Article: The Gap to Boggabilla line leased by ARTC

[somebody]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/07/05/3260968.htm

The Gap to Boggabilla line leased by ARTC

The rail line between Boggabilla and the Gap, on the North Coast, will be upgraded as a part of the Gunnedah Basin Coal Link.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation is leasing the 370-kilometre line from the New South Wales Country Rail Infrastructue Corporation.

New rail depots have been established in Gunnedah and Narrabri in preparation for the extended network.

Spokesman, Brad Emery, says the ARTC now has full lease of the Gunnedah Basin Coal Link.

"There's more coal coming out of there and it's expected to rise because it's a developing coal asset," he said.

"It's good news for the grain farmers, for passenger services, and for freight services, as well as coal, because it means we'll be upgrading this section of track to increase capacity, reduce transit time and make it a more efficient link."

Mr Emery says in the past, ARTC was only helping out the country rail group by doing maintenance on the track.

"What we'll be able to do now is include this section of track in all our future investment and capacity plans," he said.

"That means including it in our program of upgrades; it means a better ride for consumers; and it means we'll be able to increase capacity in terms of getting more coal to ports more efficiently."

Awesome news that this anomaly is finally resolved.

[colinw]

Interesting that they are leasing the whole thing, all the way to Boggabilla (although mothballed beyond North Star).  Quite possibly some forward thinking given that the proposed Melbourne to Brisbane route would run that way.

What about the branches?  (Walgett, Mungindi, Pokataroo)?

[somebody]

Still some grain as far as North Star AIUI.  I don't think any branches are covered.  Do they see any traffic?  The bit to Armidale has CountryLink, but I'm not sure if any other traffic so they probably didn't want the other bits particularly.

[ozbob]

 

[colinw]

Still some grain as far as North Star AIUI.  I don't think any branches are covered.  Do they see any traffic?  The bit to Armidale has CountryLink, but I'm not sure if any other traffic so they probably didn't want the other bits particularly.

Status of lines as far as I know is:

Boggabilla - open to North Star as you say.  Some grain traffic.
Mungindi Branch - open to silo at Weemelah, mothballed beyond. Some grain traffic.  May be under review / threat of closure?
Walgett Branch - open to silo outside Walgett, closed beyond into town (cuts out one bridge).  Some grain traffic. Safe bet to stay open, and has received some 2nd hand heavy rail.
Pokataroo Branch - open to silo at Merrywinebone, mothballed beyond.  May be under review / threat of closure?

I think the Mungindi & Pokataroo branches are under threat, as they are "pioneer" standard lines with fly ash ballast & light rail, thus very low speed and need light locos (48 class or similar).  Walgett is fairly safe.  North Star also I think is a safe bet to stay open.

[tomato]

" The rail line between Boggabilla and the Gap, on the North Coast, will be upgraded as a part of the Gunnedah Basin Coal Link."...first line of the ABC story

Pretty sad that nobody  at the ABC understands geography enough to know that all this rail line is on the western side of the Great Dividing Range...
or that ARTC proof reads the ABC story before it goes out.. .... on the North Coast ..this has nothing to do with the Coastal rail line....Sydney - Brisbane

anyway....the ARTC press release......http://www.artc.com.au/Article/Detail.aspx?p=6&np=4&id=339

[colinw]

North Coast?  Jeez, they sure are confused.

The Gap is the "new" junction just north of Werris Creek on the old Main North!  It replaced the old junction at Werris Creek which had points facing the wrong way (i.e. towards Tamworth).

[tomato]

There is an updated rail map (ARTC vs Country Rail Network vs suspended ) in the Country Rail Infrastructure Authority (CRIA) website....

The branchlines remain CRIA responsibility.

http://countryrail.nsw.gov.au/location/operational-map

[Golliwog]

There is an updated rail map (ARTC vs Country Rail Network vs suspended ) in the Country Rail Infrastructure Authority (CRIA) website....

The branchlines remain CRIA responsibility.

http://countryrail.nsw.gov.au/location/operational-map

I wonder if they realise how difficult it is for a red-green colour blind person to read that map?

[colinw]

Interesting. I didn't realise Merrygoen - Binnaway - Gap was ARTC these days.

I can't see either of the cross country routes available out of Dubbo being particularly useful for through traffic, because a through train has to reverse at Binnaway if going via Gap, or at Merrygoen if going via Gulgong & Ulan.  Neither Binnaway or Merrygoen has a wye.