><<<<<<<The MTP allows 21 mins at Berrybank loop to cross 9792,(amazing that a
>pass
>gets held for a freight,a Vline freight as well).>>>>>>>>>>>
>Why do you find this amazing? Passenger trains have no inherent right or
>superority over any other trains. They are all trains, the only difference is
>that the freight train probably makes a lot more money than the Overland.
>Mark.
>THE ROCK is dead
>Long live THE ROCK!
I dont have a problem with pass trains being held for freights if we have a
level playing field and the delay cant be avoided.
In the case of 9792 and MA8 (the Overland) the cross can be avoided,its just
that PTC train control are inflexible in their timetabling so the cross
happens the way that it does.
One of the problems with running a railway where there are a multiplicity of
operators is that the task of providing train control needs to be performed in
such a way as their is no perceived conflict of interest, ie train controllers
employed by the same employer who also runs trains in opposition to the other
private operators.
The Operators of the Overland have to pay track access fees to the PTC for the
right to run trains over the PTCs track.
The PTC on the other hand run their own trains over their own tracks without
the track access fees. (some would argue that one half of the PTC namely Vline
freight pays another half of the PTC namely Track Corp for the right to run
trains but its really academic,the Govt is simply paying itself.)
The obvious solution to the problem , which will happen shortly enuf
anyway,although for the wrong reasons , is to totally divorce the functions of
Train Control from Train Operation, in the same way that the Airline Industry
works so such conflicts of interest are avoided in the first place.
cheers
MD
Maurie Daly
Sen Tech Officer
DCA Comms Lab
Canberra
Australia
06 2791331 (W)
06 2544422 (H)
041 4339563 (M)