Rail misconception

I’d like to respond to a letter to the editor in The Weekly Advertiser March 4 edition written by Lynda Jorgensen regarding rail crossovers being removed at Sunshine affecting rail freight from the Western District and beyond having to go via Geelong.

Since 1995, the line from Melbourne via Horsham to Adelaide has been converted from broad gauge to standard gauge, all rail traffic now goes via Geelong. 

This was to allow trains from Perth to go via Melbourne onto Brisbane and vice versa without changing gauges. A tremendous saving in time and money.

The line from Melbourne goes via North Geelong through Gheringhap then onto Maroona and Ararat to avoid the steep hills between Bacchus Marsh and Ballarat. Saving having to have an extra locomotive attached. 

Locomotives are attached and detached at Tailem Bend in South Australia to assist some trains through the very steep Adelaide Hills.

Hope this puts Lynda and others’ minds at peace regarding any changes at Sunshine. 

Tony Ward,

Horsham

The entire March 25, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire March 25, 2026 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!