Belly,

At no point did I indicate that running trains should be profitable. However, while I also support services to rural areas, it has to be acknowledged that supplying train services to every hamlet is idiotic.

Sometimes it is better just to provide decent roads.

rache, the Federal Inland Rail proposal is now being coordinated by the Australian Rail Track Corporation, with 13 projects. https://inlandrail.artc.com.au/

Theres's only one word suitable for all of this:

incompetence
NOUN

inability to do something successfully; ineptitude.
"allegations of professional incompetence"
synonyms: ineptitude · ineptness · inability · lack of ability · incapability · incapacity · lack of skill · lack of proficiency · amateurishness · inexpertness · clumsiness · ineffectiveness · inadequacy · deficiency · inefficiency · ineffectuality · ineffectualness · insufficiency · cack-handedness · ham-fistedness · uselessness · hopelessness

http://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/bill-to-fix-queenslands-botched-new-trains-blows-out-to-336-million/news-story/e9c36ca982fa04831b210467fb2c820e

Shadow Minister it was someone else who used an, well anti pensioner reason for not having a fast train
Dad was a railway fettler, he moved from section to section on the Sydney to Melbourne line
We moved often
Then my life took a different turn ,and my dutys in my last job, saw me look after rail workers
International track laying sleeper replacing firm
Learned quick, and like dad followed the work, all over NSW
They broke every record this country had laying as much rail in a day as my dads time took months to
We can build fast rail, out whole country will benefit costs even losses will be worth it

Toni Lavis,

I'm also a Novocastrian who no longer travels into town unless I have to simply on the basis of there being no reasonable parking.
I used to work in Hunter Street a few years ago and could catch the train to Civic station but that's now long gone.

Once all those high-rise buildings under construction are filled and most likely with car-owning tenants, what then? Even the "round-house" Council building is being converted to apartments.

I was in Canberra a few weeks ago and it's the same story - they build a light rail line and that in turns attracts more high-rise buildings.

Studies have shown that if Public Transport was far cheaper or even free the financial and social benefits would outweigh the costs. Less stress, less traffic, cleaner cities and no more expensive roads/tollways. Unfortunately nobody wants to be the Minister for "Losing Money" and the transport systems would also need to be improved.

rache then you will understand my drive from Coolongolook to a Broadmeadow car park then train to and from Sydney is a standard thing these days for many
Infrastructure, once owned by us is well was, about making our country livable, not meant for profit then we sold most of it