Interesting letter ...

[ozbob]

http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/resources/infrastructure-funding/dg-letter-infrastructure-australia.pdf

[Jon Bryant]

I am intrigued by:

• Mount Isa to Townsville Rail Corridor
• Brisbane's Future Public Transport Network
• Darra to Springfield Project
• Moreton Bay Railline

My main concern is, as you would expect, the blind belief that building more freeway's will help freight movements and reduce congestion despite this being proven by study, after study, after study to being false.  They might as well be saying "Cigarettes make you healthier!!!" 

The comment that coal and grain will increase volumes on the Toowoomba Bypass ignores the plans/intentions of the major mining interest to move it all by rail to Gladstone.  Due to limited capacity on the rail the grain is being forced onto the roads despite the preferences of the famers.  The support for the Northern Lik Road Tunnel is blinkered also. 

It is a pity the Darra to Springfield is not Darra to Ipswich, the Morten Bay is not a loop (rather than a spur) and there is not real consideration of rail freight to/from the port or linking freight hubs around the region.       

[somebody]

The comment that coal and grain will increase volumes on the Toowoomba Bypass ignores the plans/intentions of the major mining interest to move it all by rail to Gladstone.  Due to limited capacity on the rail the grain is being forced onto the roads despite the preferences of the famers. 

I think this is largely due to a lack of availability of locomotives to the grain industry.  Also, to a much lesser degree, a lack of wagons.

Not too sure about above rail access.  Perhaps there are some issues, but one would expect PNQ to try to move the grain.

[Jon Bryant]

Somebody, you are correct. the capacity probelems are (1) locos/wagns and (2) line capacity/availability.

One would hope when the Surat Basin Rail line is completed that little or no coal will come through Brisbane which I think is a good thing all round.

[#Metro]

I think this is largely due to a lack of availability of locomotives to the grain industry.  Also, to a much lesser degree, a lack of wagons.

Why is there a lack of these things?

[somebody]

I think this is largely due to a lack of availability of locomotives to the grain industry.  Also, to a much lesser degree, a lack of wagons.

Why is there a lack of these things?

Because the coal haul has increased, and the number of locomotives has not increased, or at least not to the same degree.  I think some grain wagons have been converted to coal also.  The thing that does surprise me a little is there doesn't seem to be too much interest in buying some more electric locos for the coal haul, even though diesels are running under the wires it sizeable numbers as I understand it.

Not too sure how big of an issue it is to get paths, but there's probably some looming shortage or the Gladstone inland link wouldn't be being contemplated.

[#Metro]

The thing that does surprise me a little is there doesn't seem to be too much interest in buying some more electric locos for the coal haul, even though diesels are running under the wires it sizeable numbers as I understand it.

Is this PN or QR?
I think both companies made profits this year. Perhaps they should spend some on getting new stock.
Or does that have to go through the gov for the decision to be made?

[somebody]

The thing that does surprise me a little is there doesn't seem to be too much interest in buying some more electric locos for the coal haul, even though diesels are running under the wires it sizeable numbers as I understand it.

Is this PN or QR?
I think both companies made profits this year. Perhaps they should spend some on getting new stock.
Or does that have to go through the gov for the decision to be made?

QR.  AFAIK PN have no electric locos anywhere.

[mufreight]

Well Tramtrain you have not been checking your facts.
Both QR and PN are currently taking delivery of new locos, for QR at the present time they are taking delivery of 15 4100 class Diesel electrics, 26 2250 class rebuilds, 25 3800 class Electric locos and 60 3700 class rebuilds, for PN they are currently taking delivery of 13 83 class Diesel electric locos and 23 71 class electric locos.
Somebody might note that his comment that PN has no electric locos is incorrect.
As for rollingstock QR is currently taking delivery of an additional 932 VCA coal waggons and PN is adding a further 500 coal waggons to their fleet of 544 already delivered and in use.

I think this is largely due to a lack of availability of locomotives to the grain industry.  Also, to a much lesser degree, a lack of wagons.

Because the coal haul has increased, and the number of locomotives has not increased, or at least not to the same degree.  I think some grain wagons have been converted to coal also.  The thing that does surprise me a little is there doesn't seem to be too much interest in buying some more electric locos for the coal haul, even though diesels are running under the wires it sizeable numbers as I understand it.

For grain yes some of the grain waggons were taken for coal traffic but the other side of the picture is that there are a number of the smaller capacity coal wagons which are now redundant having been replaced by higher capacity newer rollingstock and they are now nearing the end of their economical working life on coal traffic but could be converted for further use as grain traffic at a minimal cost which would extend the working life of these waggons.

[#Metro]

Thanks for the info mufreight :-)

[somebody]

Thanks for that mufreight.  Good to see that we won't be burning so much oil under the wires in the future.