Following the usual formalities the response from RailCorp CEO Vince Graham to the person who wrote starts:
“You would be aware that Mortuary Station
forms part of the Central Station rail precinct. The Mortuary Platform Siding and
the Regent Street Siding adjacent to Mortuary Station are routinely used for
rail related purposes, including the stabling of RailCorp maintenance trains
and heritage trains.” (RailCorp CEO Vince Graham)
RailCorp maintenance trains for the
last 20 years have been diesel powered and are turned off when stabled. Steam
trains have only been stabled overnight during the last 6 months, for over 127
years most steam train stabling was performed at Eveleigh or in the yard and
well clear of platforms.
“Following on from the Government’s,
decision to adopt a sustainable rail heritage strategy for management of the
State’s core rail heritage assets and to vest Eveleigh rail yards to the
Redfern Waterloo Authority, alternative facilities are required to support the
operation of heritage trains. The majority of the State’s operational heritage
fleet will be stabled at Thirlmere as part of the upgrade of that site.
Thirlmere has long been the main operating base for heritage train operations
and this will continue.”(RailCorp CEO Vince Graham)
No section of Eveleigh yard will be
vested to the Redfern Waterloo Authority while it is required for railway purposes.
The Explorer/Endeavour Maintenance Centre situated in the yard, has a projected
use for 8 years. The stabling of the State’s operational heritage fleet at
Thirlmere now makes a mockery of the sustainable rail heritage strategy with
nearly 200 kms of empty running for most Sydney
departure trips.
“The periodic use of the sidings and
some Mortuary Station facilities in connection with heritage steam train
operations is complementary to the historic nature of the precinct and not
inconsistent with its original use. The decision to use these facilities is
made in the knowledge that a special maintenance regime is needed, in
particular, the sandstone facade of the station building. Recent independent
advice from a heritage architect has confirmed that a monitoring and cleaning regime
for the sandstone, as part of the normal maintenance program for the building,
is appropriate. RailCorp has committed to this and other works on the site as
part of the regular maintenance of the site.” (RailCorp CEO Vince Graham)
Yes,
Mortuary Station facilities were connected with heritage steam train operation
however up until this year, a more sympathetic approach to the building was
taken and the steam locomotives were always stationed on the down or southern far
end of the platform and usually not overnight.
Why was the heritage architect not named and would not the NSW Public
Works Department’s stone mason experts used on Central Station or a heritage
conservator be more appropriate?
“Design plans are presently being
finalised to improve security and locomotive provisioning at the site. In
conjunction with an operational plan being developed for steam train
operations, these initiatives will mitigate the adverse impacts on the surrounding
neighbourhood by current activities. RailCorp will make every effort to have
these plans implemented before the commencement of the ‘2008 Steam Season’.” (RailCorp CEO Vince Graham)
Have any of the neighbourhood people
been consulted? Has any consideration been given to the S170 Heritage Listing
on this building?
“In relation to security arrangements
when heritage trains are stabled in the Central Station precinct, details of
the patrol programs are confidential for obvious reasons. However, I can say
that where these trains are comprised of rollingstock from the core heritage
fleet, the cost of these arrangements are carried by RailCorp recognising that
these assets need safeguarding on behalf of the people of NSW.” (RailCorp CEO Vince Graham)
Virtually all heritage trains into Sydney contain at least 1
core collection item of rolling stock or locomotive. This means that all
heritage trains will have to have security provided. Up to 6 security officers
have been noted on Platform 1 at Central (Sydney Terminal) all looking after
heritage train carriages. Stabling the complete train at Eveleigh would solve
costly security requirements and would save RailCorp wasting money setting up a
facility at Mortuary. There is no problem with Eveleigh. Carriages can be
stored on the lines adjacent to the Australian
Technology Park
or lines north-west of ACDEP while adequate space is available around the
turntable for engine stabling as well as various vacant lines in front of the
Large Erecting Shop.