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Australia PM pledges high-speed east coast rail link

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As much as I love the Shinkansen, every study I'm aware of says a high speed train for Australia is just not economical enough. I'd much rather see the funds spent on improving current urban rail systems. Sydney's trains are just a joke.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

What is it with this high speed train nonsense? They cost a fortune, always go way over budget and seldom make any good money. Only shinkanses has really got it right. They should rather build Musk's hyperloop.

The problem is, countries like the US, and Australia are big, wide countries and they should have started building more trains or at least high speed trains or laying the tracks out way back in the 60's in California's case, we had the infrastructure and then in the 50's they got rid of the trains and trolleys to sell cars and more cars. The auto companies did a massive campaign to get people from mass transit and become more independent and now look at the mess the West coast is. I love trains, but I think for the West coast of the US and Australia, it's a bad, bad and wasteful idea, not to mention, what about the people that live in rural areas? Are they going to make a station every 4 km? For Japan it works on every level, but Japan is small, compact, I get it, but burdening the tax payer is NOT the way to do it and if you don't believe me, go to Los Angeles and look at our Red Line Subway, cost billions of dollars and who rides it? Mostly the poor. It's not bringing in that much revenue and I doubt the same if they are to build one in Australia. With air travel being faster, it just might be easier to build more airports and fly people, the country would probably see a higher return or improved highways.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Would need to be built using the linear (maglev) technology as anything else will be out date by the time they finish building it in 40 years.

Days of trains running on rails and wheels will be gone

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I cannot wait for these incompetent idiots to be kicked out of office - Saturday week!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

StormR

Tell that to the British which is planning on developing the HS2 from London to Birmingham.At present pass they won't complete till 2040. They were the first to construct a rail line and maybe the last as well. LoL

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Kevin Rudd is wasting $ 52 millions for nothing. That money will be eaten up by appointed Labor's cronies. This guy is just talking and talking. He never stops talking big. I'm sick of Kevin Rudd. I voted for him 2007 because I don't like Howard dictatorship style. I was realized I got wrong for voting Kevin Rudd after his noon stop flying out to US and Europe on VIP plane and staying at President Suit in Five Star hotel make me sick. Even presses give him nick name Kevin 747. Don't talks about Bullet Train in Australia we do not have even express train which direct link with Airport. We only have Shuttle Bus from CBD to Airport. If Kevin Rudd lost his seat and then someone from Hollywood should offer him as Clown in their movie. He is great pretender too.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

What is it with this high speed train nonsense? They cost a fortune, always go way over budget and seldom make any good money. Only shinkanses has really got it right. They should rather build Musk's hyperloop.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The Chinese are already there to lay down the tracks.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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