Examination of Witnesses (Questions 19820
- 19839)
19820. Why would you like to get to NC 20-3?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) Because
those instructing you are asking for it.
19821. I think the fact we are asking for it
is not uppermost in your mind, Mr Thornely-Taylor. Why would you
like to achieve that? Is it because it gets to a much better noise
environment?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) I have
to say that all our work in recent times is totally driven by
what the Petitioners are seeking.
19822. The speed of the trains, Mr Thornely-Taylor,
during the construction period, according to the agreement, are
limited to a maximum of 5 kph, is that right?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) Yes.
19823. Is it right that if you reduce the speed
of the trains the noise emanating from that particular source
is reduced?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) Yes.
19824. If, for example, you were to reduce the
speed—and it is just an example—to 3 kph what is your
assessment of the reduction of the noise?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) It
would bring about a reduction of two or three dB and two or three
notches on the NC curve system.
19825. I appreciate I sprung the question on
you. Is that something you need to get down on paper and work
on, or is that your best judgment?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) It
will enable us to address this topic now.
19826. Would the reduction in speed enable NC
20-3 to be achieved?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) I think
we would have to go down to one kilometre an hour.
19827. Is that something that is capable of
calculation on a piece of paper for the Committee, not now but
subsequently?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) It
is not set down on a piece of paper as being a model one, but
you would not bother to do it because one kilometre an hour is
moving that far in one second and you just could not do it.
19828. I understand that, but your one kph might
not be right. It would be helpful to the Committee to see the
degradation of a reduction of speed and the refinement of noise
levels emanating as a result of that reduction of speed.
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) No,
it would not. It is not remotely doable, I even have worries about
five kilometres per hour. I have asked repeated questions of those
responsible concerned with construction planning and tunnelling
when we say, "Can we even do five?" They say they can,
but that is a very low speed considering the length of tunnel.
19829. Forgive me, you just said it was capable
of being modelled?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) It
is capable of being modelled, but I do not intend to do it.
19830. You are not prepared to help the Committee?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) It
is pointless because we could not possibly go that slowly.
19831. When you say you could not go, have I
got it right that the maximum is 5 kph? That is what it says in
the agreement I have got in front of me.
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) Yes.
19832. It does not appear to be worded that
is the only speed, of 5 kph. You are saying to the Committee there
are no circumstances in the operation of this railway during the
temporary period that speeds of less than 5 kph will be utilised
by the construction trains, is that right?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) The
construction trains will stop sometimes and will have zero kph,
but it is impossible to contemplate putting a lower number in
the draft agreement thus far?
19833. Are you saying, Mr Thornely-Taylor, that
the only speed the trains will travel through the temporary railway
period is 5 kph and you do not contemplate ever a reduction in
that speed?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) I have
just said so, it will stop sometimes.
19834. What about a position other than stopping?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) Between
zero and five there are several other speeds.
19835. Yes, you are doing very well, Mr Thornely-Taylor.
Now we have established there are a range of speeds between nought
and 5 kph, can we get some agreement that it is not beyond reasonable
contemplation that the construction trains will be travelling
throughout that range and not necessarily at a fixed speed of
5 kph?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) They
will use all 5 kph when they are actually transporting tunnel
lining segments to the tunnel boring machine. It will only be
because they are required to slow down to stop for operational
reasons that they would go slower.
19836. That is very helpful, thank you for that.
The rails that are going to be used are, I think you said, six
metres?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) Initially,
yes.
19837. When do they change that?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) As
soon as possible. It is likely to be during the weekend that immediately
follows the subsection of the track that has been laid in six-metre
lengths. A welding team will go down and weld them up during the
next following weekend.
19838. Then they change to a different length,
is that right?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) By
virtue of being welded up.
19839. It says in the agreement that, on completion
of the tunnel boring machine passage, a six-metre length of mechanically
joined rail will be replaced with 15-metres of rail. Is that right?
(Mr Thornely-Taylor) Yes,
that is an alternative approach.
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