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Breaking News
10 out of 10: The numbers favouring cross river rail
Brisbane's Cross River Rail project, envisioned by the Bligh government but under review by the Newman government, was a vital piece of infrastructure and a national priority, according to a high-ranking Infrastructure Australia official.
IA national infrastructure manager Michael Deegan had a simple message to the Newman government about Brisbane's underground rail project.
"In our first round of projects we recommended 10 major projects across the nation," he said.
A TRAIN has derailed after colliding with a truck at Mooliabeenee
A TRAIN has derailed after colliding with a truck at Mooliabeenee, near Bindoon, spilling more than 1000 litres of diesel. The train clipped the back of the truck just after 8.30am.
No one was injured but a Fire and Emergency Services Authority spokeswoman said more than 1000 litres of diesel had spilled as a result of the crash. The Department of Environment and Conservation's Pollution Response Unit are at the scene.
Rail changes split Hunter from Sydney
The axing of 750 managers' jobs is part of sweeping changes to Railcorp, but Newcastle and Hunter commuters will be more affected by the separation of passenger services between Sydney and the rest of NSW.
Under the changes Railcorp's passenger services will be split into Sydney Trains and NSW Trains.
NSW Trains will include all services outside the Sydney metro area, including those currently run by Countrylink.
Public is to blame for lack of pride in rail system
I see where one of the main sources of customer dissatisfaction with our trains is their lack of cleanliness (''Commuter queue of frustration keeps growing'', May 16). At the risk of sounding like Basil Fawlty, who would argue that it was possible to run a perfectly good rail service if it wasn't for the passengers, those who complained about the filth should be directing their anger at their fellow commuters. Discarded food and drink containers and abandoned newspapers are a common sight and as fast as the rubbish is removed by cleaners it is replaced by the next batch of thoughtless commuters.
Fining the offenders is one option. Banning food and drink is another. A far better one is for us all to acquire some civic pride. Until that happens we have no right to complain.
Overdue rail freight centre upgrade set to start
WORK is expected to start soon on a long-delayed $1.7 million upgrade to Warrnambool's internodal freight terminal to increase capacity for more rail transport.
It will be followed next year by a new $10m passing loop near Colac which will enable longer freight trains and more passenger rail services to run betweeen Warrnambool and Melbourne.
State Transport Minister Terry Mulder yesterday also confirmed a new rail freight incentive scheme to start July 1 as part of support to get more vehicles off roads onto railways.
The Department of Transport is likely to recommend a successful tenderer for the terminal project to Transport Minister Terry Mulder later this month with work to start early July and run four months.
News in brief
Rail union caught off guard by RailCorp shakeup
Hunter representatives of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union say they were caught off-guard with the State Government's plans for a major shake-up of RailCorp.
The Transport Minister, Gladys Berejiklian, this week announced 750 middle management positions would be axed under a plan to separate RailCorp into two organisations, one for Sydney and the other for regional rail.
The Union's Mick Schmitzer says he is sceptical about the Government's comments that no jobs will be lost from regional New South Wales.
He says he will be meeting with the Transport Department next Tuesday.
"I did see the Minister's media release where she talks about 750 voluntary redundancies that they would be mostly in Head Office, I'm still sceptical about those sort of things," he said.
Interim report into rail crossing fatality
An interim report into a fatal accident between a utility and a train in the Hunter Valley has highlighted the severity of the impact, with the ute's cabin crushed substantially.
The crash between a QR National Train and the utility happened on May 4 at a railway crossing at Glennies Creek, near Singleton.
The Office of Transport Safety Investigations (OTSI) has completed its Interim Factual Statement and has determined that a formal investigation into the incident is warranted.
Rail puts freight claim to the test
THE Australian Railway Association says claims by the SA Road Transport Association in its fight against registration increases are untrue.
Economists for the ARA says the registration rises for B-double trucks should have no impact on freight costs or increase prices for basic commodities such as bread, fruit and vegetables and clothing because rail freight can take the load.
ARA chief executive Bryan Nye said the registration fee rise for B-doubles was less than a 1 per cent, but the SARTA has claimed it is up to 30 per cent. Both organisations advocate limiting the number of freight trucks on the roads for safety.
"Before you race to put more semis on the road to meet our freight needs, why not put it on rail," Mr Nye said.
Necessary steps to fix rail system
REGENERATION and rebuilding are impossible to achieve without a strategy for change. Regrettably but unavoidably, when it comes to rebuilding NSW's sub-standard rail system, that change is going to cost jobs.
The number of jobs to be taken out of Railcorp at first seems extraordinary - 750 are to go in the initial swath of job cuts, with several thousand more to follow.
But this is less to do with a reckless and vengeful approach to rail reform than it is to do with problems for too long left in the too-hard basket.
Under previous governments, the rail system was allowed to become bloated with a gigantic mid-level bureaucracy.
Unfortunately, this over-staffing was not accompanied by a parallel rise in the quality of the service.
Western Sydney set for light rail link
Suburbs in western Sydney could be connected by a light rail system after Parramatta Council announced a $1 million study to kick-start the project.
The proposed light rail line would improve access to Westmead, Parramatta city centre, Macquarie Park and have links to the University of Western Sydney and Macquarie University.
A feasibility study will kick-off next month and the council expects to select a successful tender for the project in July.