Given that they are talking about throwing billions at the NSFC why not think about a new line via St Albans and Wollombi. It would probably need some long tunnels, could be built to 6.5 metre height clearance (does that rule out 25 kV electrification?). Double track, straight alignment but steeper grades than steam locomotives liked ...

Then they could save big bucks in the long term compared to expanding the capacity of the short north in a piecemeal fashion.

"Tell him his dreaming..."

What happened to the proposal to build a bypass line from Fassifern via Hexham to Stroud Road? That would be ideal for reducing Sydney to Brisbane train times.

Given that they are talking about throwing billions at the NSFC why not think about a new line via St Albans and Wollombi. It would probably need some long tunnels, could be built to 6.5 metre height clearance (does that rule out 25 kV electrification?). Double track, straight alignment but steeper grades than steam locomotives liked ...

Then they could save big bucks in the long term compared to expanding the capacity of the short north in a piecemeal fashion.

"Tell him his dreaming..."

Given that they are talking about throwing billions at the NSFC why not think about a new line via St Albans and Wollombi. It would probably need some long tunnels, could be built to 6.5 metre height clearance (does that rule out 25 kV electrification?). Double track, straight alignment but steeper grades than steam locomotives liked ...

Then they could save big bucks in the long term compared to expanding the capacity of the short north in a piecemeal fashion.

"Tell him his dreaming..."

India is building its new freight lines with 25kV and 6.5m clearances for Double Stacking. The only minor problem is the stability of the pantographs.

Rail chief's plan
BY PAUL CALLAGHAN

29/01/2009 1:00:00 AM
THE Central Coast's long-suffering rail commuters have a friend in high places in the chief executive of Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) David Marchant.

Mr Marchant manages a network of interstate rail from Brisbane to Perth, but during a recent speech at a National Press Club lunch he said the Sydney to Gosford missing freight link is the highest priority rail construction job awaiting a start.

Mr Marchant said a dedicated freight line from Sydney to Gosford would free up 100 passenger trips to or from Sydney daily.

He said $2 billion and 10 years of construction would be needed to complete the freight line between Strathfield and Newcastle.

More passenger train services were needed for the Central Coast because of its growing population and rail congestion issues, he said.

ARTC recently submitted the Northern Sydney Rail Freight Corridor's construction to Infrastructure Australia which has named the project in its list of nationally important jobs waiting for completion at a cost of $4.075 billion.

The head of NSW Business Chamber Central Coast Mary Doherty said the provision of the dedicated freight line was vital to this region's growth sustainability.'

Not only would it improve the passenger rail service but it take considerable pressure off the F3 freeway, she said.

Central Coast Commuters Association president Kevin Parish said the building of the northern freight line would be a win-win situation for this region.

"Its completion would be absolutely fantastic," he said.

The Federal Government has already committed $800 million to the project and now it's simply a matter of when the work will start, he said.

Federal Member for Robertson Belinda Neal has continued her support for a dedicated freight rail line between North Strathfield and Newcastle to be priority listed by Infrastructure Australia.

"A dedicated freight rail line for the Central Coast was one of my pre-election commitments," she said.

"The Government has honoured this commitment by providing $840 million to get the freight line started."

A bit off topic but a train driver I was speaking to today told me that the freight line to Enfield in Sydney is quite slow due to the tight curves and I think due to the short distances between signals.

From what I've seen ARTC hasn't the remote intention of introducing double stacking Sydney-Brisbane - no need to cater for it on the NSFC then

Given that they are talking about throwing billions at the NSFC why not think about a new line via St Albans and Wollombi. It would probably need some long tunnels, could be built to 6.5 metre height clearance (does that rule out 25 kV electrification?). Double track, straight alignment but steeper grades than steam locomotives liked ...

Then they could save big bucks in the long term compared to expanding the capacity of the short north in a piecemeal fashion.

"Tell him his dreaming..."

try turning back one page and look at Arctic's post  (around 4 Billion)
And you thought i had lazy eyes

Really you'd be best off running diesel hauled freighters through the new tunnels and keeping the passenger trains on the existing lines. Double stacking is completely unnecessary if you're going to have a second train already dedicated to your extra containers.

M

Is there any chance that the bridge on the original alinement (of the original bridge) over the Hawkesbury River could be reinstated (with a refurbishment of the old piers/pylons and tunnel)

One of the Northern piers failed didn't It ? forcing the replacement of the bridge with the current one ?

Is there any chance that the bridge on the original alinement (of the original bridge) over the Hawkesbury River could be reinstated (with a refurbishment of the old piers/pylons and tunnel)

One of the Northern piers failed didn't It ? forcing the replacement of the bridge with the current one ?

Zero chance all the piers need replacing.