Budget 2019 and rapid rail
afr.com.au--------------------------->https://www.afr.com/news/economy/federal-budget-2019-fast-rail-solution-to-traffic-congestion-20190402-1o24yc
Federal budget 2019: fast rail solution to traffic congestion
APRIL 02, 2019
The Morrison government has created a National Faster Rail Agency to deliver a swag of fast-rail projects across the country as a solution to ease transport gridlock in major cities.
Not content with $2 billion for the Melbourne-to-Geelong high-speed rail project, the Coalition has established the National Faster Rail Agency to help deliver the business cases for a string of potential rail projects.
The government has allocated $40 million for detailed assessments of five fast-rail corridors from Sydney to Wollongong, Sydney to Parkes (via Bathurst and Orange), Melbourne to Albury Wodonga, Melbourne to Traralgon and Brisbane to the Gold Coast.
These will complement the three business cases that are already under way, including Sydney to Newcastle, Melbourne to Greater Shepparton and Brisbane to the Gold Coast.
High-speed rail has long been touted by successive federal governments but has never gone anywhere, no doubt balking at the big price tag involved.
"Makes sense" A person I know that works for a Federal agency said to me a week ago; "That the Gold Coast is likely to get fast rail in the shorter term due to its population."
The other regions will need to wait a while before fast rail is a reality.
^^I assume that it won't affect duplication of the Sunshine Coast line as this will go ahead in its current form.
Thus Brisbane to the Gold Coast is the winner. Hopefully the line will be finished and operational to OOL by 2026-27?
I like the idea of a "National Faster Rail Agency" I guess if
Labor get in it will be renamed to a "High Speed Rail Authority" Which is the same thing. All these rail projects will need to be completed in stages then eventually joined up in the future.