IT IS disturbing to read that the Victorian Government appears to be trying to complete the troubled $440 million Murray Basin Rail project on the cheap (see Andrew Rose’s story on page 46).
While we understand that the project is over-budget and money has run out (Track+Signal 23-3 August–October 2019 ‘Murray Basin Rail Project out of cash’) it would be pointless to cut so many corners that the project failed to deliver the promised benefits to battling regional and rural communities.
But according to the CEO of Pacific National, Dean Dalla Valle, the project is recycling pre-World War I rails and not replacing old track – a practice that, if followed, would severely curtail the speed at which new locomotives and rolling stock could travel and thereby defeat the main point of the entire exercise.
Given Mr Dalla Valle’s position, his warnings on the inadequacies of the project must be taken seriously.
The government claims that the Murray Basin Rail Project will deliver as promised. Let’s hope the promises made are kept.
– TONY DUBOUDIN
While we understand that the project is over-budget and money has run out (Track+Signal 23-3 August–October 2019 ‘Murray Basin Rail Project out of cash’) it would be pointless to cut so many corners that the project failed to deliver the promised benefits to battling regional and rural communities.
But according to the CEO of Pacific National, Dean Dalla Valle, the project is recycling pre-World War I rails and not replacing old track – a practice that, if followed, would severely curtail the speed at which new locomotives and rolling stock could travel and thereby defeat the main point of the entire exercise.
Given Mr Dalla Valle’s position, his warnings on the inadequacies of the project must be taken seriously.
The government claims that the Murray Basin Rail Project will deliver as promised. Let’s hope the promises made are kept.
– TONY DUBOUDIN