To enable you to keep up with
what the press is saying about rail, I've set up this page to record links
to articles in Australia's newpapers covering the Victorian scene.
I can claim no great credit for this as David Bromage does all the work
trawling the newspapers for these articles.
Simply click on the headline
to open a new window in which the original article will be displayed.
Another
Milestone for Regional Fast Rail Project
Media Release by DOI / Minister
for Transport
Monday, October 1, 2001
The bidders for the Regional
Fast Rail Project have today been invited to tender for the project's country
works, representing another milestone in delivering this important transport
project for Victoria, Transport Minister, Peter Batchelor, announced today.
This follows the shortlisting
last month of three consortia for each of the Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo
and Latrobe Valley corridor works projects. The consortia have until
early 2002 to submit their tenders for the track, civil and signal works.
Transport Minister Peter Batchelor
said the project would boost regional development and create up to 9000
jobs during construction. "Release of the tender documents
for the country works of the project is another milestone in delivering
faster and better rail services to more than half a million regional Victorians,"
Mr Batchelor said. "The Regional Fast Rail project is another example
of how the Bracks Government is turning around public transport in regional
Victoria after seven years of neglect by the previous Government.
"The project is a crucial
part of the Government's visionary $1.5 billion Linking Victoria plan which
will link up communities, create thousands of new jobs and deliver benefits
for all Victorians."
Mr Batchelor said that the
travel times set by the Government would deliver big transport benefits
and help grow regional Victoria. "I am expecting that innovative
engineering solutions and the fierce competitive process among many of
Australia's leading construction firms will result in a great outcome for
Victoria," he said.
Mr Batchelor said new, comfortable
trains travelling at up to 160km/h would revitalise regional rail travel
and bring people back to public transport. He said bidders for the
works on the Geelong line have also been asked to submit an alternative
bid for electrifying the line from Melbourne. "All commuters
using the four regional lines, not just fast rail commuters, will benefit
from safer, smoother rail travel provided by the project, the biggest investment
in Victoria's regional rail system since the 1880s," he said.
"Recent decisions that should be welcomed by regional Victorians are the
provision of new diesel powered trains on the Geelong line, and the retention
of the double track between Melbourne and Bendigo."
The tenders will be assessed
according to a range of criteria including project capability, proposed
travel times, management of specific construction issues, overall cost
and delivery timing. "The maintenance of existing levels of
rail safety and the management of environmental, heritage and planning
issues are high priorities during construction of the works."
He said the tenderers are required to develop a Site and Environmental
Management Plan to ensure that the works have an acceptable impact on the
environment and are in accordance with relevant state and federal legislation.
In addition to the new trains,
over 500 kilometres of rail track will be upgraded and modern signalling
systems installed. The infrastructure upgrade has been split
into four country works packages – one for each regional corridor – and
a metropolitan works package. The country packages will be awarded first.
The country works contracts
will be awarded after evaluation, with work to start later in 2002. Tendering
of the metropolitan works package will also occur in 2002.
The Request for Tender will be available on the Victorian Government Purchasing
Board Web site at www.vgpb.vic.gov.au/contracts/public/.
West
Coast Railway on track for NZ service
By PHILIP HOPKINS
"The Age"
Business Section
Monday 9 July 2001
Victoria's niche passenger
rail operator, West Coast Railway, is set to buy a business bigger than
itself - New Zealand's government-owned, long-distance passenger rail service.
West Coast, which operates
passenger trains between Melbourne and Warrnambool in the state's south-west,
has signed a non-binding agreement with the NZ operator, Tranz Rail, as
the preferred purchaser of Tranz Scenic, Tranz Rail's passenger operation.
.... /more: click
here to go to complete article
South
East rail line inspections underway
ABC Local News
Mount Gambier, SA
Thu 28 Jun 2001
The three companies shortlisted
to reopen the South East rail line have sent representatives to the region
to inspect the track and meet council, development board and industry officials.
Freight
Australia, Australia Southern Railroad and Gateway Rail will prepare
their final bids after the three-day visit.
... /more: click
here to go to complete article
Vic Govt to give nearly
$1m to steam train project
ABC Local News
Bendigo
Fri 22 June 2001
The Victorian Government has
announced almost $1 million for a steam train project in central Victoria.
It is hoped to have steam trains running from Melbourne to the historic
old gold mining town of Maldon within three years.
... /more: click
here to go to complete article
State
could fund 64-minute trip
By MARIZA FIAMENGO
"The Ballarat Courier"
Wed 6 June 2001
THE State Government could
deliver a fast train between Ballarat and Melbourne in 64 minutes without
private sector funding.
This is the finding of a paper
released by the State Government to the private sector about the project.
... /more: click
here to go to complete article
Three
injured as peak-hour trains crash
By ZOE SMITH
"The Age"
Wednesday 6 June 2001
Includes picture: The crumpled
carriages at Footsgray Station.
Picture: JASON SOUTH
Includes Video: The
crash scene (You need realplayer)
Three people were hurt and
hundreds stranded after a peak-hour train crash in Melbourne's west yesterday.
An empty train heading towards
Newport crashed into the back of a Williamstown-bound passenger train leaving
the Footscray Station about 8.30am.
... /more: click
here to go to complete article
Bracks
denies backing down on fast rail
By ANDREW MOLLOY
"The Ballarat Courier"
Sunday 3 June 2001
PREMIER Steve Bracks has defended
the failure of his dream of Ballarat being the first to benefit from the
Government's planned upgrade of the regional rail network.
The Premier said that there
was more work to be done on the Ballarat line than other lines.
''There is more difficult engineering
work to be done, and that is why we are spending more money on Ballarat
than any other line - up to $200 million.
... /more: click
here to go to complete article
Talks
on bill for fast trains
By STATHI PAXINOS
TRANSPORT REPORTER
"The Age"
Friday 1 June 2001
The State Government is locked
in negotiations with a private operator over the cost of fast trains to
be used on links to regional centres.
At the same time it is calling
for expressions of interest to upgrade the signalling and rail infrastructure
for the $800 million project that will provide fast rail services to Geelong,
Bendigo, Ballarat and the Latrobe Valley.
... /more: click
here to go to complete article
Bids
to fast-track trains
By GENEVIEVE LALLY
transport reporter
"The Herald Sun"
Friday 1 June 2001
CONSTRUCTION of fast rail links
to regional Victoria will begin within a year.
Transport Minister Peter Batchelor
yesterday called for investors in the $800 million project - one of the
largest rail developments in history. Taxpayers will contribute
$550 million towards the links to Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Traralgon.
... / more: click
here to go to complete article
Geelong
likely to get fast-rail link before Ballarat
By ANDREW MOLLOY
"The Ballarat Courier"
Friday 1 June 2001
PREMIER Steve Bracks' desire
to see Ballarat become the first regional city to benefit from the Government's
planned Regional Fast Rail Project was dealt a blow yesterday by Transport
Minister Peter Batchelor.
... / more: click
here to go to complete article
Vic
Govt asked to honour steam train line commitment
ABC Local News
Bendigo
Mon 28 May 2001
The Victorian Government will
be asked to honor a pre-election commitment to the steam train line between
Castlemaine and Maldon
... / more: click
here to go to complete article
One
Billion Dollars to revive rail system
By MARIZA FIAMENGO
"The Ballarat Courier"
Thursday 17 May 2001
THE State Government's $1 billion
Regional Freight Links Program is set to inspire Ballarat's rail rebirth.
Like the rest of regional Victoria,
Ballarat has suffered under a disconnected and expensive rail freight system
with two different railway networks _ broad and standard rail gauges.
... / more: click
here to go to complete article
Budget
provides freight rail boost
ABC Local News
Western Victoria
Wednesday 16 May 2001
Victoria's freight rail system
is one of the big winners out of the state Budget, announced yesterday.
The Government has put $96
million into the standardisation of the state's rail gauges, up from the
initial $40 million promised.
... / more: click
here to go to complete article
$1 Billion for transport
By GARY HUGHES & CHEE CHEE
LEUNG
THE AGE ONLINE
Tuesday 15 May 2001, 03:16
PM
Victoria's transport networks
are to get a $1 billion upgrade under
the State Budget.
Treasurer John Brumby said
$200 million would be spent on road
improvements, including upgrades
of the Geelong Road and Bass Highway.
Rail will get more than $600
million, including $32.7 million to
reopen passenger services
to Ararat, Mildura, Bairnsdale and
Leongatha, $550 million for
regional fast rail links and $96 million
for standard rail gauges.
Ararat
to regain Ballarat rail link
Local News - General
"The Ballarat Courier"
Friday 11 May 2001
THE STATE Government is expected
to announce the reopening of the Ararat to Ballarat passenger train service
today.
Premier Steve Bracks and Transport
Minister Peter Batchelor will make the long-awaited announcement at the
Ararat Railway Station this morning as part of its pre-budget announcements.
... / more: click
here to go to complete article
New
support for return of passenger rail services
ANDREW McBRIDE
"The Ararat Advertiser"
Friday 11May 2001
New support has emerged for
the return of passenger rail services between Ararat and Ballarat.
The backing has come from Environment
Victoria which has released its vision for public transport in future years.
According to the authority,
at least three train services a day should operate between Ararat and Ballarat.
... / more: click
here to go to complete article
$32m
to reopen rail links
By CHEE CHEE LEUNG
AGE ONLINE
Friday 11 May 2001, 01:31
PM
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks
has announced that more than $30
million of next week's state
budget will go towards reopening four
train lines in regional Victoria.
The lines will be reopened
progressively at Ararat, Bairnsdale,
Mildura and South Gippsland.
... / more: click
here to go to complete article
Freight
Australia powers up
Press Release
04 April 2001
Regional rail specialist Freight
Australia is embarking on a multi-million dollar program to re-power its
locomotive fleet in a drive to equip the company for the increasing demands
of new and existing customers.
To ensure long-term demand
can be met, Freight Australia has begun work on re-engining its most powerful
locos, the 3,300 horsepower (3,000 hp net) G-class, with brand new 645F3B
model GM power units rated at 3,800 hp (3,500 hp net), to provide a 17%
increase in load-hauling capability. These engines, the most powerful available
for the G-class, are fully assembled and tested by GM in the United States
and shipped to Australia complete, for installation by Freight Australia’s
own skilled workforce at the Dynon workshops.
In turn the 3,000 hp units
from the G-class will be overhauled and cascaded down into Freight Australia’s
X-class locos, currently rated at 1,800-2,000 hp, to provide a 50% increase
in haulage capacity. At the same time these locos will be fitted with state-of-the-art
computer management systems, be converted to enable driver-only operation
and are set up for short-end leading (cab-first operations).
In a further regeneration,
seven A-class locos – originally built in the 1950s and re-built in the
1980s – will be fitted with high-tech traction control systems to boost
pulling power by 34%. Thus, in effect, the seven-unit A-class fleet will
‘grow’ by the equivalent of two extra locos.
While the comprehensive three-class
program will ‘re-birth’ locos at contemporary levels of technology and
capability, Freight Australia has also placed an order for a new generation
locomotive, to be known as the V-class, to be powered with the latest 4,000
hp 710 GM engine, the most powerful two-stroke motor available. This loco
is under construction by EDI Rail at Sommerton and Newcastle and is due
for delivery next year.
... / more: click
here to go to complete article
