Edited 16 May 2015 20:07, 6 years ago, edited by GeordieLadinOz

We are talking about a shunt move of 10-20 wagons twice a week here and you're wanting to put in $1m plus of taxpayer funded infrastructure in at Crystal Brook to accommodate it.

If there's a grain train in the siding when SCT wants to do their shunt, SCT will just sit down on the main line blocking access to the network for other operators - you seem to think that bending over backwards for SCT is OK, but it's fine to disadvantage other operators.

$1m to put in 1 kilometre of track in a yard environment?  ARTC have clearly lost the plot.

I am not advocating for SCT or any operator.  I am simply suggesting an additional track in the yard at Crystal Brook is a most sensible approach.  it IS the role and job of ARTC to make the network available to operators.

How am I bending over backwards for SCT and how does my suggestion to expand Crystal Brook disadvantage other operators? if anything it actually advantages other operators by:

1. Removing the need for SCT or any other operator to shunt at PG and therefore delaying trains.
2. it provides additional infrastructure at CB for any operator. Not just SCT.
3. it frees up track capacity between CB and PG for those moves.

Other advantages include:

1. Lessening of track access fees for SCT
2. Reduction in carbon emissions
3. Reduction in fuel use.

The mere fact this has not already been done is enough for me to think ARTC network planning and customer service is not doing their job.

Back in this area of the world in 2012, it averaged $250k per turnout; that is material and installation costs. Not sure of the costs of rail and sleepers these days but the associated works would take it very close to the $1M dollar mark. That may seem exorbitant to you but that is what these things cost. Add to that the disruption to the operators during the construction and it is ultimately an expensive exercise.

Also noting that this appears to be a recent change that SCT seem to have instigated themselves, ARTC will not have a crystal ball to predict operators short notice changes. At the end of the day Spencer Junction is only an hour up the line and is more than adequate for what SCT are now doing at Port Germain, especially when until recently they used to do it there. For all any of us know this practice could end next week and return to Spencer Junction and then it would be a wasted $1M.

I am sure ARTC will listen to operators any schedule and network changes if there is a strong business case, not on a whim!

Maybe you should give ARTC a call and advise them of what they should be doing in the next few years, I suggest advising them to duplicate the track between Coonamia and Port Augusta!

Edited 16 May 2015 20:06, 6 years ago, edited by GeordieLadinOz

We are talking about a shunt move of 10-20 wagons twice a week here and you're wanting to put in $1m plus of taxpayer funded infrastructure in at Crystal Brook to accommodate it.

If there's a grain train in the siding when SCT wants to do their shunt, SCT will just sit down on the main line blocking access to the network for other operators - you seem to think that bending over backwards for SCT is OK, but it's fine to disadvantage other operators.

$1m to put in 1 kilometre of track in a yard environment?  ARTC have clearly lost the plot.

I am not advocating for SCT or any operator.  I am simply suggesting an additional track in the yard at Crystal Brook is a most sensible approach.  it IS the role and job of ARTC to make the network available to operators.

How am I bending over backwards for SCT and how does my suggestion to expand Crystal Brook disadvantage other operators? if anything it actually advantages other operators by:

1. Removing the need for SCT or any other operator to shunt at PG and therefore delaying trains.
2. it provides additional infrastructure at CB for any operator. Not just SCT.
3. it frees up track capacity between CB and PG for those moves.

Other advantages include:

1. Lessening of track access fees for SCT
2. Reduction in carbon emissions
3. Reduction in fuel use.

The mere fact this has not already been done is enough for me to think ARTC network planning and customer service is not doing their job.

Back in this area of the world in 2012, it averaged $250k per turnout; that is material and installation costs. Not sure of the costs of rail and sleepers these days but the associated works would take it very close to the $1M dollar mark. That may seem exorbitant to you but that is what these things cost. Add to that the disruption to the operators during the construction and it is ultimately an expensive exercise.

Also noting that this appears to be a recent change that SCT seem to have instigated themselves, ARTC will not have a crystal ball to predict operators short notice changes. At the end of the day Spencer Junction is only an hour up the line and is more than adequate for what SCT are now doing at Port Germain, especially when until recently they used to do it there. For all any of us know this practice could end next week and return to Spencer Junction and then it would be a wasted $1M.

I am sure ARTC will listen to operators and schedule and network changes if there is a strong business case, not on a whim!

Maybe you should give ARTC a call and advise them of what they should be doing in the next few years, I suggest advising them to duplicate the track between Coonamia and Port Augusta!

Edited 16 May 2015 17:46, 6 years ago, edited by GeordieLadinOz

We are talking about a shunt move of 10-20 wagons twice a week here and you're wanting to put in $1m plus of taxpayer funded infrastructure in at Crystal Brook to accommodate it.

If there's a grain train in the siding when SCT wants to do their shunt, SCT will just sit down on the main line blocking access to the network for other operators - you seem to think that bending over backwards for SCT is OK, but it's fine to disadvantage other operators.

$1m to put in 1 kilometre of track in a yard environment?  ARTC have clearly lost the plot.

I am not advocating for SCT or any operator.  I am simply suggesting an additional track in the yard at Crystal Brook is a most sensible approach.  it IS the role and job of ARTC to make the network available to operators.

How am I bending over backwards for SCT and how does my suggestion to expand Crystal Brook disadvantage other operators? if anything it actually advantages other operators by:

1. Removing the need for SCT or any other operator to shunt at PG and therefore delaying trains.
2. it provides additional infrastructure at CB for any operator. Not just SCT.
3. it frees up track capacity between CB and PG for those moves.

Other advantages include:

1. Lessening of track access fees for SCT
2. Reduction in carbon emissions
3. Reduction in fuel use.

The mere fact this has not already been done is enough for me to think ARTC network planning and customer service is not doing their job.

Back in this area of the world in 2012, it averaged $250k per turnout; that is material and installation costs. Not sure of the costs of rail and sleepers these days but the associated works would take it very close to the $1M dollar mark. That may seem exorbitant to you but that is what these things cost. Add to that the disruption to the operators during the construction and it is ultimately an expensive exercise.

Also noting that this appears to be a recent change that SCT seem to have instigated themselves, ARTC will not have a crystal ball to predict operators short notice changes. At the end of the day Spencer Junction is only an hour up the line and is more than adequate for what SCT are now doing at Port Germain, especially when until recently they used to do it there. For all any of us know this practice could end next week and return to Spencer Junction and then it would be a wasted $1M.

I am sure ARTC will listen to operators and schedule and network changes if there is a strong business case, not on a whim!

Maybe you should give ARTC a call and advise them of what they should be doing in the next few years, I suggest advising them to duplicate the track between Coonamia and Port Augusta!