Railway_Digest__February_2018

News
Regional freight study to determine
future options for Eyre Peninsula rail
network
The SA Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI)
and Genesee & Wyoming Australia (GWA) will invest $150,000 to
deliver an Eyre Peninsula freight strategy and investigate options for the
upgrading of the rail network.
SMEC Australia Pty Ltd has been engaged to undertake the $150,000
transport study and business case development.
The rail study will investigate:
• The economic viability of the Eyre Peninsula rail network and
examine the infrastructure investment required to upgrade the
network to support future rail freight operations.
• The potential to rejuvenate the existing rail network to meet export
needs, modelling the cost of alternative supply chain options, and
the impact of proposed regional port infrastructure projects.
• Freight infrastructure proposals currently under consideration
for Eyre Peninsula that have the potential to impact future grain
volumes on the existing rail network.
• The current lower and central Eyre Peninsula freight task across all
major industries and identify the optimal modal mix for the Eyre
Peninsula.
The strategic investigation will form part of the broader freight study
encompassing the lower and central Eyre Peninsula including rail, road
and port infrastructure. The final SMEC Australia report is expected to
be completed in the second quarter of 2018.
The need to investigate rail improvements on the Eyre Peninsula is
identified in the State Government’s Integrated Transport and Land
Use Plan.
South Australia
Flinders Link project: Residents fight
against Tonsley station closure
On 13 May 2016, the Australian and South Australian Governments
announced funding for the $85 million Flinders Link Project. This project
will extend the existing Tonsley rail line 650 metres to the Flinders
Medical Centre, creating new connections to the health precinct and
Flinders University. The project is expected to be completed by mid-2019
(see July 2016 RD, page 18).
The project includes:
• A 650 metre extension of the Tonsley rail line linking the Flinders
Medical Centre and Flinders University to the rail network,
including 520 metres of elevated single track over Sturt Road,
Laffer’s Triangle and Main South Road
• Removal of the existing Tonsley Station and construction of a new
station adjacent to the Flinders Medical Centre; and
• An integrated shared pedestrian/cycle path adjacent the rail line.
However, some Tonsley and Mitchell Park commuters say they will
be left isolated and disadvantaged when the Tonsley railway station is
permanently closed as part of the Flinders Link project.
Local residents have thrown their support behind a campaign to
save the station with an online petition gaining almost 1150 signatures
by the end of December 2017.
Head petitioner Jodie Pearce said removal of the station discriminated
against local residents, particularly a large number of elderly and disabled
people in the surrounding area.
“For many people the train is their only affordable access to
independent travel – especially for wheelchair users and people with
disabilities, short stature or frail health,” she said. “Flinders Link is
essentially ‘unlinking’ the local community by withdrawing access to
the train service”.
On Sunday 10 December 2017, double-stacked intermodal service 6PM6 has crossed the Ghan and 6SP5 at Bookaloo and Hesso respectively,
and now backlit orange dust dances in the train’s wake and metal surfaces gleam silver as NRs 53/101 glide through the curves at Yorkey’s
Crossing. Once this train is safely inside the confines of Spencer Junction yard, 7MP5 will launch uphill as the sun sets. Malcolm Holdsworth
18 RAILWAY DIGEST