4 Aug 2011: Australia: High Speed Rail Study Phase One welcome!

[ozbob]

Media release 4th August 2011

Australia: High Speed Rail Study Phase One welcome!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers welcomes the release of the High Speed Rail Study Phase One Report (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The world is moving forward with a rail revolution.  It is time that Australia joined it. The feasibility study is an important step on the path to a high speed rail transport system.  Electric rail, high speed as well as freight and urban/interurban heavy rail systems and light rail is the way forward for a sustainable transport future."

"It is sensible to begin to identify the high speed rail corridors and preserve them now.  This will save billions down the track and further facilitate an outcome. A possible extension of the corridor to the Sunshine Coast could be very worthwhile."

"A RAIL Back On Track Member recently had the opportunity to travel on a high speed rail journey in Spain.  He summed it as ' ... I am quite humbled by my experience of Spanish rail.  This is a country that knows what needs to be done, and is not messing around doing it ... ' (2)"

"High speed rail is expensive, but the savings in terms of reduced road trauma, lowered environmental impacts, and fuel and road  and other infrastructure savings, means can Australia afford to not move forward with high speed rail?"

References:

1. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/rail/trains/high_speed/

2. Madrid to Barcelona & return http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6478.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3200.msg64827#msg64827

[verbatim9]

Phase 2 we are getting close to fast train travel in Australia http://www.aecom.com/What+We+Do/Transportation/Market+Sectors/Strategic+Planning+and+Advisory/_projectsList/Report+into+High+Speed+Rail+Network+in+Australia