Fast rail, Sydney to Melbourne

jmw2508 · Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:51 pm

I am well aware of the numerous occasions on which this subject has been raised here, but in light of recent oil prices, global economic crisis, global warming, what is the chance of a Sydney to Melbourne fast train. Is all hope lost, or is the need stronger than ever? What technology would best be implemented on such a project?

Lazarus · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 2:22 am

Uh, oil just dropped to under US$80 a barrel.

billybaxter · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 3:00 am

And at AUD 2 for EUR 1 buying anything from Alsthom or Siemens to run on the line is getting rather pricey.

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.
Mark Twain

jmw2508 · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 6:51 am

Thats what I meant by oil prices, is all the fear gone now that prices are returning to normal.

cootanee · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 7:06 am

simonl · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 9:47 am

jmw2508 · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 6:00 pm

I think we should use tilt train technology, it seems appropriate for the terrain, it would also be compatible with QR's tilt train for future extensions. Is the QR tilt train Narrow gauge? I believe it is, how stupid of them, we very should get rid of state government.

trolleybusracer · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:42 pm

Hey i would thank QR. They Proved that NG Isnt slow and Inefficent.

Hendo · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 9:23 pm

Lazarus,

I appreciate you are in the states and look at it from USD perspective, but the price of oil is relative when our dollar was recently at 98c and a barrel was USD 135 the AUD cost was $137.75, today with our dollar at 65c and a barrel of oil at USD 77.70 the Australian cost is AUD $120, so a little cheaper but not much.

Therefore revitalising the Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne rail link for faster trains is sensible and viable even if they got a thrid track in most part for a British speed (170 kmh's) standard passenger service. As for a VFT prposal, you need to get people back to rail first with incremental improvements and prove the benefit.

cheers,
Hendo

mjja · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:18 pm

It's no good basing the viability of infrastructure projects on anything as fickle as exchange rates, interest rates, the price of oil or the state of the world economy. By the time it gets anywhere near being opened to the public those things will have changed dramatically.

The real questions are, will people use it? Will it remove the need for a second Sydney airport? Will it reduce our dependence on imported oil? Will it have significant overall environmental benefits?

Since the answers to all those questions are "Yes, probably" the project is a serious candidate for Building Australia Fund money. But on the other hand, it's not urgent, only important - and there are plenty of highly urgent projects that need to be done.

Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"

Michael Angelico
President, Smart Passengers Inc
(My opinions are my own unless specifically stated.)

thadocta · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 4:46 am

bruce · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 9:35 am

bruce · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 9:46 am

jmw2508 · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:47 pm

I had in mind, a Melbourne - Canberra - Sydney - Brisbane - Cains route. With of couse stops at major population centre's, eg Wollongong and Newcastle.

alltrainzfan · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 4:16 pm

The tilt train was trialed in 1995 by Countrylink, who used it for the Sydney to Canberra service. I think it made it to Canberra within 2.5 hours (check this figure please)? If really, that's a major improvement from the current Xplorer service which takes almost 4.5 hours and can be up to an hour late at times.

Fast rail is definitely viable, but should we use the current deviation, and use tilt trains, or build a completely new track to allow up to 360km/h running? That should definitely get rid of the need of a 2nd Sydney airport.

Thing is, if a new rail gets built for the East Coast corridor, other regional areas will be crying themselves left out. A tilt train which can go from 160km/h to 200km/h would be a nice option for Countrylink to replace all their trains with maybe?