Article: State grain rail network to be shut down

[colinw]

Note: the headline is misleading. The Government is closing down the "Tier 3" lines only. In QLD terms this is like closing the branches to places like Cecil Plains & Bell (which happened here in the 1990s) while keeping the grain haul on the main lines & more important branches lines like Millmerran & Meandarra.  Still not a good outcome, and contrary to their own committee recommendation.

ABC News -> click here

The State Government has decided to close the railway line that transports grain in the Wheatbelt, despite calls from a parliamentary committee to keep it open.

A report tabled in the Legislative Council in June recommended the government keep the Tier Three rail network open until the end of 2014 to allow grain processor CBH to assess its value.

The Minister for Transport, Troy Buswell, yesterday rejected the recommendation, saying the Government will instead spend $118 million upgrading roads, before closing the lines in 2013.

The Opposition Transport spokesman, Ken Travers, says he is mystified by Mr Buswell's decision.

"This not only continues his previous bad decision but he's rejected the advice of his own backbench to reconsider that bad decision," he said.

"This was a committee that is dominated by Government members both from the Liberal Party and the National Party."

Mr Travers says more trucks will make state roads unsafe.

"I'm sure people across Perth and the Wheatbelt will be disappointed," he said.

Mr Buswell says the Government would not object to private investment in the Tier Three line.

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Road traffic rise amid WA rail closures

Road traffic rise amid WA rail closures

    From: AAP
    August 22, 2012 3:10PM

TRUCK numbers are set to spike on West Australian roads with the closure of all "Tier 3" rail lines criss-crossing remote parts of the state, farmers and the opposition warn.

A report tabled in WA's Legislative Council in June recommended the government keep the lines open until the end of 2014 to allow grain handling co-operative CBH Group to assess a possible investment in the network.

But Transport Minister Troy Buswell on Tuesday rejected the recommendation, saying the government would instead spend $118 million upgrading roads before closing the lines in 2013.

WA Farmers Federation has warned the move will result in at least 57,000 more truck movements in the state per year, including in the Perth metropolitan area.

Its president Dale Park says the state government has disregarded the desires of Wheatbelt residents.

"This is not just a rural issue," Mr Park said on Wednesday.

"The decision will affect all road users and be warned, you should expect to see a lot more trucks on metro roads carrying grain which could easily and safely be carried by rail."

Opposition transport spokesman Ken Travers agreed, saying the Wheatbelt already had the highest rate of vehicle fatalities of any region in WA.

Independent MP and former head of the WA Nationals, Max Trenorden, was critical of the party supporting the line closures in Cabinet.

It would affect the chances of the party - which held the balance of power in the last state election - when voters go to the polls again in March, he said.

"It's not just about funding a very low cost railway ... it's also about the way political parties treat their constituency," Mr Trenorden told ABC radio.

The Nationals were being sought for comment.

CBH said it had been aware of Mr Buswell's position for some time but "remained committed" to moving grain by rail when it was the most economical pathway to port.

It continues work with line operator Brookfield Rail on access and performance arrangements for all lines including Tier 3.