Some commonsense on railway investment in Australia

[johnnigh]

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/ockhamsrazor/stories/2011/3317389.htm

Frank Szanto is a mechanical engineer based in Sydney and has spent a lifetime working on the railways. Today he discusses the history and future of the Australian rail system.

[Matt]

I recently heard some bloke (may have been this guy), say that Australia, rather that spend squillions on VFT, look at realigning and bringing the track up to the standard that the trains can utilise, the XPT for example, is much the same as the UK HST 125, which does 125mph in UK.
But what an indictment on the standard here, bringing our rail system up to 1960's standard.
Matt

[HappyTrainGuy]

It would be good but its never going to happen due to the massive cost involved. Problem is that Australia is so vast with major populations really defined to certain areas compared to Britian. The whole of Britain with its 60mil population can be squeezed into Victoria with room to spare. Their Railways/Governments can afford to have the faster lines. Our state Governments/Railways just can't afford it to realign a couple lines to improve what is a handful of XPTs. HSR would be the far better and more cost effective option.