High-speed rail plans may finally end Australia’s 40-year wait to get on board
High-speed rail plans may finally end Australia’s 40-year wait to get on board
The High Speed Rail Authority has publicly outlined plans that allow for some optimism that Australia could have these trains in the late 2030s.
Long term, I'd love to see us build high-speed rail all the way from the Sunshine Coast to Geelong, via the east coast capitals. But starting with smaller routes from major satellite cities into their capitals, like Newcastle–Sydney, is a fantastic way to build up local expertise before tackling the longer routes like Sydney–Canberra and Canberra–Melbourne.
I just really wish we were doing a better job at preparing for it. Like the soon-to-open Cross River Rail in Brisbane should have been designed wide enough to install dual-gauge rails with standard gauge, even if those additional rails weren't themselves installed yet. But they haven't been, and so when we come to eventually do the Brisbane–Gold Coast link it's gonna be way more expensive than if we'd planned ahead.
Payoff is longer than 3 years so it won't happen.
I would love to see it built but it would be unpatriotic to not post this…
doubt
Will we get high-speed rail before AUKUS subs?
Do you think Dutton would keep the High-Speed Rail Authority?
I think it's likely he would keep it, but fail to provide it enough funding to actually do anything of value. Possibly also limit its remit so it's incapable of providing the best recommendations.
