Get tracks back in line
editor
NT News
THE Darwin-Adelaide stretch of the AustralAsia railway is one of the best things ever to have happened to the Territory.
It has revolutionised the dynamics of the NT economy.
Goods can now be exported and imported easily through the Port of Darwin; indeed, the railway has sparked a massive expansion of the wharf.
Territorians have good reason to wave at the drivers of every freight train they see.
News that stretches on the northern 1500km of the track are misaligned is worrying.
A safety investigation report says the line was laid by two teams -- one working north to south and the other working south to north.
Apparently, the northern team used different "neutral'' temperatures as a gauge for stressing the steel track -- and got it wrong.
This error has led to "a much higher incidence'' of track misalignment in the north.
Misalignment of the track caused a 1860 tonne train carrying laughing gas to derail near Katherine.
Laughing gas, or nitrous oxide, is not inflammable, so there was no danger of a chemical explosion on this occasion, although sparks from the train wheels leaving the track caused a grass fire.
But the freight line often carries dangerous goods on it.
Without meaning to be alarmist, the AustralAsia railway will soon be carrying more uranium from South Australia.
The misalignment problem needs to be fixed -- at whatever cost.
It has revolutionised the dynamics of the NT economy.
Goods can now be exported and imported easily through the Port of Darwin; indeed, the railway has sparked a massive expansion of the wharf.
Territorians have good reason to wave at the drivers of every freight train they see.
News that stretches on the northern 1500km of the track are misaligned is worrying.
A safety investigation report says the line was laid by two teams -- one working north to south and the other working south to north.
Apparently, the northern team used different "neutral'' temperatures as a gauge for stressing the steel track -- and got it wrong.
This error has led to "a much higher incidence'' of track misalignment in the north.
Misalignment of the track caused a 1860 tonne train carrying laughing gas to derail near Katherine.
Laughing gas, or nitrous oxide, is not inflammable, so there was no danger of a chemical explosion on this occasion, although sparks from the train wheels leaving the track caused a grass fire.
But the freight line often carries dangerous goods on it.
Without meaning to be alarmist, the AustralAsia railway will soon be carrying more uranium from South Australia.
The misalignment problem needs to be fixed -- at whatever cost.