Adelaide's Premier Development and Construction Site
https://sensational-adelaide.com/forum/
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 )Bob wrote: ↑Sat Aug 24, 2019 3:18 pmSA 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.Bob wrote: ↑Sat Aug 24, 2019 3:18 pmSA rail lobby group push for return of a Barossa commuter tourist train
https://www.barossaherald.com.au/story/ ... st-return/
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.
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.SRW wrote: ↑Fri Oct 25, 2019 11:25 amNot 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 mine / quarry at Angaston never closed.1NEEDS2POST wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2019 7:34 pmThe 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.SRW wrote: ↑Fri Oct 25, 2019 11:25 amNot 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 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.rogue wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2019 2:57 pmThe mine / quarry at Angaston never closed.1NEEDS2POST wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2019 7:34 pmThe 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.SRW wrote: ↑Fri Oct 25, 2019 11:25 amNot 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
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.SBD wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2019 5:34 pmThe 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.
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.Spotto wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2019 10:43 amIf 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.SBD wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2019 5:34 pmThe 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.
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.
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.Alyx wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2019 12:20 pm
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.