NSW ACT Country & Freight Rail

[ozbob]

The new Intermodal freight hub has been unveiled. Spirits remained high despite the damp weather, as a freight train...

Posted by 7NEWS New England on Sunday, 26 November 2023

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Three years late and $826m over budget: More delays for Sydney's new trains $

The NSW government has ordered another raft of design changes to a fleet of long-distance trains being built in Spain, risking further delays and cost increases for a project that is already running more than three years late and $826 million over budget.

Internal documents seen by the Herald show that senior NSW transport officials have directed the manufacturer to make another set of modifications to the new trains. Earlier design changes sparked an ongoing dispute more than 18 months ago between Transport for NSW and a consortium led by Spanish manufacturer CAF, which is building the fleet.

The transport agency issued the directives two weeks before Christmas for the changes to the 29 trains of various lengths, which have been purchased for key interstate rail lines from Sydney to Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra, as well as for services to regional centres in NSW. ...

[ozbob]

^ report of the trial can be found on here > https://railknowledgebank.com/Presto/home/home.aspx

Specifically > https://railknowledgebank.com/Presto/content/Detail.aspx?ctID=MTk4MTRjNDUtNWQ0My00OTBmLTllYWUtZWFjM2U2OTE0ZDY3&rID=NDU3Ng==&qrs=RmFsc2U=&q=TlNXIFRpbHQgdHJhaW4gdHJpYWw=&ph=VHJ1ZQ==&bckToL=VHJ1ZQ==&rrtc=VHJ1ZQ==

I recall taking my daughters to Roma St to have a look at this train when it travelled to Queensland for demonstration.

[Jonno]

https://x.com/guardianaus/status/1743271731203395890?

[ozbob]

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1763572185053184494?s=20

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Uncomfortable, over budget, running late: Big problems for state's new trains $

Sleeper carriages have been ruled out for NSW's fleet of new long-distance trains, which is $826 million over budget and running more than three years late, leaving passengers stuck with "premium" recliner seats for 14-hour journeys.

After a long-running dispute with the private consortium building the passenger trains in northern Spain, the state Labor government said it was "trying to rescue" the botched rail project.

The trains were ordered by the previous Coalition government for key interstate rail lines from Sydney to Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra, as well as for services to regional centres in NSW.

Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison said the previous government had decided against ordering sleeper carriages for the new fleet, which would have been "exorbitantly expensive", and other options were now under consideration.

The Rail Tram and Bus Union has been urging the government to arrange for a local manufacturer to design and build new sleeper carriages compatible with the new trains. A one-way trip from Sydney to Brisbane is 14 hours, while a journey to Melbourne is about 10 hours. ...

[#Metro]

Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison said the previous government had decided against ordering sleeper carriages for the new fleet, which would have been "exorbitantly expensive", and other options were now under consideration.

Doesn't seem to really make a lot of sense. No numbers are mentioned for what "exorbitantly expensive" means, so it is impossible to evaluate the credibility of this statement.

The money spent on delays and blowouts, would have more than enough paid for sleeper carriages or similar.

And these could be reserved for just the longest journeys - Brisbane to Sydney and Sydney to Melbourne.

[ozbob]

For the first time in over six years, a bumper canola crop is being hauled out of Croppa Creek NSW by trains! The first...

Posted by Inland Rail on Sunday, 3 March 2024

[ozbob]

https://x.com/railmaps/status/1765902985677402206?s=20

[ozbob]

Newcastle Herald --> Parliament petitioned to buy old mine line to revive commuter service to Cessnock $

The wheels are turning on the ambitious call for the state government to buy an old mining rail line and repurpose it to connect the Hunter's two fast-growing regions.

A petition signed by almost 3000 people has been presented to Parliament requesting that the state government acquire the disused Maitland to Cessnock line, which is currently owned by Aurizon and Yancoal, and reuse it as a public transport corridor.

The population of the regional centres is predicted to explode in the coming decades, with both Maitland and Cessnock local government areas expected to add another 50,000 people each by 2041, making the combined population more than 250,000.

The plan is estimated to cost between $100 million to $200 million, and would establish eight stations along the growth corridor between Maitland and Cessnock, including stops at Gillieston Heights, Kurri Kurri, Abermain and Bellbird. ...

[ozbob]

Daily Telegraph --> Transport for NSW officials spend $70k on trips to Spain to watch train tests $

Taxpayers forked out $70,000 for transport boffins to fly back and forth to and from Spain over the past year to watch safety tests and modifications on a blighted train fleet purchased by the NSW government.

Transport officials have now flown at least five times to Europe in two years, adding insult to injury to the government's purchase of a regional train fleet suspected of already being $1 billion over budget.

Trips to Spain constituted three of 10 overseas trips taken by Transport NSW staff since March last year, while a trip to Singapore for four bureaucrats to present at a transport forum cost taxpayers almost $20,000 for two days. ...

[ozbob]

Newcastle Herald --> Minister says it would be 'inappropriate' to comment on Cessnock rail idea

The Regional Transport Minister says it would be "inappropriate" for her to comment on a proposal to buy an old mining rail line in her electorate and repurpose it to carry passengers between Maitland and Cessnock.

The Maitland MP's comments come as a survey of almost 1000 residents reveals that despite strong local support, more than 50 per cent of people don't believe the government would act on the project, even if there was a strong case supporting it. ...

[ozbob]

https://x.com/inframagoz/status/1794905759958044975

[Jonno]

https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/new-program-to-shape-future-of-regional-rail-infrastructure

Published: 18 October 2024

Released by: Minister for Regional Transport and Roads

New program to shape future of regional rail infrastructure
Published: 18 October 2024

Released by: Minister for Regional Transport and Roads


Listen
The Minns Labor Government has greenlit development of a new strategy that will lay out the pathway to a better regional rail network in NSW for passengers and freight.

Representing a fresh approach to how rail infrastructure investment is determined, the Regional Network East/West Uplift (RNEW) Program has been established to create a 10-year investment pipeline and strategic plan for rail infrastructure in regional NSW.

Under the former government, regional rail infrastructure investment was determined on an ad-hoc basis without proper regard for the needs of the regional rail network in its entirety. Industry partners and other major stakeholders were also not always properly consulted, with initiatives like Fixing Country Rail and the Main West Capacity Enhancement Program lacking a holistic, strategic focus and projects often stuck in development limbo for years.

The RNEW Program will take a fresh look at where regional rail infrastructure investment is needed, while putting proper evidence-based decision making at the forefront of planning work and giving industry, the Government and the public a clear vision for the future of the network.

Through comprehensive data analysis, research into reliability and future capacity requirements, extensive evaluation of existing assets and wide-ranging consultation — the RNEW Program will ensure the NSW Government better understands, manages, forecasts and delivers upgrades to regional rail network.

The Program will also have a key focus on opportunities to improve the Country Regional Network (CRN) which includes over 2,300 kilometres of operational rail lines and is vital for transporting 2.7 billion gross tonnes of freight annually and delivering more than 120 passenger services per week.

Linkages between the broader regional rail network and existing projects such as Inland Rail, the Freight Policy Reform and Regional Level Crossing programs will also be explored by the Program team, with potential efficiency improvements to be identified and considered.

Once developed, the final investment strategy will complement Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plans being developed across the nine regional areas in the state.

The RNEW Program team will commence engagement with freight industry, rail operators and users, and local government will begin in 2025, with the final strategy to be delivered in 2026.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

"The NSW Government is committed to providing rail networks across the state that are effective, efficient and reliable for all users – freight and passengers.

"The RNEW Program will allow us to better understand, manage, forecast, and deliver improvements on the state's regional rail network, bringing projects under one banner to ensure a holistic and strategic approach.

"Regional communities have been calling for investment in rail infrastructure in the regions. This program will ensure any investment is made on the basis of robust planning and development to enrich our state.

"The program will enable the NSW Government to develop a long-term pipeline of infrastructure investment initiatives whilst being flexible and agile enough to address emerging network issues."