Heat Restrictions driving more trucks onto roads
The year to September 2016 has seen 37 deaths from road truck accidents in Victoria. These have contributed to to reduce Victoria's road toll, let alone see it decreasing 'towards zero.' Encouraging the transfer of freight from road to rail is one way to reduce deaths and injuries on our roads, including on the freeway through Ballarat's outskirts and rural roads up to Maryborough and north.
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Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan and government-owned V/Line's new CEO James Pinder's decision to prohibit the operation of freight trains around 1,170 kilometres of rail lines such as Dunolly to Mildura, typically once the temperature reaches 33 degrees, stands in stark contrast to the way in which private rail operator Genessee and Wyoming keeps its freight trains and 'the Ghan' passenger train rolling between Tarcoola, Alice Springs and Darwin on hot days. G & W typically does not impose blanket, lengthy speed restrictions.
In 2016, V/Line has expended millions of dollars in renewing sleepers or re-railing some country rail lines such as part of the Mildura line.
Transport minister Jacinta Allan and V/Line need to explain why a private enterprise rail lessee operating in the 'Red Centre' of Australia is so much more focused on keeping trains running than the publicly funded V/Line.
V/Line's sudden willingness to lumber graingrowers with extra costs should be of huge concern to not just the TAC but Victoria Police, country motorists, ratepayers and local governments. It is these organisations or individuals who face increased risk from travelling on rural highways and roads if more grain switches from rail to road transport, who must deal with increased accidents, risk of fatalities and serious injuries, or watch country roads deteriorate even further.
With 'Mr Potholes' Roads Minister, Luke Donnellan failing to continue the previous Liberal-Nationals outstanding country roads and bridges program of vital funding, the roads will become even more dangerous. While no one grows grain in Ballarat's urban area, banning freight trains still adversely affects local residents who use our deteriorating roads. Many were not built to be constantly bombarded by large, heavy B-Doubles. The latest crisis engulfing V/Line shows how much it is off the tracks under Labor, but this time it is country motorists who will pay.
David Hodgett, MP, Opposition public transport spokesman, Melbourne
‘Pie in the sky” bound to fail
IN regard to John Barnes' article in The Courier dated Thursday, December 15, 2016. I wholeheartedly agree with John on this issue. It is not for governments to subsidise hotel developments, and certainly not at Ballarat's main station denying train travellers parking spaces.
The government's $25 million subsidy to this hotel could be better spent on track duplication, or it could possibly build a hospital, a school, or around 75 homes in Ballarat for the homeless; far more needy projects than a hotel. As for the goods shed, this space is needed for parking, therefore should be demolished and the bluestones used elsewhere.
Don't waste more dollars on a "pie in the sky" project because of its position, it would be bound to fail. A rail station is for train travellers and should be exclusively kept for that purpose.
Keith Pitman, Alfredton
Trouble ahead
Putin and Trump between them control about 15,000 nuclear missiles so their intention to increase the nuclear weapons capacity is nonsensical as they already can destroy all life on the planet.
Forever. And maybe starting on a continent near you.
Byron Kaufman, Dickson