VFT Back on Track

[Irisbus Rider]

If you've seen the front page of the Canberra Times today, you may have seen that the Very Fast Train proposal is back on the cards, mainly (only) initiated by Terry Snow.

The proposal is for a service less than 1 hour from Central to Canberra Airport.

The word around here is that if Terry Snow wants to initiate it, It's going to go ahead 95%!

Yay!

[lukeo25]

very good idea

[Sir Pompously]

For that time, you would want a train capable of 300km/h or more. So the trains you would want would be the:
TGV POS - Alstom, France
Eurostar - Alstom, France I think
Nozomi500 - Hitachi/Kawasaki, Japan
N700 - Hitachi/Kawasaki, Japan
Fastech 360 - Unknown Builder, more than likely Hitachi/Kawasaki, Japan
Siemans Velaro (Deutsche Bahn's ICE series 3) - Siemans, Germany

A Small list, these are the single deck trains currently in Operation. The TGV's run at about 320-330km/h (I believe the maker is Alstom), Nozomi series trains run at 300km/h, Fastech 360 will be capable of speeds up to 360km/h (405km/h in testing) but will run at around 320km/h and the Velaro is 330km/h or Capable of 350km/h in the E version.


Also, the ACT Govt is embracing the idea.... Wait, they are agreeing with Mr Snow?

16 March 2008 - 9:53AM


Sky's not the limit
Tom Skotnicki



THE OWNERS of Canberra Airport plan to back another bid for a very fast train link with Sydney.
The Howard government rejected the proposal twice, in 2000 and in 2002.

But Terry Snow and his son, airport managing director Stephen Byron, are confident the Rudd Government can be convinced to back the project.

Mr Byron told the Sunday Canberra Times that the airport's new $250million terminal, to be opened late next year, had been designed to allow for a fast train service. He said he and Mr Snow also intended to establish a group of Canberra business figures to back the project.

Mr Byron said a fast train connection between Sydney and Canberra would be an enormous boon for both capitals.

Airline passengers could land in Canberra and be in the centre of Sydney in less than an hour.

He also pointed out that more than 90 per cent of traffic between the two capitals now used cars and large numbers could be expected to switch, given the added speed and convenience of a fast train.

Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said the ACT Government would be very enthusiastic about any plan to revive the VFT project, which he believed would have significant benefits for the city.

Indeed, the ACT Government had never abandoned hope. Land for the route was set aside in a transport corridor near the airport and the ACT Government's Eastern Broadacre Study was taking the possibility of a VFT into account.

Mr Stanhope said the VFT could well be one of the key projects of national importance that could be considered by the Federal Government's new Infrastructure Australia statutory authority, which will be established to promote partnerships for significant projects.

The authority, headed by former British Airways chief executive Sir Rod Eddington, will establish a list of existing national infrastructure and identify crucial gaps.

Infrastructure Australia will begin to consult with the public after its establishment this year, with the aim of reporting by next March with a priority list of infrastructure projects.

A spokesman for the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, said the list would be used to guide billions of dollars in public and private investment.

He said although he could not comment on individual projects, Infrastructure Australia would be asked to consider social, economic and environmental effects.

Mr Byron said the VFT project was rejected eight years ago because the Howard government was reluctant to contribute the $1billion necessary to ensure private backing for the project.

"I think we have a new and exciting new Federal Government in this country that is serious about infrastructure," he said.

"If it took less than an hour to get to the centre of Sydney from Canberra then that would be the end of the discussion ... what a fantastic thing would it be for this city."

Mr Byron said the economics supporting a VFT were sound last time, but there was a lack of national leadership.

"In retrospect, if the [Howard] federal government knew what bountiful [budget] surpluses lay ahead, then the fast train would not only have been built, but would be running," he said.

Mr Byron acknowledged the airport had many critics around Canberra and that it was blamed for much of the traffic chaos in the airport precinct.

But, he said, 10 years ago it would not have been possible to predict the increase in Gunghalin traffic travelling along Majura Road from 4000 vehicles to more than 18,000 a day.

While the airport might have contributed to the traffic, the biggest problem was the failure by government to complete previously agreed roadworks such as the duplication of Pialligo Avenue.

[Irisbus Rider]

Thats the one ^^^

I think it'd be a good idea, but then it would co-incide with the expansion of the Canberra Airport creating it the trunk airport in NSW or something like that.

I guess you can't always win, if the airport expands, we will get a high speed train. I'm not quite sure it's worth it.....

[Sir Pompously]

Well, the airport will expand no matter what. It is already happening, and work should be starting in the next two months or so. A High speed train is needed in Australia, linking the 4 East Coast cities of Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and lastly Brisbane. This will be a stepping stone, or more a trial if it does indeed go ahead.

Also, Sydney is looking for a second airport. Creating a link under 1 hour would mean that airlines can create a second port in Canberra, so instead of having two flights a day into Sydney you could have one flight into Sydney, and one into Canberra with a link by High Speed Train up to Sydney City. This would take alot of pressure away from Sydney Airport, which (Especially in the morning) would be a blessing. It would basically be like flying into Tokyo Haneda, and then transferring to a flight to Tokyo Narita on the other side of the City. Just hop on a train and connect baby!

[Bus 400]

When was this idea first proposed?

[Sir Pompously]

Cant say when it was first proposed but mid 90's they floated the X2000 SJ Tilt Train. A big brew ha ha and then nothing came from it.

[Bus 400]

Ok, this project will be completed by 2100. As most rail projects take 100 years to be completed.

[O305]

Cant say when it was first proposed but mid 90's they floated the X2000 SJ Tilt Train. A big brew ha ha and then nothing came from it.

If anybody cares, some information on X2000:
http://www.railpage.org.au/xpt/x2000.html

[Irisbus Rider]

Ok, this project will be completed by 2100. As most rail projects take 100 years to be completed.

Anthony Albanese is giving a deadline of 15 years.....

[Barry Drive]

Airline passengers could land in Canberra and be in the centre of Sydney in less than an hour.

Or they could wait for a taxi and be in the centre of Canberra in about one hour.

It can't just be a one way thing - if you can deliver passengers into Sydney Central then you also need a rapid transit connection at the Canberra end such as a light rail connection to Canberra City.