Article: Business slams Sydney rail plan

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Business slams Sydney rail plan

Business slams Sydney rail plan
From: AAP
August 27, 2012 8:30AM

THE NSW government's plans for Sydney's train system could put the future of a high-speed intercity rail network in jeopardy, the state's business lobby says.

It says meshing high-speed trains into Sydney's system is the best way to curb the cost of building a high-speed network linking Newcastle, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane.

A report commissioned by the NSW and Sydney Business Chambers says the NSW government's plan to run only rapid transit trains on the North West Rail Link and a second Sydney Harbour crossing could lock out cost-effective delivery of high-speed trains through the city.

NSW Business Chamber chief executive Stephen Cartwright says a joint planning approach, involving the federal and NSW governments, could cut the cost of high-speed rail by $10 billion to $15 billion.

He says high-speed rail shouldn't be the domain of the federal government alone.

"We don't want to see an outcome where a Sydney-centric focus closes the door on the most cost-effective way to deliver high-speed rail."

Sydney Business Chamber executive director Patricia Forsythe says integrating high-speed rail into the CityRail network would provide a better and faster train service for communities on Sydney's outer fringe.

The report, released on Monday, says the NSW and federal governments should form a joint steering committee to determine the design and operation of high-speed rail through Sydney.

[SurfRail]

I can't believe I am reading this.

[Gazza]

Who the hell wants HSR to be mixing it with other traffic in Sydney. That's just a recipe for making HSR fail in Aus.

[SurfRail]

+1.

And mixing with RailCorp/CityRail of all things.

Ew.