Railway Digest Magazine March 2022 Back Issue

A strike for the country – the One Nation rail program
February 2022 marked the 30th anniversary of Prime Minister Paul Keating’s ‘One Nation’ economic statement, part of the Commonwealth Government’s response to the 1990-1991 recession. It included a significant commitment of $454 million for a three-year rail investment program in the interstate rail network. Philip Laird and Scott Martin take a look back at the projects that developed under ‘One Nation’ which, despite some failings, delivered a major boost to rail when it was sorely needed.

Sydney Metro – A Review
Australia’s first automated ‘Metro’ railway opened in Sydney on 26 May 2019. It has now completed nearly three years of regular operation between Chatswood and Tallawong, a north-western suburb of Sydney near Rouse Hill. Ian Brady and Mark examine its operation to date and the plans for its expansion that are currently in progress.

Double wire signalling
One of the more unusual ways to operate points and signals from a signal box is by means of “double wire” equipment. This was a system developed during the 1920s and installed at various locations in Victoria from 1926. The purpose of the equipment was to mechanically operate particularly points that were located at a relatively long distance from the operating signal box, as David Campbell explains.

Victoria’s standard gauge VLocity trains
The long-awaited standard gauge V/Line VLocity DMUs finally entered service on Thursday 30 December 2021, the first such service being No. 8615 midday Southern Cross to Albury service and 8630 evening Albury to Southern Cross service over the north-east line. James Chuang provides some background on the development and introduction of the new railcars, which are more than just an existing VLocity on new bogies.