Win:Win for road & rail?

**Scuba_Steve** · 1st September 2013, 22:19

Originally Posted by oldrider

Bridges, tunnels and tracks, currently too old too narrow and too run down means new tracks all inclusive too many $$$$$$$.

all run trains now but somehow couldn't run trucks??? I fail to see your logic here

**oldrider** · 2nd September 2013, 09:56

Originally Posted by Scuba_Steve

all run trains now but somehow couldn't run trucks??? I fail to see your logic here

It's a toy railway, to advance to match today's requirements it will need big $$$$$ spent on it and taxpayer subsidies to keep it going.

I am a railway enthusiast and have a long family history/interest so I am not anti railway just a realist not ant rail.

**Scuba_Steve** · 2nd September 2013, 10:18

Originally Posted by oldrider

It's a toy railway, to advance to match today's requirements it will need big $$$$$ spent on it and taxpayer subsidies to keep it going.

I am a railway enthusiast and have a long family history/interest so I am not anti railway just a realist not ant rail.

Whereas I like trains but tend to be anti-passenger-rail; they're just not economical

But even so our "toy railway" should be able to handle the trucks that currently roll our highways & moreso should be better equipped to handle them in both size & weight

**oldrider** · 2nd September 2013, 10:58

Originally Posted by Scuba_Steve

Whereas I like trains but tend to be anti-passenger-rail; they're just not economical

But even so our "toy railway" should be able to handle the trucks that currently roll our highways & moreso should be better equipped to handle them in both size & weight

It is certainly an interesting concept and rail needs to maximise flexibility/integration of road born freight to keep cost down and make it viable.

Have you looked down (along) a railway track of late ... talk about a dog's hind leg, I don't know how they (trains) stay on the bloody tracks!

**Scuba_Steve** · 2nd September 2013, 11:14

Originally Posted by oldrider

It is certainly an interesting concept and rail needs to maximise flexibility/integration of road born freight to keep cost down and make it viable.

Have you looked down (along) a railway track of late ... talk about a dog's hind leg, I don't know how they (trains) stay on the bloody tracks!

might be different for where you're looking my local track looks decent even has a hiab cruse up & down 2-4 times a day.
And hey just be thankful they learn't their lesson & don't weld them together anymore

**jasonu** · 3rd September 2013, 04:28

Not quite the same thing but a few years ago when the price of diesel was more than $6 a gallon it was cheaper to load the semi trailers, use a truck to pull them to the railway yard and transport them across country on railway cars.

**SPman** · 3rd September 2013, 14:24

Originally Posted by oldrider

It is certainly an interesting concept and rail needs to maximise flexibility/integration of road born freight to keep cost down and make it viable.

Have you looked down (along) a railway track of late ... talk about a dog's hind leg, I don't know how they (trains) stay on the bloody tracks!

Sounds like the track from Sydney to Melbourne. Sometimes they can't stay on the tracks.
WA is narrow gauge, apart from the main track east, which is dual gauge and fairly new - even then they have trouble keeping the track up to standard.

Whereas I like trains but tend to be anti-passenger-rail; they're just not economical

I'm pro passenger (I like it), but, unless you've got the volume of traffic, they aren't "commercially" viable. Our local railcar is being chopped, because the State Gov won't subsidise it any more - they'll spend $20m on upgrading their own offices, but not $900,000 to keep the railcar units operating - these are modern, standard gauge units, which can scoot along at 150k on decent track....

**mashman** · 3rd September 2013, 14:37

Originally Posted by SPman

I'm pro passenger (I like it), but, unless you've got the volume of traffic, they aren't "commercially" viable. Our local railcar is being chopped, because the State Gov won't subsidise it any more - they'll spend $20m on upgrading their own offices, but not $900,000 to keep the railcar units operating - these are modern, standard gauge units, which can scoot along at 150k on decent track....

What would it cost to get the track to a stage where it can easily be run on at decent speeds? Build an extra track/tunnels and make it fit for purpose. Then the next generation can upgrade the one that we're currently using. It would give Welly an extra out too

. Doh, sorry, what was I thinking.

**oldrider** · 3rd September 2013, 16:15

When it comes to public utilities like post office, buses, railways etc most of those that want to keep them won't use them, they want "others" to use them!

The other thing is once they are owned or heavily state subsidised, they (the utilities) become a political points scoring football and people just stop using them.

**SPman** · 3rd September 2013, 19:36

Originally Posted by mashman

What would it cost to get the track to a stage where it can easily be run on at decent speeds? Build an extra track/tunnels and make it fit for purpose. Then the next generation can upgrade the one that we're currently using. It would give Welly an extra out too

. Doh, sorry, what was I thinking.

Decent speeds - NZ is hamstrung by running narrow gauge track - a good stable smooth base might see 120kph out of units - the Perth electric commuters are 3'6" and run up to 100 kph between stations - quicker on the new lengths of track running up and down the coast. "our" railcars run on 4'8" gauge (standard gauge) and the one to Kalgoorlie is timetabled at 120 kph average - will run to 160kph. The main cost in establishing decent track is time to do it properly making sure the subgrade is good and easing curves etc. Not initially cheap, but, worth it in the long run..but...Kiwis long run is about 3 yrs - election cycle thinking.....

**mashman** · 3rd September 2013, 20:06

Originally Posted by SPman

Decent speeds - NZ is hamstrung by running narrow gauge track - a good stable smooth base might see 120kph out of units - the Perth electric commuters are 3'6" and run up to 100 kph between stations - quicker on the new lengths of track running up and down the coast. "our" railcars run on 4'8" gauge (standard gauge) and the one to Kalgoorlie is timetabled at 120 kph average - will run to 160kph. The main cost in establishing decent track is time to do it properly making sure the subgrade is good and easing curves etc. Not initially cheap, but, worth it in the long run..but...Kiwis long run is about 3 yrs - election cycle thinking.....

they're busy.