Labor's $114bn fast train on track? More, please ...

"THE Gillard government is pressing ahead with plans for a high-speed rail network linking Melbourne and Brisbane, despite an admission that the $114 billion project would be a 'monumental endeavour'.

"Transport Minister Anthony Albanese will today release the second and final report into the high-speed rail, produced by eight consulting firms that claimed the project would generate positive economic benefits.

"As part of Labor's alliance with the Greens, sealed in September 2010, the government promised to conduct an implementation study for high-speed rail by July 2011."

Photo of The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Albanese's plan is "...1800km line is meant to be high-speed, the report says the trains, travelling at between 200km/h and 250km/h, with a capacity of 350km/h, would stop at a long list of stations, indicating the government may use the project to target key marginal seats in the September election. Aside from the main capital cities, the high-speed trains would stop at: the Gold Coast, Casino, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Taree, Newcastle, the central coast, the southern highlands, Wagga Wagga, Albury-Wodonga and Shepparton."

Read more: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/labors-114bn-fast-train...

Our's is more wide-ranging:

Our plan promotes the idea of a fast and efficient integrated rail infrastructure, as being an important part of Australia's future:

Map: http://bloggerme.com.au/rail-infrastructure

IRI-1. North-South Cross Rail (aready built) = Darwin to Alice Springs to Port Augusta (to Adelaide)

IRI-2. West-East Cross Rail = Carnarvon to Alice Springs to Rockhampton

IRI-3. Ring-Rail =>

Useful contacts

Notes:

Trains run from AC Brisbane to AG Cairns, a laborious 30 hours. http://www.railaustralia.com.au/sunlander.php

Trains run from Y Sydney to Nowra on the South Coast line, but the line would need to be upgraded. Laborious trackwork has been continuous since the 1850s. http://www.cityrail.info/index.htm;jsessionid=D578E2A2074A0E705561541711...

Trains run from O Melbourne to S Adelaide, P Perth, R Alice Springs, F Katherine and H Darwin. http://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/site/travelinfo/stations_terminals.jsp

From Mebourne to P Perth is a couple of days and nights in either direction. http://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/site/indian_pacific.jsp It doesnt stop in Albany.

Perth rail http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/ goes to Q Albany, N Geraldton, but not to

http://www.transwa.wa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=103

Bus services from Perth to Broome cost $400 and to Darwin cost $800. See http://www.railmaps.com.au/routedetails.php?RouteSelect=772

Infrastructural implications: STAGE 1: New fast rail Cooktown to Darwin, 6 stops on the way; STAGE 2: New fast rail Cooktown to Cairns. STAGE 3: New fast rail from Sydney to Melbourne via the South Coast, only 2 stops on the way. STAGE 4: New fast rail from Albany to Darwin, 6 stops on the way. STAGE 5: Upgrade rail to fast rail Melbourne to Perth stopping at Adelaide & Albany. STAGE 6: Upgrade rail to fast rail Sydney to Cairns, 7 stops on the way. STAGE 7: Upgrade rail to fast rail Adelaide to Alice Springs, no stops.

Comments

"...can HSR really compete with aviation in Australia? This is an important question, since the report’s results are predicated on HSR taking a sizeable chunk of the intercity passenger market from air.

[...]

"The study suggests fares would be kept to a level comparable with those being offered by the airlines. If it’s true, there’s good reason to believe that many passengers would indeed switch to HSR. This has occurred elsewhere around the world.

"There is plenty of comparative evidence to demonstrate this point. In some cases, HSR has even replaced airline services between cities, such as between Paris and Brussels.

"But one of the biggest unknowns is whether pressure on Sydney airport (and other capital city airports into the future) will really be eased by HSR."

Michael Charles, Associate Professor, Southern Cross Business School at Southern Cross University, The Conversation 10 August 2011, 6.59am AEST

Read more: https://theconversation.com/out-of-the-planes-and-onto-the-trains-is-hig...

"The report on high-speed rail, launched by Transport Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday, hints at possible flow-on effects for the economy, suggesting that there will be an estimated $2.30 of benefits for each $1 spent.

"The proposition of getting from the city centres of Sydney to Melbourne in less than three hours is likely to be an interesting one to business and leisure travellers. Given that the Sydney – Melbourne route is currently the fifth busiest route in the world with Sydney-Brisbane not far behind, there is certainly a lot of demand for travelling fast along the large centres of Australia’s east coast. But the process of implementing a high-speed rail network in Australia is no easy feat.

"I am originally from Germany, where high-speed train connections between large cities are the norm. This is true for most West European cities, as is for China, Taiwan, Japan and Russia. But even German taxpayers — who are traditionally fascinated by high-tech engineering — often question the high cost involved with high speed rail and see conventional trains as better value for money. Given the distances involved (the proposed route is 1748 kilometres long), conventional trains are clearly not an option for Australia. Aviation might offer better value for money."

Rico Merkert, Senior Lecturer in Aviation Management, The Conversation 12 April 2013, 6.49am AEST

Read more: https://theconversation.com/is-high-speed-rail-in-australia-value-for-mo...

"Under the plan announced today, the 1,748 kilometre network – including 144 kilometres of tunnels – will be completed in stages, linking Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.

"The Sydney to Canberra section would be completed in 2035. The last stage, linking the Gold Coast and Newcastle, will be finished in 2058.

"The analysis is the second phase of a strategic plan announced in 2010.

"The government says despite the large price tag, high speed rail is viable, estimating the network will attract 40% of intercity air passengers by 2065, with 83.6 million passengers expected per year.

"We put it to the experts: it’s a long time to wait, and it will cost a lot. Is high speed rail worth it?"

James Whitmore, Editor, The Conversation interviewed four important fellows, 11 April 2013, 3.40pm AEST

Read more: https://theconversation.com/slow-to-arrive-but-will-high-speed-rail-be-w...

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