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VRfan
Moderator
Joined: Jan 13, 2003
Last Visited: Dec 3, 2008
Location: In front of my computer :-p
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:20 pm
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[quote="S301"]| Quote: | thelastname wrote:That's what I was thinking. I think a train service with a stop in Lismore or Cressy to Ararat to Dimboola could work on the standard gauge.
How about Berrybank? Its the possibly the only place that still has its station in tack, possibly Inverleigh as well. Cressy had its station pulled down a long time ago and Lismore never had one as the line was a good couple of k's out of town. |
There's nothing at Berrybank other than a silo, about two houses and a derelict service station! 
As for the rest of the towns along that line, none would be big enough to support a rail service IMHO. Inverleigh, Lismore and Derrinallum are probably the largest towns on that route and all three of them are quite small.
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S301
Train Controller
Joined: Jan 05, 2008
Last Visited: Dec 2, 2008
Location: South West Victorian Coast
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:54 pm
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[quote]VRfan: There's nothing at Berrybank other than a silo, about two houses and a derelict service station!
VRfan when was the last time you went to Berrybank?
What you have mentioned is their also the remains of a platform and a building which is in resonably good nick considering it doesn't get used.
I have some pictures of the building/platform which i can't upload, what i have mentioned is still their.
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Gwiwer
Rt Hon Gentleman and Ghost of Oliver Bulleid
Joined: Nov 22, 2003
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Location: Far away yet close at hand in images of elsewhere
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:40 pm
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The ABS advises that 114 persons resided at Berrybank in 2006 (latest available figures); searches reveal the only other significant population is 15000 pigs.
Despite having a railway line passing through the locality the small human population makes it extremely unlikely that a station stop would ever become a reality there. Much larger places exist also without any service which would be higher on the priority list for service provision.
My Annual Christmas Quiz is HERE
Ferroequinologist. BA Hons (Honourable Bachelor of Aquatarts  )
The wise yet mysterious Sir Gwiwer Greybeard |
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M636C
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Aug 18, 2005
Last Visited: Dec 3, 2008
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:52 pm
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Surely the real solution is to convert the line to Ararat via Ballarat to standard gauge. Then the Overland could carry passengers right through, and the Velocity could run on the alternate days.
That would sort out a number of problems in freight services as well.
If this seems too radical, you could only convert Geelong-Ballarat and Ballarat -Ararat, retaining the broad guage link to Ballarat via Bacchus Marsh, for those who believe passenger trains can't run on standard gauge.
M636C
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Junior
Rodgie Dodgie
Joined: May 27, 2006
Last Visited: Dec 3, 2008
Location: Allansford
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:53 pm
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To me Inverleigh is the only logical place to have the overland stop. Aside from it's current stopping pattern now. However with the current platform not on the main line and considering how close it is to Geelong it will never happen.
Drink Red wine by the BOTTLE its good for you and grow hairs on your chest. Beer is nearly as good. Rogie. Rogie.
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Gwiwer
Rt Hon Gentleman and Ghost of Oliver Bulleid
Joined: Nov 22, 2003
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Location: Far away yet close at hand in images of elsewhere
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:01 pm
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A vote for common sense there from M636C 
If only the Victorian Government, and potentially those in Canberra also, could take the common sense view and have had gauge-convertible sleepers specified when Ballarat was upgraded .......... but that argument has been chewed over in here before and we have a broad gauge high speed line with no real prospect of change in our generation.
So the next option is to dual-gauge just the Ararat - Ballarat section and thence rebuild as sg to Geelong. A VLocity set (or any multiple unit) can easily reverse in Geelong station and only a short distance of dual gauge would be required to facilitate a standard gauge operation from Melbourne - Geelong (reverse) - Ballarat - Ararat - thence to Adelaide. Some loco classes could simply run round also though the NR currently used on the Overland cannot and must be turned. Perhaps an N could be used if suitably regauged (this may be required for the Albury run so one dedicated loco would not be required) on the Melbourne - Geelong leg.
Ballarat - Geelong as sg might impact freight movements but the line is very quiet at present based upon Gheringhap reports and therefore few workings would be affected.
There might be a slight time penalty but the additional population centres thus served may offset that in terms of additional revenue. I do not consider that North Shore sg platform in any way serves Geelong adequately. That is reflected in the minimal use made of that stop.
My Annual Christmas Quiz is HERE
Ferroequinologist. BA Hons (Honourable Bachelor of Aquatarts )
The wise yet mysterious Sir Gwiwer Greybeard |
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VRfan
Moderator
Joined: Jan 13, 2003
Last Visited: Dec 3, 2008
Location: In front of my computer :-p
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 3:11 pm
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[quote="S301"]| Quote: | VRfan: There's nothing at Berrybank other than a silo, about two houses and a derelict service station!
VRfan when was the last time you went to Berrybank?
What you have mentioned is their also the remains of a platform and a building which is in resonably good nick considering it doesn't get used.
I have some pictures of the building/platform which i can't upload, what i have mentioned is still their. |
I was last there a couple of months ago. I didn't bother mentioning the remains of the station (which are derelict btw), because you mentioned that in your post.
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wongm
Minister for Railways
Joined: May 26, 2005
Last Visited: Dec 2, 2008
Location: Geelong, Victoria
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 4:03 pm
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| vlinecars wrote: | | V/Line has begun selling seats through their VNET system for intrastate travel on The Overland using the V/Line fare structure. |
| kuldalai wrote: | | Re the fare query . VLP do not run any services to ARARAT via North Shore. The VLP service to Ararat runs via Ballarat . So therefore the applicable VLP fare to Ararat for travel on "The Overland" under this Mickey Mouse "integrated transport solution" will be the existing V/Line fare via Ballarat calculated on 211 charging units (kms) . |
So for smeg and giggles someone with a V/Line Geelong periodical could book as seat from North Shore to Southern Cross on the Overland for free? 
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The Vinelander
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Mar 28, 2006
Last Visited: Dec 3, 2008
Location: Ballan, Victoria on the Ballarat RFR Line
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PClark
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Apr 01, 2003
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 5:52 pm
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Quote:-
"Did someone mention Melbtrip?"
The Overland doesn't stop at Lara
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ZH836301
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Apr 26, 2006
Last Visited: Dec 3, 2008
Location: BleakCity
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 6:45 pm
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| Mikelander wrote: | | Would you care to elaborate with regard to Ted's transport policy and its support of at least some rail alternative to the people of the towns west of Ararat who lost their rail service during the Kennett era |
Oh noes, they don't has they're trainzez
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luznug
Train Controller
Joined: Jan 22, 2005
Last Visited: Nov 28, 2008
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 7:09 pm
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| Gwiwer wrote: |
There may be no more to it than bowing to a little pressure from regional Victorians who rightly feel under-serviced when their fellows in the likes of Stratford, Rochester, Colac or Kerang can travel to Melbourne by rail all the way at artificially low (heavily-subsidised) fares. |
If this so called subsidise helps keep the road toll down don’t you think it is a good social system.
Or would you rather our Hospital beds filled with Road Trauma Victims?
It is your choice Gwiwer and its called Voting.
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luznug
Train Controller
Joined: Jan 22, 2005
Last Visited: Nov 28, 2008
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 7:11 pm
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I think it’s a little step to test the waters.
We all Know that ARTC are in charge of the standard gauge so throwing a couple of Velo’s to Dimboola would probably encounter some harsh resistance from the Rail Operators and with ElZorro hanging around I guess more paths will become slimmer.
I believe making Ararat- Ballarat standard gauge would work when a Dimboola Pass starts. (That’s what this little experiment is about?)
My fear is ARTC will swallow up most of Vic Trak when Standardisation takes place and the extension of Interurban fast rail will suffer.
Just watch Warrnambool freight suffer when the B-Triples start. (What’s ElZorro’s comment on that competition?)
ARTC=Freight
VicTrak=Fast Broad Gauge Passenger Services?
Still it’s a great choice for Pensioners wanting to use safe clean and cheap PT)
Labor still shows glimpses of Socialism in Transport for the poorest.
But Gentle and Caring ideas like this must have come from the Upper House!!!!!
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ParkesHub
Chief Commissioner
Joined: Jul 29, 2003
Last Visited: Dec 1, 2008
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 8:53 pm
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| luznug wrote: | I think it’s a little step to test the waters.
We all Know that ARTC are in charge of the standard gauge so throwing a couple of Velo’s to Dimboola would probably encounter some harsh resistance from the Rail Operators and with ElZorro hanging around I guess more paths will become slimmer. |
I think ARTC will take the fees when and where they can get them, luznug, like all commercial or quasi-commercial organisations. I'd expect the rates for a V'locity to be well over a superfreighter and with little wear and tear to show for the revenue received.
| ZH-numbers wrote: | | Oh noes, they don't has they're trainzez |
Great contribution there...right up to expectation!
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fabricator
Deputy Commissioner
Joined: Jun 12, 2007
Last Visited: Dec 3, 2008
Location: Gawler
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Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 12:25 am
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Probably just done to shut up the 12 people who wrote letters hahaha.
But seriously the Overland runs on Subsidies from both state governments anyway, so why shouldn't this sort of thing be trialled.
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Did someone mention Melbtrip 