Drivers view between Wodonga and Albury

Thanks for that as I haven't seen this section since the new station and bypass was opened.

Why is there only single track operations over the old Murray river bridge and thereafter for the section to Albury station? When was the original north track closed for ops?

Prior to the sg bypass there were two tracks Wodonga to Albury station on the old alignment one bg into the back platform and sg to the main platform and yard. There were two tracks over Murray River bridge proper one bg and one sg , BUT the signalling was so arranged that that there could pnly be one train on the bridge at any one time.

When the Wodonga by pass thing went in it was the GFC and originally started as single track, then Kevin07 (good friend of Rupert Murdoch !!!!) decided to make it double from the outset. Sadly at that time the second (bg) track between the river and Albury station was removed rather than simply standardized. Just idiotic as it would have cost more to remove the track than just move one rail inwards. Typuical of Railway management and Transport Minsiters in this day and age.  As the old bridge over the Murray River, about time ARTC replaced this as at Wagga with a new bridge and at Albury as two tracks.

Yep - seems crazy to have double-track right to the border but not the last 2km into Albury!  The BG side of the bridge still has timber trestles so yes, it's high time for replacement.  I remember that the idea was raised or discussed when the Wodonga bypass was being built, but there was a huge debate about the historical value of the bridge etc.  If that is such an issue, stick the lattice sides and top arches (at suitable double-stack height) on the new concrete bridge so it still looks historical!  (says he with no knowledge if this is even viable from an engineering viewpoint!)

What real impact does having the last 2km into Albury single track have? It's single track the other side of Albury to Junee, about 160km.

What real impact does having the last 2km into Albury single track have? It's single track the other side of Albury to Junee, about 160km.

Agreed - the fact that there are not trains waiting on either side of the border to cross suggests to me it probably isnt a problem right now.

Should be 'easily' overcome with timetabling and punctuality.
Same with the Geelong Tunnel.
If we have a $ squillion to spend then spend it on something necessary that will provide worthwhile benefits.

Should be 'easily' overcome with timetabling and punctuality.
Same with the Geelong Tunnel.
If we have a $ squillion to spend then spend it on something necessary that will provide worthwhile benefits.

Haven't read any government documents which have suggested duplication of the Geelong tunnel. Money is only set aside for duplication between South Geelong and Waurn Ponds.

What real impact does having the last 2km into Albury single track have? It's single track the other side of Albury to Junee, about 160km.

And in that 160km, there's nearly 32km of double track in the form of the various loops and passing lanes, most of which are at least 5km in length each.

What real impact does having the last 2km into Albury single track have? It's single track the other side of Albury to Junee, about 160km.

And in that 160km, there's nearly 32km of double track in the form of the various loops and passing lanes, most of which are at least 5km in length each.

That is still not good enough. Double track just makes more sense and it is better for track maintenance as well. The more of it the better.

North of Albury it is single track even though there is plenty of room for dual track and no level crossings for a significant distance.

I understand that the Murray River bridge is to be replaced as part of the Inland Rail project. Not only cant the current 19C bridge support the weight of 2 trains, it cant be altered to allow double decked container trains either. When? who knows!

What real impact does having the last 2km into Albury single track have? It's single track the other side of Albury to Junee, about 160km.

And in that 160km, there's nearly 32km of double track in the form of the various loops and passing lanes, most of which are at least 5km in length each.

That is still not good enough. Double track just makes more sense and it is better for track maintenance as well. The more of it the better.

North of Albury it is single track even though there is plenty of room for dual track and no level crossings for a significant distance.

Theyd be better of duplicating south of the bridge rather than north.  As woodford used to point out, a small amount of work could link the passing lanes both of Seymour quite quickly and easily and really add in capacity to the network.

That is still not good enough. Double track just makes more sense and it is better for track maintenance as well. The more of it the better.

North of Albury it is single track even though there is plenty of room for dual track and no level crossings for a significant distance.

The current setup Is the most maintenance efficient and most flexible for the current traffic levels.

Had the Western track been extended over the Murray and Into Albury's main platform, you save two mainline turnouts but would require 2 double cross overs.  

Funds would be better spent extending the current sections of double track In easier locations, such as extending the Gerogery double track Southwards towards Albury loop.

What real impact does having the last 2km into Albury single track have? It's single track the other side of Albury to Junee, about 160km.

And in that 160km, there's nearly 32km of double track in the form of the various loops and passing lanes, most of which are at least 5km in length each.

That is still not good enough. Double track just makes more sense and it is better for track maintenance as well. The more of it the better.

North of Albury it is single track even though there is plenty of room for dual track and no level crossings for a significant distance.

Why? Traffic levels don't warrant it. Better spending their finite funding on areas that will provide the most benefit.

So, what projects or works would you cut out just so you can get those 130-odd kilometres of double track?

Traffic won't increase unless you get rid of those single track sections to help reduce travel time. ARTC managers knows how to waste money and be stingy without me needing to give them ideas.

Traffic won't increase unless you get rid of those single track sections to help reduce travel time. ARTC managers knows how to waste money and be stingy without me needing to give them ideas.

Today there Is more double track between Tottenham and Junee than there has ever been (some short crossing loops have been decommissioned after been superseded by a much longer double track section)

Traffic levels have seemed of gone backwards !

High train access costs are the big problem.

Traffic won't increase unless you get rid of those single track sections to help reduce travel time. ARTC managers knows how to waste money and be stingy without me needing to give them ideas.

4 or 5 freight trains + the same number of passenger trains in each direction every day does not equal double track the entire way.

4 or 5 freight trains + the same number of passenger trains in each direction every day does not equal double track the entire way.

It doesn't seem all that long ago when you could easily have 4-5 trains just between Junee & Albury, let alone the rest of the route.

High train access costs are the big problem.

More like asymmetric investment and policy settings for road vs rail...

4 or 5 freight trains + the same number of passenger trains in each direction every day does not equal double track the entire way.

It doesn't seem all that long ago when you could easily have 4-5 trains just between Junee & Albury, let along the rest of the route.

They just combined half of them together into a bigger train.

High train access costs are the big problem.

More like asymmetric investment and policy settings for road vs rail...

Plus the craptacular efforts of the ARA, the rail industry's lobby group which keeps putting the ball in the back of their own net.

Would the access costs paid to ARTC By V/Line  now exceed the maintenance costs V/line would have been paying per annum for Albury services ?

Would the access costs paid to ARTC By V/Line  now exceed the maintenance costs V/line would have been paying per annum for Albury services ?

Even money bet given how badly deteriorated the track was in the last months of BG...

How are the access charges causing this issue? Went and did some digging up and got the following prices from Tottenham to Macarthur for access charges. Maybe someone can help me out with how much GTK a normal freight train is so I can finish off my maths?

The standard variable price of $3 per thousand GTK for everything is not excessive.

flagfall prices per kilometre (rounded to closest cent)

passengers = $2
express freight = $1.30
Regular freight = $2.00

Super freight = $1.20
Standard freight = 0.75c

How are the access charges causing this issue? Went and did some digging up and got the following prices from Tottenham to Macarthur for access charges. Maybe someone can help me out with how much GTK a normal freight train is so I can finish off my maths?

The standard variable price of $3 per thousand GTK for everything is not excessive.

flagfall prices per kilometre (rounded to closest cent)

passengers = $2
express freight = $1.30
Regular freight = $2.00

Super freight = $1.20
Standard freight = 0.75c

Can you elaborate on the flagfall charges, please? Is there a typo in there perhaps?

Of greater interest, have you come across the definition of what constitutes 'express freight, regular freight, super freight and standard freight', please?

How are the access charges causing this issue? Went and did some digging up and got the following prices from Tottenham to Macarthur for access charges. Maybe someone can help me out with how much GTK a normal freight train is so I can finish off my maths?

The standard variable price of $3 per thousand GTK for everything is not excessive.

flagfall prices per kilometre (rounded to closest cent)

passengers = $2
express freight = $1.30
Regular freight = $2.00

Super freight = $1.20
Standard freight = 0.75c

Can you elaborate on the flagfall charges, please? Is there a typo in there perhaps?

Of greater interest, have you come across the definition of what constitutes 'express freight, regular freight, super freight and standard freight', please?

I'm just going off the ARTC pdf. I do not know what more to elaborate with.

https://www.artc.com.au/customers/access/access-interstate/access-charges/

It doesn't seem all that long ago when you could easily have 4-5 trains just between Junee & Albury, let along the rest of the route.

They just combined half of them together into a bigger train.

Certainly, longer trains equals fewer trains, and I wish that was the only reason for the now fewer trains.
It was odd if there wasn't at least 2 trains in the sector. Sometimes at night, it would be nearly all bases loaded. I'm talking early 80s when Junee CTC was new.
JNE - ALB was always a location of fast running, with a hundred miles in a hundred minutes being normal for the express passes (not XPT), even with a lengthy stop at Wagga. With so many trains on the track it was common for both the Area Controller and the Train Controller to be scanning the main board with eyes peeled, sweating on trains clearing various location points on the board, waiting to determine which train would take the loop (a case of first past the post, even if the post was figurative).
My father was one of the original Junee CTC Area Controllers. He took delight in running trains as expeditiously as possible. After a crossing he would clear the road as quickly as he could (faster than the telemetry system could allow), and count the seconds until he could see that the train was moving, knowing that as the crew pulled out onto the Main they could glance in their mirror and see the tail lights of the train they had just crossed.

The first two SG V/locity trains are under construction:
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/nine-new-trains-join-regional-network

4 new BG sets are also being built at the present time.  They'll probably be numbered VL89-VL92.