sale at the moment) and they would be set.

(Unfortunately, this may be too logical).

A new yard would have to be built on the outskirts of town otherwise there will be whinging about shunting in town.

HEARDY, i think some of the anomosity has built up over the years till closure due to the way the yards were operated. VERY noisy in the centre of town, a loco shed with places for 9 engines inferred much activity - right through the night every night with shunting, many steam locos that were loud and smoky (lots of soot) with very loud generators that could be heard at some distance. Diesels just added oily smoke.This, together with regular blockages (by shunting) of the main Nth/Sth thoroughfares made for great annoyance. Throw in the Victorian input and you start to understand. This scenario lasted for years. Yet, for all this, I am strongly in favour of rail development in MG.

[Heardy_101]

As promised, these are the Media Releases from Family First MLC Robert Brokenshire. They are from last year but a good read nonetheless, and are in Chronological order.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT REVIEW NEEDED
Thursday 8 March 2012

Family First MLC Rob Brokenshire has called for the State Government to conduct a review of the public transport needs of those living in regional areas of South Australia, after Eudunda residents protested at being identified in late February as “our biggest fuel guzzler”. “Quite rightly these residents highlighted that they had no choice but to use fuel, because they have no public transport options into Adelaide other than driving in”, Mr Brokenshire said, “And little wonder when the Government spends $227 in Adelaide for every $1 it spends in regional SA on public transport”

The Weatherill Government told one constituent “”Your correspondence was forwarded to the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) for advice. As previously advised the State Government has no plans to operate passenger regional rail services at this time. Public transport is heavily subsidised by taxpayers and all investments must be seen in balance with the needs of all south Australians. The State Government is investing more than $2 billion to revitalise our public transport network which includes electrification of the Noarlunga, outer Harbor and Gawler lines, new electric railcars, the refurbishment of existing railcars, a new metro card ticketing system, station infrastructure upgrades and extending Adelaide's light rail network. The State Government currently supports a range of public transport services in regional and rural communities and invests over $8.8 million per year in Operating subsidies and concession Reimbursements”

“I agree with my constituent’s disgust at this response - $2 billion spent in Adelaide on public transport but only $8.8m in regional areas”

“I note that after Family First’s motion to investigate public transport needs for the whole state in 2008, the Committee found there was merit in extending the Gawler line a little further to Concordia and Buckland Park, as well as restoring passenger services to Mount Barker. Park and ride facilities there would help those living near to Adelaide get into the metropolitan area. There was also hope for Mount Gambier passenger rail and hope for Whyalla and Broken Hill services, as the gauge is already what is needed for the service”

*******

Letter to Ms Fox from Robert Brokenshire
Regional South Australian transport services
Tuesday, 13 March 2012

Dear Minister

I write on behalf of constituents from regional areas of South Australia who would like to have more public transport operating in their regional area, or who are constituents living in near-Adelaide regional areas who would like to have the benefit of public transport provision into Adelaide.

I appreciate that your Government is spending in excess of $2 billion on public transport in the metropolitan Adelaide area, and has budgeted approximately of $8 million on public transport concessions in regional South Australia.
I note that in advance of the 2010 State Election the then Rann Government promised:

- A re-elected Rann Government will improve and expand our Community Passenger Networks.
- We will establish a new network to cover Port Pirie, Whyalla and Port Augusta ensuring the vast majority of regional South Australia is covered.
- We will also establish a Community Transport Branch within the Department for Families and Communities to regulate, better co-ordinate and expand the number of people our Community Transport Networks help.
And further:

Labor recognises that an effective transport system is a lifeline to rural and regional South Australia, providing rural and regional communities with improved access to economic, education and employment opportunities. We are committed to ensuring that rural and regional South Australia is linked to a well planned, sophisticated, safe and efficient transport system.

Yet in its 2010 election commitments the Government made no firm commitment to any expansion of rural and regional public transport systems other than the Community Passenger Networks proposal I have outlined above.

Family First welcomed the provision of free public transport during some daytime hours for senior citizens, as we had been calling for fare relief for senior citizens before that decision was made. One concern we have now is that, so far as we know, no equivalent relief for the cost of public transport services has been given to senior citizens who do not live on the metropolitan public transport network – that is, in regional South Australia. Some senior citizens in regional South Australia are dependent on public transport due to their health.

I ask :

1. What plans your Government has for additional public transport services in regional South Australia?
2. How is the Government progressing with its 2010 State Election commitments on community passenger networks?
3. Will you review public transport options throughout regional South Australia?

Robert Brokenshire MLC

*******

Ms Fox's response to Mr Brokenshire
12 June 2012

Dear Mr Brokenshire,

Thank you for your email dated March 13, 2012, on behalf of your constituents, regarding public transport services in regional areas of South Australia, I apologise for the delay in responding to you.

The State Government is continuing to develop and expand the Community Passenger
Network (CPN) services in South Australia. At present, CPNs cover 13 rural and two metropolitan regions to co-ordinate broker and provide transport services for eligible Home and Community Care clients, and people who are transport disadvantaged.

The continued development of the community transport services ensures that people with disabilities, and people who are transport disadvantaged in regional areas who cannot access or use existing transport options do not become isolated in their homes, and have access to social support.

During the first half of the 2011-12 financial year, the CPNs reported the transport of 17,595 individual one-way passenger trips in 3,804 vehicle trips totalling a distance of 701,588 kilometres for 3,595 different clients.

In addition to direct transport provision the CPNs:
• responded to 1,319 general transport enquiries and referrals;
• coordinated alterations to 2.179 appointments on behalf of clients, to better align
with existing available transport
• brokered 5,363 services to commercial public transport in which the CPN had
partially or wholly financially contributed towards that service; and
• for those that are a booking agent for certain commercial public transport services,
brokered 3,325 services on behalf of clients.

Negotiations have commenced with Councils in the Inner Southern and Eastern metropolitan regions to determine the feasibility and requirements of CPNs in those regions.

In addition, the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion is currently in negotiation with the Commonwealth Government regarding the ongoing funding and development arrangements for CPNs.

As previously advised, there are currently no plans to introduce additional public transport services in regional South Australia. However current service levels will be maintained and are regularly reviewed to ensure that the services are meeting the needs of the majority of the public in major regional communities.

The Government is committed to supporting regional public transport services and currently invests over $8.8 million in operating subsidies and concession reimbursements to regional operators. A range of contracting models is in place in regional areas as different communities have different needs. As such, the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure invests significant time in planning regional services to ensure that these transport models are best suited to individual community needs, and will continue to regularly review regional transport options.

I trust the above information will enable you to respond to your constituents.

Yours sincerely,

Chloe Fox MP

*******

OUTER METRO, REGIONAL TRANSPORT PLAN NEEDED
Tuesday 18 September 2012

FAMILY FIRST MLC Robert Brokenshire has declared he is sick and tired of the neglect of outer metropolitan and regional South Australian transport needs, calling for a multi-partisan State Transport Plan.

“This State Labor Government has never had a Statewide Transport Plan and there are always cut backs and service neglect in regional areas as the government focus on metropolitan seats that Labor needs for re-election in 2014”

“We need rail re-development through Mount Gambier linking Murray Bridge and Tailem Bend using existing rail corridors and major upgrades to Victor Harbor Road as part of the 30 Year Plan for Greater Adelaide”

“This and many other improvements to regional public transport, rail and highways should be part of a master plan that goes through Parliament to become, for the first time, a Statewide Transport Plan backed by legislation.”

“The ad hoc metropolitan and regional transport improvements have to stop, future Governments regardless of their composition ought to be working from the same plan in the State’s best interests.”

“Improved rail opportunities and intermodal transport hubs (rail to road and vice versa) sites like Monarto provide an opportunity for instance for grain and other heavy goods to come off of the roads and onto rail”

Mr Brokenshire has recently received a response from the Minister for Transport Services indicating the Government had no plan to improve public transport offerings in regional areas.

“The lack of continuity of bus contracts in rural and outer metropolitan areas means the aged and frail, young people and others have difficulty accessing medical, shopping and entertainment opportunities like you can in the city, and in some cases deprives them from being able to visit loved ones”

[Heardy_101]

This is a follow-up letter I sent early last week to Chloe Fox seeing as she has taken the liberty to ignore me.

Dear Ms Fox,

First of all I cannot express how disappointed and disgusted I am with your response to the Burra Railway Petition, tabled by Mr Dan van Holst Pellekaan on September 4, 2012. Not only have you shown a lack of detailed understanding but also complete ignorance and total arrogance that is reminiscent of you predecessors, in particular that of Mr Conlon and Jane Lomax-Smith. Before responding to such a petition, please have some knowledge and detailed understanding of what you are talking about. I refer to your comments about the Burra line being a “different gauge to the Metro lines”. This is false; the Burra line (as well as all of the Mid North lines), and the Metro lines, are all in Irish Broad Gauge (5 foot 3 inches). So can you please explain to me how the gauges are different?

It is also worth noting that, in the Lease Agreement that Genesee & Wyoming Australia have with the South Australian Government in regards to the Mid North lines (Including Burra, Kapunda and Balaklava), they must:

“Keep the Lessee's Property clean and in good repair and condition"… “keep any buildings on the Land clean and in good condition…”

So far, there is no evidence of this part of the lease being upheld. Stations that are not privately owned are being left to rot, along with the Railway lines themselves. In all retrospect, according to the same lease agreement, if GWA don't run a loco along the lines every 12 months then they must surrender the lines back to the Government. Trains of any sort haven't run along the Mid North lines since 2004 (Balaklava) and 2007 (Burra line). So according to the lease agreement, then the lines are, or rather should be, under Government control again, not under GWA, and therefore, it is the Government's problem, not GWA's.

Second of all, I am even more disappointed and annoyed by the fact that you have taken the time to respond to others in regards to the matter, but have ignored me. Why is this? Do you think the matter will go away? Wrong.

All I ask is that the Government provide proper, detailed answers to the following questions in regards to rail in this state, in particular with GWA and the Regional lines.

1) Has the Minister given consent to demolish the Nuriootpa and Saddleworth Railway Stations, and been satisfied that they are no longer required for safe, efficient and effective use of the railway line and have the reports been prepared and laid before both Houses of Parliament? Are these publicly available?

2) Was there a detailed and proper investigation/survey conducted by the Rann Government into Passenger Rail to the Barossa? And if so was this survey/investigation paid for by public taxes? And in what year (s) were the surveys conducted? Is this also publicly available?

3) If such a survey was properly conducted and paid for by us the public of South Australia, why has there been no publication of the results including the costings of the passenger rail to the Barossa? How was the survey conducted and how many people were surveyed?

4) Why has GWA not followed though on the lease agreement when it states they must “keep the Lessee's Property clean and in good repair and condition...keep any buildings on the Land clean and in good condition...”, and why has the Nuriootpa, Angaston, Burra buildings and other railway infrastructure been allowed to fall into such a state of disrepair in some cases to the point where they now have to be demolished or can’t be operated on?

5) When will GWA (or the DPTI) be made accountable to uphold the lease agreement and repair or replace if need be stations and the rail lines to Angaston, including the station itself, Nuriootpa station, Burra including the line and buildings that GWA hold a lease agreement for these railway corridors and properties as well?

6) Why does the State Govt allocate tax payers money to a private bus company (Barossa Valley Coaches) bus services, by making a “substantial contribution to the local public transport by funding all concessions to the private bus operator”, but refused to help the Barossa Wine train, which in itself was a privately owned business?

7) Why does the (now former) transport minister the Patrick Conlon refuse to release any reports into a Barossa railway? Including the reports on the survey that the Govt have claimed to investigated? And why does this STATE Government allow tax payers dollars to go towards making a substantial contribution to the local public transport by funding all concessions to the private bus operator, yet refuse to put in place a regular public rail service to regions such as the Barossa, Burra, Mt. Barker and Murray Bridge?

Why does the SA Government also refuse to answer any questions to the manipulated forced sale of our regional rail services such as Whyalla and Broken hill when it was clearly stated by Chris Hall in a document in 2007 that in a newsletter by Chris Hall from Bluebird rail that states that: “The AN Board was not happy about the positive Performance of the passenger business. The Board’s aim was to get rid of the business at any cost and for political reasons it was considered that the electorate would oppose the sale of a profitable government Owned business. The aim therefore was to make the passenger business appear unfavorable and to be Making a substantial loss. When an advertising campaign was launched over a Christmas period, Chris was called in to explain why the Business was being advertised. The Board made it clear that there was not to be any advertising of the AN Passenger trains.”

9) Why was the public of South Australia not given the true facts regarding these issues, and are we also now to assume the reason why the transport minister the Hon. Patrick Conlon refuses to release any reports into a Barossa railway.” Is because once again, the Government maybe covering up the true facts to returning a public passenger railway to the Barossa Valley? Including to the reason why the state and local heritage listed buildings and Infrastructures such as the railway lines to our regional areas of the state, that are leased by GWA, why GWA have not been made accountable to the deterioration of many of these infrastructures as stated in the lease agreement?

10) When will GWA or DPTI be held accountable (whoever is responsible) for the demolishing of the Nuriootpa and Saddleworth stations after motions were made to have them restored by local volunteers? Why were they destroyed so suddenly in the knowledge that such local groups wanted to restore them?

Again, I will also remind you Ms Fox that you are part of the SOUTH AUSTRALIA GOVERNMENT. Not the Adelaide Government, the South Australia Government. South Australia does not end at the Heysen Tunnels or Gepps Cross, either.

I look forward to receiving a proper, detailed response and answers to the aforementioned questions. I am also sending a copy of this letter to a few other individuals, namely MPs, so that they are also aware of this as well.

Kind Regards,

[train driver]

This thread has become a joke, the main blogger and a couple of his associates, if they are not the same person in not prepared to except constructive and correct responses, there seems to be continued doubt to some responses that have been posted trying to explain why and when event occurred and who owns or did what.

I can assure readers that the responses I have given to this topic are 99.9% accurate and and the I have been investigating and preparing draft responses to this subject for nearly 15 years.

I believe that this thread know longer needs to be given any more attention by myself because I deem it as a waste of my time because the fact I provide are and do not want to be excepted by the main blogger and the so called consortium which the rumours circulation alleged have a ton of gold they brought cheaply years ago that has cause them some capital gains issues so they want to invest $100m in to rejuvenating the SA regional rail network to cart what? so they allegedly write of the $100m as a taxation write off, what a joke and some people believe it.

There are allegedly letters and emails been sent to various party's including local governments making claims that this project is supported by government and that the government is about to hand over to the consortium all he SA rail corridors and infrastructure so they can start operating.

Another joke, because most of the rail corridors are leased to GWA who actually purchased the railway infrastructure from the federal government in November 1997.

The Mt Gambier corridor is owned by the SA government and would need $100m + to get it re-opened, again for what, In recent times there was a possibility when the Penola pulp mill was floated that the 700,000 tons generated from the mill was going to be transported to Adelaide by rail gave it a possible start up base load, extra freight was also needed to keep it viable.

The pulp mill has died and there is no hope in hell of getting it up now until another big load comes along and that's another fact that will not be excepted by the main blogger and associates.

[Heardy_101]

Says the person who was going to prove everything and anything that has been said was not true and was going to pull it to pieces bit by bit and prove how wrong we were. Also interesting to note his last post is nothing more than a temper tantrum, nothing he has said proves anything. There has been no facts, no proof and has absolutely no evidence to support what he has said to back anything he has put down. So he hasn't been able to prove anything, hasn't given any evidence, hasn't "dissected" and proven anything wrong in what we have posted and has basically had a hissy fit. Makes me wonder if he walked out on his own ego. If there is any evidence to prove what he is saying then bring it out in the open, where did he gets his facts from? Disclose at least some of what you are saying or it will only go down as an assumption with no facts to support it.

Lets say just for argument sakes some if not all what he has said is correct, then I am sure that Mr Pellekaan will expose it in his investigations.

So why the tantrum. Is it because he has no evidence? Or maybe he did find out some if not all what we have posted over time is true so he is trying to save himself the embarrassment.

My opinion is that train driver is either a current or ex-Government/DPTI/DTEI insider who obviously doesn't like what he sees because he knows that very soon all hell is going to break loose.

This statement:

I have been investigating and preparing draft responses to this subject for nearly 15 years.

Gives it away. Not only that but your continued deflection and denial of any Government and GWA involvement. Not only that but as the Lease Agreement is not publicly available outside of the FOI Act, I suspect that you would have had to have been a Government/DPTI/DTEI insider whether currently or at the time.

Here's my dissection of your last post.

This thread has become a joke, the main blogger and a couple of his associates, if they are not the same person

Oh here we go. I assure you, I am not pretending to be anyone and nor is anyone else. I only joined the fight for Regional Rail in SA 12 months ago, "Wilfy" and another personal friend of mine have been campaigning for the last 10 years.

in not prepared to except constructive and correct responses

Pfft, please. I accept it, don't you worry about that. It's all the negative rubbish that I don't accept or understand because it appears to either be an attitude or personal problem with most of the naysayers. They say "Oh it won't work" and "it's not viable" and "it can't be done who wants to do it" without evidence to support as to why it won't, it's like it won't work because they say so.

there seems to be continued doubt to some responses that have been posted trying to explain why and when event occurred and who owns or did what

Has it ever occurred to you that this is because the information that I have been given, as well as yours, is rather inconsistent and vague? There are a lot of bases to cover and because there is conflicting information, there is no clear picture as to what actually happened, it is all very broad.

I believe that this thread know longer needs to be given any more attention by myself because I deem it as a waste of my time

Then why did you bother in the first place? You said, and I quote:

If this topic continues unchallenged, I will attempt to dissect it over the coming weeks piece by piece and respond to it factually.

Still waiting for the ill-fated dissection.

because the fact I provide are and do not want to be excepted by the main blogger and the so called consortium which the rumours circulation alleged have a ton of gold they brought cheaply years ago that has cause them some capital gains issues so they want to invest $100m in to rejuvenating the SA regional rail network to cart what? so they allegedly write of the $100m as a taxation write off, what a joke and some people believe it.

Oh don't flatter yourself - or me for that matter. Many people think that I have just made all this up from my head, which I consider to be insulting and a joke. Why would I bother when if I was going to do that, I could be doing something far more productive.

Again, there seems to be a personal and an attitude problem regarding to seeing inevitable progress. Why is it such a problem that someone actually wants to get out off their armchair and do something about the problem? Ignoring it and pretending it doesn't and never existed does not solve the problem, it is a trait of the current and previous Governments. Don't deny it because it is clearly evident.

There are allegedly letters and emails been sent to various party's including local governments making claims that this project is supported by Government and that the Government is about to hand over to the Consortium all the SA rail corridors and infrastructure so they can start operating.

Another joke, because most of the rail corridors are leased to GWA who actually purchased the railway infrastructure from the federal government in November 1997.

Paperwork is currently sitting on the desks of the DPTI and the Department of Environment. All they have to do is SIGN THE BLOODY THINGS AND WORK COULD START AS EARLY AS MONDAY. Stalling tactics, that's all it is, they are afraid they'll get shown how to run a railway the correct way.

Oh well bloody DUH!! Where have I denied this? Oh, right, nowhere. I have said my little piece about GWA and their illegal acts regarding the States railways, and I won't repeat it.

The Mt Gambier corridor is owned by the SA government and would need $100m + to get it re-opened, again for what, In recent times there was a possibility when the Penola pulp mill was floated that the 700,000 tons generated from the mill was going to be transported to Adelaide by rail gave it a possible start up base load, extra freight was also needed to keep it viable.

The pulp mill has died and there is no hope in hell of getting it up now until another big load comes along and that's another fact that will not be excepted by the main blogger and associates.

First of all, if your going to have a tantrum at least use the right grammar. It's Accepted.

Secondly.

I will be the first to admit that I have hardly any knowledge of the situation regarding Mount Gambier and the South East Lines other than the usual banter I read on the forums - so third and fourth party information. I have only ever been to Mount Gambier once at that was in 2002 for a school camp. Being only 12 at the time I had little to no interest in Railways or Public Transport at that point in time.

99% of the information that I keep reading about MG and the SE Lines is inconsistent, mainly rumours and above all contradicts itself. So what hope have I got given I know next to nothing about the area?

Anyway....back to topic....

I have said it before and I'll say it again. If I had any reason to believe that the information I had was not correct or complete bollocks, then I would not post it. If I knew it was false I would not post it. The information I have came from sources which I have posted and provided to you.

If anyone wants more information eg copies for themselves, then feel free to drop a line in at [email protected] as I will be more than happy to provide the various documents and information that I have. 99% of it is public information anyway.

[train driver]

No hissy fit, no tantrum, a realist who has worked in the rail industry for decades, and in many capacities, including as a senior public servant prior to retirement.

I have been in a position that allowed me to investigate and probably respond to some of the misunderstanding that some people have about our rail network, the most common thread with all of these misunderstanding is that when you provide the evidence they just don't want to believe it for some unknown reason.

You talk about leases you know nothing about, I bet your boss at the service station doesn't say to you, "please give all our customers a copy of my lease so they know why I have to charge the prices I do in the mid north.

The main protagonist behind this regional rail rubbish have been peddling the same line for 15 years, they have no credibility and look out for you people to use as their fronts, they encourage young people to establish multiple identities and use multiple forums to push the story, whether it's Nuriootpa, Burra or the South East.

Just look back and think, the railways were sold in 1978 then again in 1997 a lot of letters have been written, a lot of media headlines have been made from all sort of people and Polly's and various governments have come and gone, and you know what not one railway line has been reopened, not one.

I say it again, what is peddle around is in correct, the letters and email circulating are misleading as was the letter with the letterhead "Gateway Rail" that was used recently.

Next thing the consortium will be wanting is that we all put in $100,000 each to save what ever the faceless consortium the dreams up next.

Regards from a real train driver and railwayman.