AUSTRALASIAN TIMETABLE NEWS No. 278, October 2015 ISSN 1038-3697 RRP $4.95 Published by the Australian Timetable Association www.austta.org.au TOP TABLE TALK – INLAND RAIL AND ARTC On 11 September the Federal government released a give certainty for businesses and will allow the private sector “Delivery Plan” for the Melbourne-Brisbane Inland Railway. to invest in complementary projects leveraging Inland Rail's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and enhanced logistics benefits. The Implementation Group's Regional Development Warren Truss received the final analysis indicates that there is some scope for private sector Report of the Inland Rail Implementation Group from chair, funding, however, the release of this Report will now allow former Deputy PM, John Anderson AO. The Delivery Plan potential investors to consider the merits of the proposal. If outlines a ten year construction timeframe to complete the viable alternatives emerge that are substantiated by 1,700 km project—including 600 km of new track, and puts evidence, these would be considered on their merits and the cost at $10 billion. Accompanying the plan is a detailed referred to Infrastructure Australia as appropriate. As with Business Case, developed by the Australian Rail Track any project of this magnitude, it is important that Australian Corporation. Government fully considers the project and how best to implement and fund it. As part of our consideration, I am “This Report and Business Case provides the information referring the business case to Infrastructure Australia,” he needed to consider how best to build the Inland Rail network said. to meet the freight challenge of the coming decades— expected to treble along the eastern seaboard to 2030,” Mr The full Inland Rail Implementation Group Report is available Truss said. “Inland Rail will complement existing road and online at www.infrastructure.gov.au/rail/inland /. The rail networks and will dramatically boost productivity. Initially, government will now consider the report in the context of the it will provide for 1,800 metre long trains carrying containers 2016 Federal Budget. stacked two high and, in the longer term, much heavier 3,600 metre long trains. The new freight line will reduce On 2 September, the Minister for Finance, Senator transit time between Melbourne and Brisbane by more than Cormann, said the scoping study into options for the future 10 hours—reducing the journey to less than a day. It will management, operations and ownership of the ARTC will remove 200,000 trucks, or 5.4 billion net tonne kilometres of need to be broadened. Consequently, the Department of freight, from roads each year. For the first time, south east Finance will not to proceed with the current tender processes Queensland will connect by rail to Melbourne, Adelaide and for business and legal advisers for the Scoping Study of Perth, avoiding the need for freight to transit through the possible sale of the ARTC. A new process to appoint congested Sydney network. Inland Rail will reduce the suitable advisers will begin later this year. Senator Cormann distance between Melbourne and Brisbane by 200 km and said the ARTC scoping study remains on track for carve 500 km from the Brisbane to Perth trip. The Australian consideration by the government in the 2016-17 Budget government has already committed $300 million to get pre- process. construction activities underway, including detailed corridor On Tuesday 15 September, the new Prime Minister, Malcolm planning, environmental assessments and priority land Turnbull, signed an agreement with the minor coalition acquisitions. This work is continuing. The project will create partner, the National Party. This included a specific up to 16,000 direct jobs during a 10-year construction period commitment to build the Inland Freight Railway. and a regular 600 jobs once operating. The Delivery Plan indicates Inland Rail will generate economic benefits of Details of the Inland Rail project are at around $22.5 billion. Importantly, the Implementation Group http://inlandrail.artc.com.au/ has identified that an early commitment to Inland Rail will 2 RAIL AND TRAM NEWS time." It recommended repairs "within 1 year, due to the Queensland Rail Travel: Facilities partially extent of deterioration identified and the potential risk to restored commuter and freight rail safety". A lounge area has been provided on the Westlander A spokeswoman for Sydney Trains said there was "no (Brisbane-Charleville) and Inlander (Townsville-Mt isa) since danger to customers or freight trains whatsoever. The bridge early September. From 1 October additional food and is structurally sound and the report initiated by Sydney beverage items have been available for sale aboard these Trains helps us plan ongoing maintenance, which is carried trains. (Dining and sleeping carriages were withdrawn from out regularly. It issued a tender in 2014 for a contractor to these trains from 1 January 2015 by decision of the former repair the pier, but it did not follow through with it. The State government.) Refurbishment of the sleeper and lounge spokeswoman said changes to riverbed depth had altered carriages on the Spirit of the Outback (Brisbane-Longreach) the scope of works required. “Sydney Trains decided the has been completed. Economy single sleepers (in addition to most responsible approach would be to expand the project First class sleepers) have been re-introduced to the Spirit of and go out to tender again to ensure we still had the best the Outback – but only four. people for the job," she said. Queensland Rail appears to have stopped marketing their The bridge is used by more than 600 train services a week long-distance trains as “Traveltrain”. They now just use carrying 11,000 passengers between Sydney and the “Travel”. Central Coast and Hunter. ARTC: Working Timetable 4 October Sydney Trains punctuality A new ARTC Working Timetable came into effect from Sydney Trains had its best monthly performance in July, 4 October. The tabular version is on ARTC’s website at exceeding its peak punctuality target on every line with www.artc.com.au/customers/operations/mtp/2015-10-04/ punctuality across all lines being 96.1% - the best figure The graphical version is at since Sydney Trains began in July 2013. Every line www.artc.com.au/customers/access- comfortably exceeded its target. Causes of delays to peak interstate/committed-capacity/nsw/ for NSW and at services in July included a sick passenger on a train at www.artc.com.au/customers/access- Strathfield delaying 14 services and a trespasser at Bardwell interstate/committed-capacity/wa-sa-vic/ for interstate Park delaying 11 services. mainlines. Melbourne-Sydney Intermodal trains seem to be cut by about a further six trains per week. Sydney Central Station fire As is normal, the new ARTC WTT coincides with the new A fire at about 1800 on Saturday evening, 26 September, John Holland Rail NSW Country Regional Network WTT of caused the closure of terminal platforms 1 to 15 at Sydney the same date, www.jhrcrn.com.au/Documents.asp?ID=6 Central station. The station was evacuated. The fire started (as mentioned in the September Table Talk). in a fast food shop. The tram was also prevented from running to Central. Transport for NSW Working Timetable New rail hub for Griffith 3 October In August Griffith Council, NSW, granted a development As usual, Sydney area passenger and freight, weekday and approval for the construction of a rail hub at Widgelli on the weekend WTTs will also be introduced on the same outskirts of Griffith. It will be developed by the Colin Rees weekend as the ARTC and JHRCRN WTTs. Alterations are: Group, who also own and operate the rail hub at Ettamogah • In regard to Penrith and Gosford Yards, each train will be on the outskirts of Albury. It will be the first rail hub in specified as to what road it is to be tabled into and out of; southern NSW since Ettamogah was built just over 5 years • Some Intercity and Suburban Rosters have been re- ago. It will comprise two long sidings and a modern arranged and trip numbers in the SWTT have been re- container handling set up on a concrete pad. labelled accordingly; • There are minor adjustments to other trips. Widgelli Rail Hub will be home to the Regional Connect rail shuttle that plans to move freight from the branch lines Casino freight terminal around Griffith to the main line at Junee and Cootamundra Casino Rail Freight Terminal Co. commenced construction of for pick up by main line services. The company will offer a a $12.7 rail freight terminal on 8 September. It is expected to total package. Regional Connect plans to operate Griifith to take about 18 months to complete. It will have the capacity Cootamundra, Griffith to Junee, and Griffith to Hillston. It will to load two 750m-long trains or a single 1550m train. It is investigate re-opening the line from Yanco to Whitton. expected a short train will depart Casino for Brisbane daily and one long train to Sydney or Melbourne every two or Skitube: Upgrade three days. The Skitube Alpine Railway in the Snowy Mountains is to be upgraded. Skitube opened in 1987 from Bullocks Flat to Hawkesbury River bridge Perisher Valley (6 km including 3.3 km in tunnel) and to Blue The Hawkesbury River bridge needs urgent repairs on one Cow in 1988 (2.6 km all in tunnel). Swiss company Stadler of its crumbling concrete piers, according to a 2013 report by Rail, which is the world’s only provider of the rack and rail engineering consultants SMEC. Underwater inspections of system used by Skitube, has been awarded a $2 million the bridge's nine piers are scheduled to take place every six dollar contract to upgrade the trains’ control systems.