Not much available with this article due to the pay wall. Are there plans for passenger services once again?It's tied in with the Mildura service.
Wheels turning for the return of passenger rail to the Wimmera
Passenger rail to Horsham in particular is much more achievable than Mildura no? Hamilton is a bit more of a stretch but the basic infrastructure is there.A simple extension of the Warrnambool V/Line service to Koroit and Hamilton would be the obvious solution.
Mildura truly is a pipe-dream at this point
Passenger rail to Horsham in particular is much more achievable than Mildura no? Hamilton is a bit more of a stretch but the basic infrastructure is there.A simple extension of the Warrnambool V/Line service to Koroit and Hamilton would be the obvious solution.
Mildura truly is a pipe-dream at this point
Theoretically yes, but not in reality. There's a bridge missing over the Merri River at Warrnambool, for a start.Passenger rail to Horsham in particular is much more achievable than Mildura no? Hamilton is a bit more of a stretch but the basic infrastructure is there.A simple extension of the Warrnambool V/Line service to Koroit and Hamilton would be the obvious solution.
Mildura truly is a pipe-dream at this point
I completely agree with this statement. A lot of stupid decisions have been made on rail in the west but it would be possible to put the train back into Koroit and Port Fairy.
Does anyone have the actual article text they can post please?Sorry, not the full article but enough to give you an idea.
The infrastructure exists to run a service between Horsham and Hamilton connecting with Melbourne bound BG Vlos at Ararat.It's the usual catch 22. Vline won't provide a service unless there's passengers, and passengers won't use it unless there's a decent service (4 trains each way, each day). Call it 3 hours with stops; trains running in both directions simultaneously, crossing at Grampians loop. And a guarantee that any goods trains to/from Portland will be held to ensure no delays to the passenger service.
Horsham, Stawell and Ararat stations are open and ready to go. Hamilton and Dunkeld are both in very good condition and would need very little work if anything at all to receive trains. Actually, Hamilton station is already open and staffed by V/Line employees - All that's missing is the trains.
All that needs to be done to provide this service is to acquire the necessary rollingstock and get the drivers trained up on the route.
Oh yeah and passenger numbers. Without those, It isn't likely to happen at all. I believe this is the true stumbling block.
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No, the trains need to cross at Ararat, otherwise they won't meet with a connecting broad gauge Vlocity for inbound/outbound passengers.The infrastructure exists to run a service between Horsham and Hamilton connecting with Melbourne bound BG Vlos at Ararat.It's the usual catch 22. Vline won't provide a service unless there's passengers, and passengers won't use it unless there's a decent service (4 trains each way, each day). Call it 3 hours with stops; trains running in both directions simultaneously, crossing at Grampians loop. And a guarantee that any goods trains to/from Portland will be held to ensure no delays to the passenger service.
Horsham, Stawell and Ararat stations are open and ready to go. Hamilton and Dunkeld are both in very good condition and would need very little work if anything at all to receive trains. Actually, Hamilton station is already open and staffed by V/Line employees - All that's missing is the trains.
All that needs to be done to provide this service is to acquire the necessary rollingstock and get the drivers trained up on the route.
Oh yeah and passenger numbers. Without those, It isn't likely to happen at all. I believe this is the true stumbling block.
So 2 crews per day, plus enough trained up to cover leave. Sufficient rolling stock to cover the timetable, as well as servicing etc. Does anybody know if Sprinters are gauge convertible?
The only way I can see something like this getting started is if somebody/organisation/collective stumps up the cash to run the service for 2-3 years (it would take a while to attract passengers).
Anybody got a rough idea how much the foam above would cost
No, the trains need to cross at Ararat, otherwise they won't meet with a connecting broad gauge Vlocity for inbound/outbound passengers.Sorry, I meant crossing at Grampians loop when running between Ararat-Portland, because a decent local service would be needed to attract passengers (not everyone wants to travel on to Melbourne). Ararat bound trains would be timed to connect with the Melbourne train.
(I blame the beer).
A simple extension of the Warrnambool V/Line service to Koroit and Hamilton would be the obvious solution.
Mike do we know how popular this service is between Warrnambool and Heywood?Actually, Mt Gambier - Warrnambool. And it's pretty popular.
The only thing the communities in the Wimmera need now is a commitment from the state government to return the rail service. Just because they live in the country, doesn’t mean they should have second class services.Isn't the great National Party supposed to look after all this?
Not much available with this article due to the pay wall. Are there plans for passenger services once again?A standard gauge N Set from Ararat to Nhil can do this easily enough.
Wheels turning for the return of passenger rail to the Wimmera
Probably correct, if they were in an electorate where they actually had to get off their hands and do some work. As far as I have seen the Nationals in the Wimmera have been on easy street for decades. Previously Hugh Delahunty was the local, very nice bloke, would be seen regularly at local events and around town, probably did his best for the community but I couldn't say anything ground breaking. Always been a very strong hold for the Nationals, for some reason.The only thing the communities in the Wimmera need now is a commitment from the state government to return the rail service. Just because they live in the country, doesn’t mean they should have second class services.Isn't the great National Party supposed to look after all this?
Wouldn't passenger rail out that way use standard gauge through North Shore-Geelong like the Overland? One train could go to Stawell and Horsham and another could go Hamilton and Portland.Yes. Its called "The Overland". Runs twice a week, book thru Vline. The low patronage says it all.