Private rail?

Many think the answer to the problems with our rail system is to sell it
off, what do you think I private rail system would be like in Sydney?
I think there would be many multi level car parks at stations and you would
have to pay to use, if they are secure I am sure people would use it,
stations and other rail owned property would have many more shops, offices
etc (imagine Central having good food and coffee?), many more advertising
billboards around, fares would rise but will people pay more for a better
service? Less staff and more ticket machines, contract cleaners etc.

"Mr Bump" <bend@over.com> wrote in message
news:481fe402$0$17505$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.a u...
> Many think the answer to the problems with our rail system is to sell it
> off, what do you think I private rail system would be like in Sydney?


And NZ Government is buying theirs back for more than 3 times the price they
sold it for!

On May 6, 9:20 pm, "Peter J Smyth" <PSm...@industries.com> wrote:
> "Mr Bump" <b...@over.com> wrote in message
>
> news:481fe402$0$17505$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.a u...
>
> > Many think the answer to the problems with our rail system is to sell it
> > off, what do you think I private rail system would be like in Sydney?
>
> And NZ Government is buying theirs back for more than 3 times the price they
> sold it for!

We have had private railway companies operating in New South Wales in
the last century.
The Maitland to Cessnock line was one such venture.

Milton Morris who was the Transport Minister in the Askin Government.
Back in the early 1960's
closed it down. If I remember correctly he was also the member for
that area.

"eridge1" <masonnatural@**********> wrote in message
news:c1a28db5-32e9-46a6-a786-c4ad4ee257e6@b5g2000pri.************.com...


>We have had private railway companies operating in New South Wales in
>the last century.
>The Maitland to Cessnock line was one such venture.

>Milton Morris who was the Transport Minister in the Askin Government.
>Back in the early 1960's
>closed it down. If I remember correctly he was also the member for
>that area.


If it is South Maitland Railway you are referring to, it is still being used
by PacNat and Silverton to service Austar Colliery at Pelton.
Has not had a regular passenger service for many years. Still being run by
SMR though.

P. Miller
Newcastle

C. Dewick wrote:
> Peter J Smyth writes:
>
>> Mr Bump wrote in message:
>>
>>> Many think the answer to the problems with our rail system is to sell it
>>> off, what do you think I private rail system would be like in Sydney?
>
>> And NZ Government is buying theirs back for more than 3 times the price they
>> sold it for!
>
> Is it worth 3 times as much now though? I don't know if there's been a lot
> of investment in the time it's been privately owned.

Of course Paul Little has had the gall to claim that the price was
justified because Toll left the system in a much better condition than
they found it.

Paul Westcott

Athol wrote:

> My father, who grew up in Kurri, told me the other day that the line used
> to be double track all the way from Maitland to Cessnock. Anybody know if
> that's right?

It was double track all the way to Bellbird Jct just outside Cessnock.

> Any idea how many movements per day or per week they're running?

Sometimes more than one train a day.