|
NEWS AND COMMENTS
|
|
Because our campaign is gaining a lot of traction (excuse the pun!) - and we're getting a lot of comments from you all about getting the regional rail network up and running again, we thought we'd create this new page where we can share with everybody some of the comments we're receiving - and to copy you in to the traction (there we go again!) we're getting in the mainstream media. Whereas to date, we were intending to place our news coverage on the old 'news and resources' page, we thought we'd 'split' that page in two so that you can see comments to us - AND news coverage, here on this page. The 'Resources' page remains, but that will now only contain formal news releases and other 'resources' we make available generally.
So, here we go! The comments below are those posted to our Poll: 'Should SA's regional rail lines be made to work again?' which is located on our 'Get Involved' page. (If YOU haven't voted on our Poll as yet, please do so - and leave your own comment!) Below are comments we've received so far - and watch out next Sunday November 12, when (we're advised) the Sunday Mail will be covering our campaign in depth. The Sunday Mail has sent a journalist/photographer team into the regions to get comments about the need to revitalise the regional rail network and we look forward to seeing their coverage.... Now to the comments we're received from you so far..... __________________ Currently the rail lines into our town of Hamley Bridge are a fire hazard and will cut off escape routes in the case of a bushfire as it cuts our town in half - the grass and trees on the tracks are well over 3 metres tall in some places. Our roads are deteriorating in the summer due to the excess use of trucks in our region because we have no trains left to move the harvest. Last summer we had to do most of the 90km trip to do essential food shopping at a restricted 60km an hour because the roads got so cut-up from the excessive grain trucks. The state of the roads also impacted the CFS and ambulance and police access as they too were restricted. This isn't rocket science - put the trains back on the track and give the roads a break. I can see down-town Adelaide high-rises from my back paddock but when it comes to transport I may as well be living in a third-world country. Which I would take, over our current situation because even they have trains.... Sandy Brown _______________ It just seems a common sense thing to do!! For a number of reasons saving our roads, time convince, petrol costs,.... Please bring back the train!!!!! Sandra Fletcher _______________ Living in Gawler and travelling to Burra - how much fuel would I save - a no brainer really. Our rural rail lines should never have been put on the hands of someone else - our government should be sacking whoever it is that is not following this contract up. TOURISM brings money to the State - is this too hard to figure out??? Come on, get it together guys - the Barossa line for a start would be really good! |
QUICK NEWS!
Check this comment about regional rail in South Australia....
"....The railway will very likely make the towns bigger, with more houses and shops, it will also bring more visitors into the towns, and that means more boarding places will have to be built. Sometimes the carriers could not take all the goods that people wanted to send away, but the railway will do away with this trouble. Already new shops are being built and new houses going up in Angaston, and we hope to see the town very busy and prosperous.. Great comment, hey??! Sounds like something we would have written.....!!! BUT NO! These comments were written 117 years ago by Eric John Swann who won a Children’s Essay at the Angaston Show in 1910 - (published in The Barossa News, 3 March 1911)..... After decades of service which fueled the Barossa Valley, the railway lines - and the resurrection of Eric's vision - is again critical to the State's future. Take a look at the Angaston Railway Station below -- AND GET ANGRY LIKE US that it's time political parties got off their bums and supported Regional Rail again!! |
Lynne Leopold
_______________
Being involved heavily within the Community sector working in Gawler, living in the Barossa, I know first hand that this is essential. Transport is a key player in so many different areas. This is not just about tourism but this is also about linking so many people that otherwise wouldn't have the means to link in with so many other vital agencies/organisations. Times are getting tough and more difficult for so many people, we need this. Our communities need this! Employment is becoming increasingly difficult to find and transport is an added barrier to some.
Personally for me, I would use this option daily, I'm constantly time-poor and this would make my life easier and save me money! My daughter is soon to start university and she too would use this. Please, let's make this happen!!
Sharyn
_______________
We need a regional rail network, we used to have a railway connection, but it was removed. We want it back.
Carole Kelly
_______________
Rural rail will make SA’s roads safe for the community to use and bring greater economic benefit to the State.
Bernard Martin
_______________
Voting Yes, Yes & Yes.
Such a stressless way to get to Adelaide and other regional areas. It may be slower than some forms of transport but if one is not in a rush, this is so relaxing. Take a book, listen to music, have a cuppa and arrive each end safe & sound. As long as this time the venture is planned fully with appropriate connections at start & end of the journey. Maybe mini-van from destination to shopping precinct etc.
Dee Garratty
_______________
Having a railway returned to the Barossa Valley would change lives for the community. Easy access for employment, tourism, the elderly won’t feel so confined. Just general all-round benefits for all. This would give me access to family who live in the outer Barossa, and vice-versa. Please please please rethink the railway. regards
Lyn Fuller
_______________
Being involved heavily within the Community sector working in Gawler, living in the Barossa, I know first hand that this is essential. Transport is a key player in so many different areas. This is not just about tourism but this is also about linking so many people that otherwise wouldn't have the means to link in with so many other vital agencies/organisations. Times are getting tough and more difficult for so many people, we need this. Our communities need this! Employment is becoming increasingly difficult to find and transport is an added barrier to some.
Personally for me, I would use this option daily, I'm constantly time-poor and this would make my life easier and save me money! My daughter is soon to start university and she too would use this. Please, let's make this happen!!
Sharyn
_______________
We need a regional rail network, we used to have a railway connection, but it was removed. We want it back.
Carole Kelly
_______________
Rural rail will make SA’s roads safe for the community to use and bring greater economic benefit to the State.
Bernard Martin
_______________
Voting Yes, Yes & Yes.
Such a stressless way to get to Adelaide and other regional areas. It may be slower than some forms of transport but if one is not in a rush, this is so relaxing. Take a book, listen to music, have a cuppa and arrive each end safe & sound. As long as this time the venture is planned fully with appropriate connections at start & end of the journey. Maybe mini-van from destination to shopping precinct etc.
Dee Garratty
_______________
Having a railway returned to the Barossa Valley would change lives for the community. Easy access for employment, tourism, the elderly won’t feel so confined. Just general all-round benefits for all. This would give me access to family who live in the outer Barossa, and vice-versa. Please please please rethink the railway. regards
Lyn Fuller
NEWS reported by mainstream media
February 5, 2018 - ABC'S 7:30 Report reveals the bleedin' obvious - increasing heavy haulage by road is killing Australians and ruining the lives of truck drivers. The answer - revitalise regional rail services! Take A LOT of heavy haulage off roads - AND SAVE LIVES AND REDUCE INJURIES! (SEE 7:30'S REPORT BY CLICKING HERE.)
November 29 2017 - A HUGE EXPANSION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT, RAIL EXTENSIONS TO NEAR-CITY REGIONAL AREAS, TRAIN SERVICES TO THE WINE REGIONS AND AN INDEPENDENT INFRASTRUCTURE BODY RECOMMENDED BY 'THINK TANK' GROUP, DELOITTE - we're on the right track!
The Sunday Mail on November 19 2017 carried a great two-page spread in its Insight section as a Special Report by Erin Jones into the re-establishment of Regional rail lines and the revitalisation of Regional South Australia. This is a 'call to action' to ALL South Australian politicians - and candidates for the March State Election - to GET ON BOARD and ensure the State's regional rail lines and infrastructure is returned to the people of South Australia - and made to work for us again! See the 2-page spread below!
On November 17 2017, The Advertiser's lead story on Page 1 called for our politicians to do something urgently to 'BUILD OUR STATE'! It reports that a BIS Oxford Economics report says SA is in danger of losing a further 10,000 construction jobs in the next 3 years if something is not done NOW to provide jobs to build the State's infrastructure. What better way to provide those jobs than rebuilding and revitalising the State's regional rail infrastructure?! GET ON BOARD Premier Weatherill and Opposition Leader Marshall! Let's rebuild regional South Australia by grabbing control of regional branch lines immediately - then call for Expressions of Interest to rebuild and revitalise them - and make South Australia work again! (if you missed getting your copy of The Advertiser, get the details of the Story in a .docx file, at the bottom of our Resources page!)
In the days leading up to our campaign launch, the following article by the legendary SA political commentator Dean Jaensch appeared in The Advertiser, on October 25, 2017. We haven't spoken to Dean - but he couldn't have said it better! (NOTE: Sadly, Dean passed away in January 2022...)
