The May agenda papers for this forum notes that the Maldon-Dombarton rail link is a 35 kilometre partly completed freight line. In 2014, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) prepared a business case for its completion, but this received in 2016-17 an adverse Project Business Case evaluation by Infrastructure Australia.
The heavy rains in March and April 2022 have led to impacts on the South Coast line, around Otford requiring the extended cancellation of some passenger trains and replacement by buses between Waterfall and Thirroul. The line was recently closed to allow essential maintenance.
The Moss Vale Unanderra line which is now part of the Interstate Network managed by Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) was closed for routine maintenance for two days in January 2022 is understood to now require further maintenance to deal with the recent heavy rains. In normal times freight trains that use the Moss Vale Unanderra line could be diverted to the South Coast line. However, with problems on the South Coast line, this is not so easy.
The recent rains highlight the capacity and other constraints on the South Coast and Moss Vale Unanderra lines, and demonstrate the desirability of completing the Maldon Dombarton link.
At is May 2022 on line meeting, the Forum resolved to request the Paul Scully MP and Ryan Park MP to seek from the NSW Government an undertaking that the 2014 Business case for completion of the Maldon Dombarton rail link will be updated as a matter of urgency, and that the updated business case is to address the value of the new link when the South Coast line and or the Moss Vale Unanderra line is closed due to weather or other events.
The Forum is awaiting advice from TfNSW via our local members.
https://wollongong.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/161704/NF5-Minutes-4-May-2022.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment