Frankly Rectub, I wonder if we have left ourselves enough space to
avoid a major collapse.
The Chinese have been making noises that they think we are ripping
them off (typical buyer tactic) but they have been investing heavily
in both Sth America and Africa mines.
They must now be ready to start screwing us down.

If that happens Wayne Swan's revenue will be in real trouble.

At present the government is relying on mining tax income to bring in
alternative energy systems. However they want to wind down coal & oil
and ultimately gas fired electricity generation.
However those very sources of energy are going to be needed to build
the alternative systems !

'The problem with this project is that you can at present travel by
rail from Epping or Carlingford to Parramatta with one change of train'

You obviously don't live in Sydney do you.

Carlingford line is just that, 1 line, with 1 train, that runs hourly if your're lucky.

Back when I was at school the then state government (Seriously this is about 20 years ago) said they would link Parramatta to Chatswood via Epping. It was one of the 25 or so major transport announcements in the last 25 years of which none have happened.

About 15 years later, the government excitedly announced it would do half of it, from Epping to Chatswood.

Then, at the final hour before the last election, in an attempt to steal a few seats for Labor Gizzard tried to give KK a leg up and approve the second half of this long awaited revolutionary idea of people not travelling from Parramatta to North Ryde via Strathfield on train.

Anyway, I thought you lib supporters were dead against the Build it and they will come...

'The state government prefers to build the line to a growing area with
no rail transport.'

The carlingford line does not count as rail transport. It's more one of those black and white movie hand-cars from the wild west.

The carlingford line...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handcar

Never the less the Carlingford line is active and used.
There is only about 1 1/2 km between Epping and Carlingford stations
so anyone in between has only a minor problem.

A far bigger problem is the absence of a line to Rouse Hill.
The districts it will pass through have a population of 100,000 at least,
like Carlingford Rogans Hill, Castle Hill, Kellyville, and on to
Rouse Hill.
It is just silly to say that the Epping to Parramatta line would be
more suitable.
Ridiculous to even discuss it.

'There is only about 1 1/2 km between Epping and Carlingford stations
so anyone in between has only a minor problem.'

Seriously?

The problem to be solved isn't people getting somewhere from around Epping/Carlingford, as both places are only good for a Korean takeaway.

If one lives in Parramatta and wants to work at Chatswood or North Ryde, in order to get to work they would have to train it to Clyde, change to carlingford, get a bus to Epping, and then a train to North Ryde or Chatswood.

Or they could train it out to Strathfield, and then back up north to Epping, which is a ridiculous detour.

'It is just silly to say that the Epping to Parramatta line would be
more suitable.'

Well I never said that. Why cant they do both anyway?

No one would seriously change at Clyde if they were going to Chatswood.
You would simply get on the train at Parramatta and get off at Chatswood.
Thousands every day travel Epping to the Western line and Parramatta
via Strathfield. A regular frequent service.
That is why the line Epping to Parra is so silly when much more
important projects are needed.
You said;
Well I never said that. Why cant they do both anyway?

Because Julia said so !

Direct more flights to melb; second air port.
Life is only affordable as you want it to be butch.
QLD is a basket case as hasbeen for years, after Joe.
Can-do will fix it, so he says, 1100 new police and give em all speed cams.
Qld has the worst unemployment of the states, and will get worse before getting better.
People have had enough of being ripped off by retail.
The big retail stores are far more friendly in price.