Configuring the track

http://unsplash.com/post/89277659664/download-by-jose-martin-ramirez-carrasco

Australia’s low population density means that the track length per station will be relatively high when compared to European or Asian rail networks. The upshot of this is that capital costs will greatly dominate the total cost of any railway system – the cost of rollingstock will be comparatively minor. Capital…

Continue reading

So what is a “hot rail” anyway?

http://unsplash.com/post/71169964532/download-by-kholodnitskiy-maksim

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…

Continue reading