News & Discussion: Regional Transport

[Bob]

SA rail lobby group push for return of a Barossa commuter tourist train

https://www.barossaherald.com.au/story/ ... st-return/

[SBD]

SA rail lobby group push for return of a Barossa commuter tourist train

https://www.barossaherald.com.au/story/ ... st-return/

Hmm: "...rail freight company Genesee Wyoming Australia (GWA) indicated they would be prepared to surrender their lengthy lease to 2047, should a suitable 'alternative' use for the line be identified." I'm sure they'd be happy to give it back if it is going to be rendered inoperable by those two road projects anyway. The Altona Bridge upgrade is necessary to permit B-double operation. ( https://pir.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf ... _-_web.pdf )

[SRW]

Yes, did I read correctly or has the EOI basically been set up to determine there’s no use for the line and provide cover for the Government to not incorporate it into two road upgrades? I hope there’s a high level of outrage if so.

[Ho Really]

SA rail lobby group push for return of a Barossa commuter tourist train

https://www.barossaherald.com.au/story/ ... st-return/

They should also make the point that during the cruise ship season (October to April) trains with tourists can go from Outer Harbor to the Barossa through Rosewater. Important they reinstate that section of rail line.

Cheers

[SBD]

Yes, did I read correctly or has the EOI basically been set up to determine there’s no use for the line and provide cover for the Government to not incorporate it into two road upgrades? I hope there’s a high level of outrage if so.

I wonder if the timelines match up for someone to propose to operate the Gawler rail service as part of rail privatisation, and extend the service to Lyndoch or Nuriootpa. That would potentially make a difference on something other than cost and service cuts.

[SRW]

Not my normal viewing, but the regional rail people managed to get a piece up on Today Tonight about the impending dismantlement of the Barossa railway:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=522246301666452

[ChillyPhilly]

Hopefully the corridor is retained at least, and not flogged off for crappy housing or the latest OTR.

[1NEEDS2POST]

Not my normal viewing, but the regional rail people managed to get a piece up on Today Tonight about the impending dismantlement of the Barossa railway:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=522246301666452

The locals say they want the railway, but will they actually use it? The population in the Barossa is low and virtually everyone drives everywhere. The only way to open the railway again is if the mine at Angaston opens again. By the time that happens, the tracks would be relaid as standard gauge anyway.

[Eurostar]

If the train ran from Adelaide it'll need to be squeezed in with suburban trains, on weekdays during the day there is minimum 4 trains per hour. In peak there is already a tight window for trains between Gawler and Gawler Central. I think cost wise it'll be cheaper to run a bus from Gawler Station to the Barossa Towns.

[rogue]

Not my normal viewing, but the regional rail people managed to get a piece up on Today Tonight about the impending dismantlement of the Barossa railway:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=522246301666452

The locals say they want the railway, but will they actually use it? The population in the Barossa is low and virtually everyone drives everywhere. The only way to open the railway again is if the mine at Angaston opens again. By the time that happens, the tracks would be relaid as standard gauge anyway.

The mine / quarry at Angaston never closed.

[SBD]

Not my normal viewing, but the regional rail people managed to get a piece up on Today Tonight about the impending dismantlement of the Barossa railway:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=522246301666452

The locals say they want the railway, but will they actually use it? The population in the Barossa is low and virtually everyone drives everywhere. The only way to open the railway again is if the mine at Angaston opens again. By the time that happens, the tracks would be relaid as standard gauge anyway.

The mine / quarry at Angaston never closed.

The mine at Penrice (near Angaston) was owned by Penrice Soda Products. Its main customer was the Penrice Soda factory at Osborne, so ore was transported by train operated by GWR. Penrice Soda went bust, and sold the mine to its next largest customer, Adelaide Brighton Cement. Adelaide Brighton use trucks to transport the ore to the factory off Stockwell Road at Angaston. GWR now has no reason to keep the line open so has offered to give up the lease that requires it to maintain the tracks for no cost.

[Spotto]

The mine at Penrice (near Angaston) was owned by Penrice Soda Products. Its main customer was the Penrice Soda factory at Osborne, so ore was transported by train operated by GWR. Penrice Soda went bust, and sold the mine to its next largest customer, Adelaide Brighton Cement. Adelaide Brighton use trucks to transport the ore to the factory off Stockwell Road at Angaston. GWR now has no reason to keep the line open so has offered to give up the lease that requires it to maintain the tracks for no cost.

If we were thinking ahead we could try and include the line to Kapunda in the lease cancellation, or even all of their mid-north broad gauge posessions which aren't being used. The others won't find any realistic rail use, but Gawler to Roseworthy could be rebuilt in tandem the proposed Roseworthy Township Expansion which is estimating 12k people over the next 20 years; the first development of St Yves is projecting 800 homes and 2k people plus a new school.

Victoria is a very different state to ours, but they've shown that if you invest in regional rail, it will be used. Especially if you develop stations alongside new housing projects. We absolutely won't be able to rebuild to the extent that we used to have because the population just isn't there, but a select few corridors have rail potential.

[SBD]

The mine at Penrice (near Angaston) was owned by Penrice Soda Products. Its main customer was the Penrice Soda factory at Osborne, so ore was transported by train operated by GWR. Penrice Soda went bust, and sold the mine to its next largest customer, Adelaide Brighton Cement. Adelaide Brighton use trucks to transport the ore to the factory off Stockwell Road at Angaston. GWR now has no reason to keep the line open so has offered to give up the lease that requires it to maintain the tracks for no cost.

If we were thinking ahead we could try and include the line to Kapunda in the lease cancellation, or even all of their mid-north broad gauge posessions which aren't being used. The others won't find any realistic rail use, but Gawler to Roseworthy could be rebuilt in tandem the proposed Roseworthy Township Expansion which is estimating 12k people over the next 20 years; the first development of St Yves is projecting 800 homes and 2k people plus a new school.

Victoria is a very different state to ours, but they've shown that if you invest in regional rail, it will be used. Especially if you develop stations alongside new housing projects. We absolutely won't be able to rebuild to the extent that we used to have because the population just isn't there, but a select few corridors have rail potential.

Which other routes does GWR still control? I noticed that the level crossing on the Horrocks Highway just north of Roseworthy is now signed as "crossing not in use". I assume that means they are no longer required to make/keep it usable.

[Alyx]

Which other routes does GWR still control? I noticed that the level crossing on the Horrocks Highway just north of Roseworthy is now signed as "crossing not in use". I assume that means they are no longer required to make/keep it usable.

If I am not mistaken, Genesee & Wyoming Australia (or whatever they will be known as in the near future) control all remaining broad gauge lines north of Gawler (to Balaklava, Burra, and Kapunda); the now-dormant Murray Mallee branch lines (to Apamurra, Loxton, and Pinnaroo); the partly-closed Eyre Peninsula narrow gauge network; and the Whyalla narrow gauge network.

[Spotto]

Which other routes does GWR still control? I noticed that the level crossing on the Horrocks Highway just north of Roseworthy is now signed as "crossing not in use". I assume that means they are no longer required to make/keep it usable.

If I am not mistaken, Genesee & Wyoming Australia (or whatever they will be known as in the near future) control all remaining broad gauge lines north of Gawler (to Balaklava, Burra, and Kapunda); the now-dormant Murray Mallee branch lines (to Apamurra, Loxton, and Pinnaroo); the partly-closed Eyre Peninsula narrow gauge network; and the Whyalla narrow gauge network.

Adding on to that, it seems the narrow gauge Whyalla Iron Ore lines are owned by SIMEC Mining (previously Arrium Limited) and GWA is simply contracted to run the trains.