The alliance will operate a 1930s diesel rail motor on the disused standard-gauge line from Maryborough to Geelong, via Ararat – the first trek on the line since it fell into disuse not long after it was completed in the 1990s.

The alliance’s president, retired mining engineer Noel Laidlaw, of Carisbrook, near Maryborough, yesterday said the most practical way of providing a freight route from Mildura to Geelong or Portland was to upgrade and standardise the line from Mildura as far as Dunolly. From Dunolly, there is a dual broad gauge/standard gauge connection to Maryborough, which connects to the standard-gauge line between Maryborough and Ararat­ that the Kennett Government constructed in the 1990s.

this guy is getting more press than napthine.  the labour guy andrews should either hire him, give him some money. either way he is really sticking up for central victoria.

I reckon he's just an elderly political hack who is living in the distant past and who is (sadly) still trying to score political points against the state government as it was 20 years ago.

Move on Mr Laidlaw, the world (especially the railway world) has changed a lot in the past 20 years. If you can't provide a sensible economic case for a project, no one will listen to you except for... other elderly political hacks anchored in the past and trying to score points against a government that has been out of office for many years.

East west link is not a sensible economic case.

The average person in the street does not care about the economics. They may not even understand this.

If you assert railways have move on in the last 20 years you are right.

They have gone backwards and the customers have voted with their feet and business.

The privatisation model has been a massive failure. We now subsidise road transport at 3 times the cost of rail transport.

The privatisation model has been a massive failure. We now subsidise road transport at 3 times the cost of rail transport.

Only Victoria is doing badly with the obtuse track standards (Light axleload trackwork, slightly lower clearances and being 5ft 3, requiring a specialist group of gauge convertable locos). I suspect only PN is doing well because they obtained most of the traffic, wagons and vehicles.

But remember FA? They were doing quite well with privitisation, just requires the CEO or management with vision.

And to be honest, if we can ever make Trailer on Flat Car work, then rail will become useful. Our biggest problems is people don't want to pay extra on top for transhipping, which is why containers are so common over here. (along with inherent design flaws in the VR yard system)

The only thing about privatisation is that existing pass rail should mostly be government run. The case of the Mildura line might as well be privately funded because it's a bit too long to provide any sort of return on PTV fares. But getting the track up to some sort of decent standard needs to happen first



There are some dubious thinkers with Mr Laidlaw's costings as well, within the report apparently they have made no thought to the benefits of any freight trains. Probably don't know either that the last section into Castlemaine will kill VGR in relation to how the rules work in relation to crewing..... But there is one thing I do agree with the report, any government does blow out the costings; but they wont be as low as the group suggests.

And on a side note, this Geelong to Bendigo train isn't the stupidest proposal in the world.

The train to Wonthaggi and past Nyora on the Leongatha line without major reworking are the stupidest ones.

The privatisation model has been a massive failure. We now subsidise road transport at 3 times the cost of rail transport.

Citation needed.

This:

"The alliance will operate a 1930s diesel rail motor on the disused standard-gauge line from Maryborough to Geelong, via Ararat – the first trek on the line since it fell into disuse not long after it was completed in the 1990s."

puzzles me. Where do they get a 1930s diesel rail motor that will run on standard gauge track?

This:

"The alliance will operate a 1930s diesel rail motor on the disused standard-gauge line from Maryborough to Geelong, via Ararat – the first trek on the line since it fell into disuse not long after it was completed in the 1990s."

puzzles me. Where do they get a 1930s diesel rail motor that will run on standard gauge track?

There are 3 NSW 42  foot railmotors parked at Albury or Wagga. Property of Lachlan Valley Rail, they are available for hire.

Also a few more modern ones on SG about that state, the Silver City Comet set dates back to the 30s too.

This:

"The alliance will operate a 1930s diesel rail motor on the disused standard-gauge line from Maryborough to Geelong, via Ararat – the first trek on the line since it fell into disuse not long after it was completed in the 1990s."

puzzles me. Where do they get a 1930s diesel rail motor that will run on standard gauge track?

Aren't there a few stored grain wagons that may impede progress?? Or have they been moved?

Much of that rolling stock has been moved over the last two years.

There is a thread on the site detailing the movements and some photos.

Much of that rolling stock has been moved over the last two years.

There is a thread on the site detailing the movements and some photos.

Yeah but there are still wagons up there.

I wonder if they've hired the DERM out.

Which derm ?

The Article got it a bit wrong
140 anniversary of the Maryborough to Castlemaine line.
Derm will run from Newport, North shore, Ballarat to Maryborough on BG.
Still a few wagons on the Ararat-Maryborough SG, few wash outs around Ampitheatre with the track just hanging in the air and a lot of trees need removing.

The Article got it a bit wrong
140 anniversary of the Maryborough to Castlemaine line.
Derm will run from Newport, North shore, Ballarat to Maryborough on BG.
Still a few wagons on the Ararat-Maryborough SG, few wash outs around Ampitheatre with the track just hanging in the air and a lot of trees need removing.

It's been a long time since it's been operational - it seemed really strange to me that you could just plop a rail-car on it and it would somehow be able to push through the scrub no problem!

The area around Amphitheatre - is that prone to wash-outs? As I recall there's lots of steep gullies.

I thought that there might have been a possibility of repair coming up with a big grain harvest looking likely.

It's been a long time since it's been operational - it seemed really strange to me that you could just plop a rail-car on it and it would somehow be able to push through the scrub no problem!

The area around Amphitheatre - is that prone to wash-outs? As I recall there's lots of steep gullies.

Next to Ararat-Lexton Rd, Amphitheatre crossing there is a wash out

this guy is getting more press than napthine. the labour guy andrews should either hire him, give him some money. either way he is really sticking up for central victoria.

I agree.

Usually campaigns to get the railway or trains restored are nothing more than a facebook page with no more than 10 likes. These guys have demonstrated that if you want to get some traction you need to involve community... politicians especially in country areas are weary of local dissent - especially in tight electoral times. Further, you need to think outside of the box - your classics march and banners strategies have stopped working long time ago.

I agree.

Usually campaigns to get the railway or trains restored are nothing more than a facebook page with no more than 10 likes. These guys have demonstrated that if you want to get some traction you need to involve community... politicians especially in country areas are weary of local dissent - especially in tight electoral times. Further, you need to think outside of the box - your classics march and banners strategies have stopped working long time ago.

At least half their FB groups are gunzels anyway.....