Fast rail, Sydney to Melbourne

NSWRTM123 · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 6:10 pm

I mentioned it in the last thread about fast rail and in my opinion it is possible for the Fast Rail project to go ahead and keep the current deviation. Thanks to this: http://www.apt-e.org/aptindex.htm.
The unit was designed in the late 1960s and became operational in 1972. It was designed to provide a faster service over the steeply graded and curvaceous West Coast Main Line in Wales, even worse than the main south

Don't Make 'em like they used to
3801 limited and NSWRTM Forever
Alcos Rule!!!!!

jmw2508 · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:09 pm

Thats just a very old tilt train????

I think Country link, (or will it be renamed?) should replace its current fleet, bar the XPT, and raise the current speed limits. The XPT is capable of so much more than it is currently used for.

alltrainzfan · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 7:53 pm

The refurbishment for the XPT has limited it to 160km/h operation which sucks, although the speedometer goes to 180km/h. The Xplorer is a real let down, with maximum speed of 145km/h. The system at the moment can't allow such fast running anyway, so no point in investing in new rollingstock unless it's tilt trains which will help running especially on the "curvy" Southern Highlands line, and priority is given to them.

jmw2508 · Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 8:19 pm

Yes, the main reason for speed limiting on the XPT is the curvature of the line. Which would be overcome but a tilt train. It would have to have an operational speed limit of at least 250Km/h.

mjja · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:48 am

Just get some Virgin Voyagers - I think Alstom manufacture them.

They're nice and narrow for our loading gauge, they tilt, they don't need 25kV, and they go 200km/h.

Happy Gunzelling and remember, "Go by rail!"

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

gregrudd · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:15 am

ButFli · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:12 pm

wongm · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:31 pm

Somebody in the WWW · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:50 pm

wongm · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 2:53 pm

There is some more reading about high speed rail in Australia here;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speed_rail_in_Australia

A timeline from 1979 to 1998 is here:
http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/bp/1997-98/98bp16.htm

Marcus Wong

Railway Pics (and the chaff) Updated November 28th
Youtube videos
Rail Geelong: History of Geelong's Railways. Victoria's real Main Line.

drwaddles · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:03 pm

A conference paper on the mid-1980s proposal for high speed rail between Sydney and Melbourne:
http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/rail/VFT.pdf

People who talk out their asre usually have bad breath.

alltrainzfan · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:42 pm

I will retract my last statement about the S2000 tilt train to Canberra under three hours. The tilt train isn't much better than the current Xplorer service. The ARTC has improved track conditions and have the Southern Highlands running at 120km/h. Perhaps a tilt train now can run at 180km/h?

It's better to have the government do a completely new fast rail project. Or maybe give the whole regional train business to Virgin and Sir Richard Branson - let him have a go and improve the rail service. Smile

NSWRTM123 · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:59 pm

Freddo · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:30 pm

All good thoughts, but isent your state broke and in the red, where are you going to get the money from to build this fast track, not from your state government for a long time if at all. You poor buggers.

http://fred1186.fotopic.net/

jmw2508 · Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:19 pm