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| Thread ID: 89579 | 2008-05-05 01:30:00 | Govt buys back Rail Operations, what a waste of our money | robbyp (2751) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 666059 | 2008-05-05 03:30:00 | They should have paid $1 for it. It's about what trans-rail have devalued the lines to. In 2003 the Govt did buy the lines for $1. This latest buy is the rail services and the ferries. |
PaulD (232) | ||
| 666060 | 2008-05-05 11:12:00 | As it happens Sweep does not mind... Have you ever noticed rail stock outside your local supermarket? Not that I disagree with you entirely but I think you need to get real. Yes, the line runs right past my local supermarket! They could have their own siding. |
rumpty (2863) | ||
| 666061 | 2008-05-05 11:46:00 | Yes, the line runs right past my local supermarket! They could have their own siding. That is good for you Rumpty. Now have you asked the Supermarket to actually make a siding? They could have a siding but will they? |
Sweep (90) | ||
| 666062 | 2008-05-05 11:59:00 | As it happens Sweep does not mind. In your opinion why would it send truck drivers broke? Some time back the Government of the day insisted that all goods went by rail if over 50 miles or 80 Km in case you have no idea what a mile is. Next time you need silage delivered to your farm I would think all you have to do is source the silage then delivered by rail to your silage stack. I hope you have rail lines right up to your front gate. Then of course all you have to do is shovel the silage out of a rail wagon. Have you ever noticed rail stock outside your local supermarket? Not that I disagree with you entirely but I think you need to get real. I didn't mean it would actually send trucks broke, but every $ spent on train cargo is about $3 or so (guesstimation) not spent on trucks. Obviously trains are impractical for smaller things, but trucks on longhaul would be compromised somewhat. Which drivers' families might like more. :) |
Thebananamonkey (7741) | ||
| 666063 | 2008-05-05 20:26:00 | The Rail is great if used properly. In the prime days of rail the trucking system used smaller trucks as there was a lot of work generated taking stuff to and from rail. I remember taking truckloads of vegetables to rail about 10 miles then they would go into Dunedin about 20 miles then another truck would then take them to the Auction house. Same near Xmas we would take a lot to rail and it would go off to Invercargill markets for Xmas. The downside of rail back then was loosing stuff and long delays on freight, but due to transport licensing the trucks were licensed to small districts. Once all that was gone and licensing was opened up and trucks got bigger it was not uncommon to see a train of containers heading from Dunedin to Christchurch and pass 10-20 Trucks owned by NZ Rail also taking containers to/from the same places at the same time, it sort of defeated the purpose of rail in my opinion. With the almost demise of NZ rail trucks got bigger and competition for freight got a lot more competitive. If Rail came back and worked properly for hauling bulk freight longer distances a lot of the line haul trucks would have to adapt to shorter haul or go out of business, but long term if rail was running smooth would or should save the consumer long term. In the 1960's/70's we also used to take thousands of tons of bagged 1080 off rail and deliver to the new Govt farms in the area each year. I sure do not miss that job. |
Bantu (52) | ||
| 666064 | 2008-05-05 21:39:00 | Back in the days when rail was king there also use to be alot of pilfering of stock. I use to work for a industrial supply company and some of the things we use to get by rail was cartons of work boots and toilet paper/paper towels. Just about every consignment there was product missing. Say like 20 cartons of boots with one pair missing out of each carton etc. There is also alot of back tracking with rail. Like for instance here in Napier if you want to send something to Auckland by rail it has to go via Palmerston North as rail dose not go directly to Auckland and it useually took two or three days. Back in the 1920s it was planned to have the rail going from Napier directly to Auckland but it was put in the to hard basket. I think with todays technology it can be done. :) |
Trev (427) | ||
| 666065 | 2008-05-05 23:36:00 | We have to go by rail in the future. Running out of oil etc makes this inevitable. I am old enough to remember the days when rails did practically go to the marketing centres. (Super markets unheard of then). Typical idiot decisions 1) Christchurch which used to have rail almost to the city centre. Then moved the station to an outlying area without even a bus service. So making it almost impossible to catch the train. 2) Christchurch - Lytleton used to be electrified. Guess what now. 3) My old home town Blackpool did away with one of the lines serving the town, turning the route into yet another motorway. They have found that the remaining lines cannot handle the traffic and are surveying for a new line to be laid down. With computers, rail travel could become the way for all traffic including passengers to be handled. We would no longer need to own private cars - WHOOPEE. I wonder if any remember Flash Gordon and the tiny personal rail cabs they used? Tom |
Thomas01 (317) | ||
| 666066 | 2008-05-06 00:09:00 | Well, I'm in two minds about the buy back, yes, Its good to keep the heavy trunks off the road, less damage = less cost to maintain, less traffic = less accident & associated costs. The trouble is lack of drive in the railway structure, we need a CEO of say a transport business to take over, sell freight car transport deals to the major freighters etc, really organise the NZ freight to go through via trains intercity rather than many many trunks. If trunks can make a business out of it, logically the trains should be able to do the same if not better. Lets face it, the only way it will make a buck is via freight services not passengers services.... I just think their timing is outrageous...Labour are on their way out, so the spend up large and leave the incoming government to juggle a possible white elephant! |
SolMiester (139) | ||
| 666067 | 2008-05-06 00:32:00 | I hope Terry comes on and explains how good it was in the old days and how Lucas were so good,I always enjoy his stories. | Cicero (40) | ||
| 666068 | 2008-05-06 01:15:00 | If trunks can make a business out of it, logically the trains should be able to do the same if not better. Lets face it, the only way it will make a buck is via freight services not passengers services.... Toll Rail had the CEO of a transport business running it. He could see that trucks were subsidised more than trains so that's where he was putting his money. |
PaulD (232) | ||
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