Rail lands project next on the agenda

September 5, 2009

Mount Gambier City Council is expected to swing its focus towards developing a vision later this financial year for the railway corridor, in a bid to transform it from a sprawling eyesore to a landmark community centrepiece.

The 4.5ha site is considered the most strategic undeveloped parcel of land in the heart of the city centre. Read more

Tags: Council, Mount Gambier, rail | 7 Comments

Railway section car for sale

July 6, 2009

Bill Towner from the Limestone Coast Railways hopes to sell this vintage type section car for $1000 to a collector or restorer.

Along with four heritage rail cars the Limestone Coast Railways are trying to sell, is also a vintage type section car which was once used in rail maintenance in the 1950s. Read more

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Industry questions rail feasibility

December 9, 2008

Reinstatement of the rail link from Penola to the Port of Portland has been described as a “dead duck” by a leader of the bluegum sector.

The prospects of reopening South East rail appeared to receive a boost on Monday when the Victorian Government announced reinstating the line was the centrepiece of its package to secure the Green Triangle’s export capacity as part of a $38b state-wide transport package. Read more

Tags: rail, transport | 2 Comments

Passenger rail service investigated

September 16, 2008

A state parliamentary committee will investigate the viability of reinstating a rail passenger service between Mount Gambier and Adelaide.

Civic, tourism and political leaders yesterday welcomed the inquiry, which will canvass the possibility of introducing rail passenger services to several regional centres. Read more

Tags: government, rail, Rory McEwen, transport | 21 Comments

Green light for new stop signs

September 9, 2008

All stop signs at rail crossings in the Grant district will be changed, following a decision by the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure.

The signs will be replaced with “railway crossing not in use”, following the closure of Limestone Coast Railway two years ago. Read more

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Rail trail idea raised

July 24, 2008

Regardless of uncertainty surrounding future rail land development, keen cyclists established a steering committee on Tuesday night to help plan bicycle rail trails in the South East.

Hopeful to secure land for rail trails when development starts on rail land between Wehl Street and Bay Road, the group’s ambition to see more rail trails on other South East rail land was also expressed. Read more

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Penola rail pledge confirmed

July 18, 2008

The State Government has repeated its commitment to standardise and upgrade the South East rail network to support the Penola Pulp Mill project.

A spokesman for Transport Minister Patrick Conlon gave the assurance yesterday after the Victorian Government announced a $15m upgrade of the Portland-Maroona line. Read more

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New push for Mount Gambier railway

July 17, 2008

There is a strong business case to reopen the Mount Gambier to Heywood railway line, according to the Port of Portland.

The authority was responding yesterday to news the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) had acquired the Portland-Maroona line, which Pacific National shut down earlier this year.

ARTC is a wholly Federal Government owned corporation.

The Victorian Government will spend $15m upgrading the track to a level that trains can travel at 80kmh. ARTC has signed a 50-year lease to manage the line and will start upgrading it within months.

The port authority welcomed the announcement as part of a strategy to enhance rail services in Victoria and South Australia.

“The move is in line with our submission to the Tim Fischer led Rail Freight Network Review and an action item in the Port of Portland Port Land Use Strategy,” the port’s chief executive Scott Paterson said.

“The ARTC is a natural owner of this important infrastructure link to the Port.

“It specialises in operating rail lines and will invest in upgrading this line.”

Mr Paterson said this was an important first step towards revitalising rail services in Western Victoria and South Australia.

“This line links up with the Melbourne-Adelaide line, so it is integral to state and interstate services,” Mr Paterson said.

“It is also used by Graincorp to transport grains destined for export markets.

“As this line includes Heywood, there is now a strong business case for reopening the Heywood-Mount Gambier standard gauge line.

“If this line was to be reopened, it would support rail transport of a far greater proportion of woodchips sent to Portland from the Green Triangle Region.

“The Victorian Government’s desire is to see rail increase its market share of freight transported to ports to 30pc.

“We believe the ARTC taking over the Portland-Maroona line will certainly assist and the reopening of the Heywood-Mount Gambier line would be a very significant boost for rail.”

ARTC chief executive David Marchant said reopening the Mount Gambier to Heywood line would be a positive move.

“ARTC would welcome such a development, however this would be a matter for the SA and Victorian governments,” Mr Marchant said.

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