High speed link , Sydney to Melbourne in 55 minutes. Dreaming?

[bob10]

Australia's new hope for a high-speed train | The New Daily (http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2016/10/04/high-speed-train/?utm_source=Responsys&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=20161005_TND)

[Homestar]

Dreamin'

There won't be a fast anything between Melbourne and Sydney (apart from planes) in mine or my children's lifetime.

[bob10]

Dreamin'

There won't be a fast anything between Melbourne and Sydney (apart from planes) in mine or my children's lifetime.

Have to agree. It took about 140 years to build about 17 kms of rail line & infrastructure from Petrie to Redcliffe. Not sure I would want to travel at the speeds they quote.

[JDNSW]

By Australian standards, the traffic between Sydney and Melbourne is the highest in the country, but it is still very small by international standards. Given the very high cost of building the line, over some very difficult terrain in parts, it seems unlikely that it could ever become feasible in the foreseeable future. Add to this the very high cost (both dollar and political) of the last fifty kilometres each end, and the environmental concerns certain to be raised all along the route, it does seem quite unfeasible.

It has been suggested that development of satellite cities along the route could pay for the line, along the old 'land sale' method of early railway development, but this only increases the capital required, and the environmental problems - not the least of which is finding uncommitted water sufficient for these cities.

Technically, of course, it is feasible - but not either economically or politically.

John