Trains travelling through Nyngan are still a major concern for the Bogan Shire Council, who are “disappointed” they havent received a response from the state government. Earlier this year the council pushed to reduce train speeds after it was announced freight trains would be travelling through town at 80 kilometres per hour, up from 20 km/h. Despite John Holland Rail telling the council speeds will now average 40 kilometres per hour and not exceed a speed of 60 kilometres per hour, Bogan Shire Mayor Ray Donald said ore trains are still racing through town. “We are concerned about the ore trains through town,” Mayor Donald said. Mayor Donald said it appears the empty ore trains travelling through to Hermidale and Cobar are continuing to speed through the town, which he believes if there was a derailment or child on the track would be a call for major concern. “There is no need for them to speed, theres one track, theyre only going out to Hermidale and Cobar,” Mayor Donald said. “Theres not a lot of traffic on the lines, so theres no need for them to speed for any timetable reason.” “We have urban development on either side of the line … which is another reason why they should go slower.” “If cars are restricted to 50 kilometres per hour through town, trains should be we believe, restricted to 40 kilometres per hour,” he said. Another concern raised by the council is the safety of the towns level crossings, in particular the crossing at the eastern end of town, which Mayor Donald said needs to be improved before its too late. “We badly need flashing lights at the Hoskins Street crossing at the eastern end of town where there is only a stop sign,” he said. “We appreciate John Holland put some safety crossings up at the Western end [of town], mainly for the preschool and the high school. “However during harvest, road trains and long b-doubles cross that [Hoskins Street] line to get to the Graincorp silo and theres the risk that they may be across the line if the train is speeding through,” he said. Mayor Donald said the council are currently waiting on a reply from the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey, and said they will be bringing the issue to the attention of the candidates for the seat of Barwon. “Were disappointed we havent had any recent response from the Minister from our concerns,” Mayor Donald said. A spokesperson from Ms Paveys office said the Bogan Shire Council will be receiving correspondence shortly. A spokesperson for Transport NSW said work completed earlier this year restored train speeds in Nyngan to their original level, and that all level crossings in town meet engineering standards. “John Holland Rail, who manage the Country Regional Network under contract to Transport for NSW is happy to discuss any issues with the Bogan Shire Council,” the spokesperson said.
Trains travelling through Nyngan are still a major concern for the Bogan Shire Council, who are “disappointed” they havent received a response from the state government.
Earlier this year the council pushed to reduce train speeds after it was announced freight trains would be travelling through town at 80 kilometres per hour, up from 20 km/h.
Despite John Holland Rail telling the council speeds will now average 40 kilometres per hour and not exceed a speed of 60 kilometres per hour, Bogan Shire Mayor Ray Donald said ore trains are still racing through town.
“We are concerned about the ore trains through town,” Mayor Donald said.
If cars are restricted to 50 kilometres per hour through town, trains should be we believe, restricted to 40 kilometres per hour.
Bogan Shire Mayor, Ray Donald
Mayor Donald said it appears the empty ore trains travelling through to Hermidale and Cobar are continuing to speed through the town, which he believes if there was a derailment or child on the track would be a call for major concern.
“There is no need for them to speed, theres one track, theyre only going out to Hermidale and Cobar,” Mayor Donald said.
“Theres not a lot of traffic on the lines, so theres no need for them to speed for any timetable reason.”
“We have urban development on either side of the line … which is another reason why they should go slower.”
“If cars are restricted to 50 kilometres per hour through town, trains should be we believe, restricted to 40 kilometres per hour,” he said.
Another concern raised by the council is the safety of the towns level crossings, in particular the crossing at the eastern end of town, which Mayor Donald said needs to be improved before its too late.
“We badly need flashing lights at the Hoskins Street crossing at the eastern end of town where there is only a stop sign,” he said.
“We appreciate John Holland put some safety crossings up at the Western end [of town], mainly for the preschool and the high school.
“However during harvest, road trains and long b-doubles cross that [Hoskins Street] line to get to the Graincorp silo and theres the risk that they may be across the line if the train is speeding through,” he said.
Mayor Donald said the council are currently waiting on a reply from the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey, and said they will be bringing the issue to the attention of the candidates for the seat of Barwon.
“Were disappointed we havent had any recent response from the Minister from our concerns,” Mayor Donald said.
A spokesperson from Ms Paveys office said the Bogan Shire Council will be receiving correspondence shortly.
A spokesperson for Transport NSW said work completed earlier this year restored train speeds in Nyngan to their original level, and that all level crossings in town meet engineering standards.
“John Holland Rail, who manage the Country Regional Network under contract to Transport for NSW is happy to discuss any issues with the Bogan Shire Council,” the spokesperson said.
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Nyngan Observer
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