A superfast train with a top speed of 350km/h (200km/h in residential areas)? Colour me interested.
We’ve been hearing about a potential east coast high speed rail service for years now, but today, the federal Transport Minister released the first phase of a $20 million study that examines the up to $100 billion project. Yes, that’s billion.
That’s pretty hefty, but the study is investigating both private and public financing options. I love the sound of a high-speed train, but I wouldn’t want his to turn into an NBN-like debate, or a road toll-style failure. On that point, the study so far predicts demand would be high enough to make the project feasible. Particularly between Sydney and Newcastle where a 40 minute commute would cost $16.50. SMH reports that Melbourne to Brisbane would cost between $75 and $197.
The study’s second stage is slated for release next year. [Infrastructure.gov.au via SMH]
Thorbjørn
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 12:39 PMthis would be awesome
Luke
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 12:42 PM$100 billion… Liberals complain about the cost of the NBN.
Yeah… i dont think this is a project that is going to happen anytime soon.
One last thought. Couldnt they use the already existing rail networks instead of having to build new tracks?
Joel
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 1:06 PMTry putting a 350km/h train on the tracks with normal trains and see what happens lol
Unless they can cleverly implement a sort of “overtaking” track.
Still, sounds dangerous.
Shane
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 1:10 PMIt’s unlikely that tracks built for trains travelling at around 100kmh-1 could safely hold a train at 350kmh-1. The sideways forces generated through corners would probably tear the old tracks off their sleepers.
DTM
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 1:11 PMI doubt it, high speed trains need tracks with major reinforcing and very wide corners to handle the speed.
Haydos
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 1:12 PMThe existing rail network is completely incompatible with HSR; the majority of the curves on the existing rail are between 300m and 900m in radius. In order to run trains at 350km/h the minimum curve radius is in the order of several km.
(I’m a student rail engineer at one of the companies involved in this)
Luke
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 7:52 PMSorry… i should have worded that last bit better,
what i mean is that couldnt they just upgrade the existing network, because a good majority of the $100 billion is actually buying land to make a corridor where there is an already existing corridor used by the existing rail network.
Sam
Monday, August 8, 2011 at 2:06 PMNot really no. By relaying the current roads as high speed rail, you’re effectively making the new tracks un-usable for standard urban passenger rollingstock and freight – as they become unbalanced on the agressive banks of corners.
As Haydos touched on, some of the existing rail corridor already has quite tight bends that no amount of banking will offset.
Additionally, shared tracks with standard traffic would also only serve to create huge bottlenecks, as everything else throughout NSW has a maximum allowed speed of 120km/h or less.
Finally, most existing rail througout NSW/QLD/VIC is state owned. The initiative is on a Federal level, so that would open a whole new can of politcal worms.
James
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 12:50 PMMaybe they should just buy Qantas, cheap at only 6 billion
Jeroen
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 12:52 PMSo $16.50… really… what does the train link charge to get from Sydney Central Station to the Sydney International Airport… $15 for a single trip..(12 minute trip).
fakestevejobs
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 12:53 PMhow many times in the last 30 years have we heard this?
David
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 12:54 PMthis is really what this country needs! More high speed rail is a fantastic idea. It really means people can work in sydney and live in newcastle. There should be more shorter tracks laid around melbourne, it would be great to live in craigieburn or further and commute to the CBD in 30 mins.
LDX
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 1:03 PMas long as they dont buy chinese made trains.
Gareth
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 1:04 PMI’d happily live in canberra and traverse to Sydney for work. Brilliant idea methinks.
Joel
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 1:04 PMGreat idea and I think something that is definitely needed at some point.
However, I struggle to see how it would cost them $100 billion to build and tickets from Melbourne to Brisbane will cost $75-$197 when a normal train from Melbourne to Sydney can already cost ~$100.
EckyThump
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 1:16 PM“the first phase of a $20 million study”
So why does it always cost so much friggin money to decide whether or not to actually build things like this? Which intern will blow out to a sum of money unsustainable in the end to actually finish it!! Don’t hold yer breath waiting boys and girls, maybe yer gandkiddies will see it finnished Eh? #[
Sam
Monday, August 8, 2011 at 2:11 PMThe pessimist in me says the answer comes down to 2 simple reasons:
- Publicly owned organisation don’t work efficiently.
- Privately owned organisation wants to make profit.
I agree though, it won’t happen. High Speed Rail has been talked about in Australia since it existed with various governments taking the “Hey we can do that too” mentality. Problem is though, unlike France, Japan and China – we have bugger all population to support it; and just as much, if not more, track to be laid to build it.
Inject the $20m into Health or other public services, it’d be better used there.
Simple.
Chris
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 1:19 PMIt’s a brilliant idea that needs developing. But only if it can compete with low cost flights. I know I’d personally rather take the train option on occasion. But as it stands, a tilt train ticket from Rockhampton to Brisbane is 100 dollars one way.
Cairns to Melbourne would be a great holiday.
Scott ('s word of the day is mandibles)
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 1:23 PMThis truly would be awesome although I find the suggested cost somewhat scary.
Also the cost of a Melbourne/Bris Vegas ticket sounds reasonable as long as its accurate. If it turns out to not beat the cost of an airline ticket then it would be somewhat pointless.
(at least from a passenger point of view)
Andreas
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 1:25 PMWould be already happy with a normal train in Doncaster, Melbourne.
But this project sounds interesting … finally something more future proof from our government. (But I want to see action not only talk.)
cayal
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 1:28 PM20 million to study it? Really?
Go to Japan and see how they do it.
Dan Miller
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 1:30 PMI would so use that instead of flying. So it’s 4 more hours then flying, big deal.
Edward
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 1:31 PMThis is what we really really need.
Recently did a trip to melbourne via train from sydney. trains shouldn’t be slower than driving.
moloko
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 1:40 PMhow about you finish off the shitty old highway first
mark b
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 2:01 PMnot only is this a great idea for travelling between capital cities; but I also think high speed rail links to regional stations would also take a considerable load of the current housing affordablilty issue. I would be happy to live in a regional area, but only if i knew It was a quick & easy ride to the CBD.
Blake
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 2:10 PMWhile I am always a fan of infrastructure programs.
Why would you take the train from Melbourne to Brisbane for 175 dollars? I mean I know this is the upper price but with those prices it’s cheaper and quicker to fly.
Greg
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 4:42 PMSimple: Convenience.
Melbourne airport is not in a convenient location for the majority of the population. And once you add up the time and cost of getting there, and doing the same at the other end, the train becomes a very realistic option.
Plus there are the obvious advantages of not changing altitudes so wildly.
Matt
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 2:25 PM…. or i could get on a plane….
olearymo
Friday, August 5, 2011 at 8:50 AMPlease do, noone’s stopping ya.
tim
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 2:28 PMHoly Crap! $20m just for a study!
How about we give the $100b to our hospitals instead.
This is one of the things that sounds cool on paper, but would be wasteful and uncessary.
Schmoo
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 2:38 PMThis idea is great if the 2nd Sydney airport is actually in Canberra – would be quicker to get to the city from Canberra in peak hour than it takes me to drive 20km in Sydney peak hour
Andy
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 2:41 PMThis has been talk about for years …As us Victorians know – don’t believe it until we see it. Betting it will not be done in our life time.
Christian
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 3:47 PMwhat a waste of money
the terrible Greens being pandered to by Gillard
this is crap
Gage
Thursday, August 4, 2011 at 4:22 PMI’ve travelled the equivalent distance on a shinkansen in Japan. We must do this, its that good.
Not sure about 100 billion dollars though :s