A reassessment of the appropriate study area, and of the likely modal shift, gives a dramatically different result for the economic viability of an Adelaide Hills rail bypass – it’s one of the most important infrastructure projects in Australia.
The named passenger train is a phenomenon that is curiously unique in the transportation world. For road transport, many of the great highways still bear glamorous names, but not generally the journeys made on them. Earlier, in the age of ocean liners, it was the vessels themselves that bore the …
One of the scenarios considered in the Canberra-Eden Railway feasibility study was a “passengers only” option, where the railway was only completed as far as Bombala. According to the study, this scenario would have a total financial cost of $1,424 million over 50 years, returning $84.8 million of benefits over …
This article gives additional detail to the numerous errors discussed in my previous article, Canberra-Eden Rail needs another look. All net-present-value figures assume a discount rate of 7%, the rate used in the Feasibility Study’s central case. Throughout, the Transport for New South Wales feasibility study is referred to as …
Eden, a small town on the far south coast of New South Wales, could become one of the most important places in Australia. Its natural harbour, Twofold Bay, is one of the finest anchorages in the country, yet its rugged hinterland has kept it isolated from the national freight network. …
The line winds between hills, road and river in the picturesque Lake Bathurst valley, with the minimum radius of 800m of the first few curves unfortunately not quite meeting our requirements. Despite being wedged between highway and hillside, most of the curves do not turn through a very great angle, …
This sector follows the existing alignment through the Mulwaree River valley. While the first half is straight and uses the existing alignment exclusively, subsequently two minor deviations (albeit requiring four bridges) are required to straighten some very tight curves. Major earthworks are confined to the final few kilometres before Tarago. Alignment …
The line reaches its highest point of about 812m above sea level in the early part of this sector, and then descends the far side of the range down into Bungendore.
A deep cutting or tunnel is the only way to avoid the tight curves near Kowen Forest.
In the jargon of American rail workers, a “hot rail” is a section of railroad over which the passing of a train is imminent; the closer or faster the approaching train, the hotter the rail. Most of Australia’s railways have been cold for decades, and there is no political, business or …
