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Should Australia have High Speed Rail on the East Coast?

PostPosted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 10:26 am
by Sojourner
In relation to the other thread I brought up the possibility of a High Speed Rail link on the East Coast of Australia. The ALP are already talking about putting Stimulus into Infrastructure, is this a project that should be done?

Re: Should Australia have High Speed Rail on the East Coast?

PostPosted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 1:15 pm
by The Sleeping Giant
No. Waste of money. Cheaper to fly.

Re: Should Australia have High Speed Rail on the East Coast?

PostPosted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:13 am
by Magpiespower
Let's see if they can build the NorthWest (Sydney) rail link first...

Re: Should Australia have High Speed Rail on the East Coast?

PostPosted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 11:58 am
by auto
would think the costs would be outrageously high but every modern country needs a bullet train so i say do it.

Re: Should Australia have High Speed Rail on the East Coast?

PostPosted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:34 pm
by Booney
IIRC Melbourne to Sydney and vice versa is the bussiest daily route for air traffic in the world. Surely a bullet train would be the right move for that route?


*Edit - 4th bussiest *

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World's_busiest_passenger_air_routes

Re: Should Australia have High Speed Rail on the East Coast?

PostPosted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:36 pm
by Psyber
Nice idea - when we have worked out whether there is any money and we can afford it.
I'd favour fast trains between all the capitals and major centres in between over the NBN.
But it would have to be done in affordable steps...

Re: Should Australia have High Speed Rail on the East Coast?

PostPosted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:48 pm
by Dog_ger
High speed Australian Internet would be better.

For the same price of what we are paying now.... :D

I'd favour cheaper SAFE flights. :D

Re: Should Australia have High Speed Rail on the East Coast?

PostPosted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:50 pm
by Psyber
Dog_ger wrote:High speed Australian Internet would be better.
For the same price of what we are paying now.... :D
I'd favour cheaper SAFE flights. :D
But trains can be electrified whereas planes emit masses of CO2.. ;)

Re: Should Australia have High Speed Rail on the East Coast?

PostPosted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:52 pm
by Dog_ger
Psyber, we are decades away from high speed rail my good friend. :D

Didn't vote.

Re: Should Australia have High Speed Rail on the East Coast?

PostPosted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 8:28 pm
by Psyber
Dog_ger wrote:Psyber, we are decades away from high speed rail my good friend. :D
Didn't vote.
I agree that we may be decades away from it...
Apart from anything else, we need reasonably cheap and reliable base load power first.
But even something like my recent moderately fast trip from London to Paris by Eurorail was nice.