Foxy, aren't you forgetting the questions at the end of my earlier post about the Alice Springs Darwin rail line? Didn't we argue for decades about that and suddenly --- around the time or just after of the East Timor emergency it got built.

I agree wholeheartedly with you Foxy; we have the finest grade blue metal and materials, technology/engineers, labour, and companies who were keen to carry out the EIS and DA. The Govt and Economists I recall, were opposed to it.

Wonderful feedback RStuart and gave that line a thought too [ie Airlines/established modes of transport/competition].

I agree with all you stated Pericles: existing rail problems and terrain related issues; however most of these issues could be dealt with and overcome during the planning process.

I wish to add that any proposed VFT [if later given the green light] may well assist with the NSW State Rail and other State rail authorities, being forced to commit to a complete overhaul of their system and lines; therefore view that a proposed VFT would benefit the users and commuters of States Rail.

I envisage 50/50 ownership would be successful. 50% govt/50% private. Could an economist give a rough estimate as to the up and running costs without the trains?

I think for Sydney, the importance for tourism is to expand the capacity of the number of tourists that we can fly into the country. This is imperative for tourism in SE Australia, as Sydney is usually to first landing destination, if not the preferred landing destination. The only way to do this is having a second international airport in Sydney. I think there should be 2 new international airports in Sydney. The only barrier is Sydney being blocked in the basin. If a VFT can shuttle people to Goulburn south of Sydney, and to Williamtown/Newcastle in the north, we have fast passage in and out of the Sydney basin for more airports in these areas, and to the other cities and regional areas of NSW and Australia in general. Such an expansion will also benefit Newcastle, the Southern Tablelands in their tourism, and rail journeys Melbourne/Sydney/Canberra/Brisbane could be faster, changing trains at Goulbourn and Williamtown/Newcastle, where new airports can be built.

In a country of 22 million we often forget costs when wishing for such as this.
We just can not yet afford it.
We ask for American style roads, want them now, but fail to take costs on board.
Our rail systems run at a loss, we sell them contract out and have trouble getting people to use them.
One day we will get inter city fast trains.
It may be another hundred years, but it will largely be at the cost of air services.
To make fast trains pay freight would need to use the same lines.
Behind ever good idea costs haunts us.

Is everyone on here living in la la land ?
Extra airports ? Ye gods don't you realise that by the time they are
built they will no longer be needed !
The latest canary in the mine to die was Japan Airlines.
BA, judging by its losses won't be far behind.

We are going to be using electrified rail transport and coastal ships.
No more divided interstate roads, no more long distance road transport.
Even bitumen for road repairs will be expensive if available at all.
The alternative is isolated local only economies.

We do not have the time or money to waste on VFTs.
We need to restructure the existing rail system for better speeds,
electrification, and the reopening of branch lines that were closed
years ago in the era of cheap oil.
Otherwise our country towns will die.