Very fast train back on agenda

[Buzz Killington]

BY JOHN THISTLETON, BUSINESS EDITOR

Researchers hope the ability of European high-speed rail networks to win over passengers from air travel will help convince Australian governments the same can happen here.Rail experts argue that suitable corridors need to be set aside now, even though the technology might be more than a decade away.

European experiences show that over distances between 300km to 600km, high-speed rail gains market share of 50 to 90 per cent, according to the research.

While federal governments have been unwilling over the years to intervene in rail operations in Australia, such action is critical to establish a high-speed rail network, the leading research group says.

The Cooperative Research Centre for Rail Innovation, a collaborative venture between the nation's rail industry and universities, says population growth, airport and highway congestion and environmental pressures warrant a major concept study into high-speed rail.

Canberra Business Council has been lobbying for such a study for two years,saying much has changed since the issue was studied a decade ago.

The council sees enormous benefits for the ACT region, including a high-speed rail link allowing Canberra Airport to become a supplementary international gateway for passengers and freight services relieving congestion at Sydney Airport.