An engineer explains what it will take to surpass logistical and political hurdles, and finally bring high-speed rail to Australia.
With the establishment of the High Speed Rail Authority, Australia is one step closer to establishing a high-speed rail (HSR) network.
The potential benefits of HSR are numerous, according to Colin Calder CPEng, Director and Founder of CJC Management.
But Calder, who is Scottish, told create that since he first arrived in Australia 26 years ago, very little has changed in the HSR landscape – despite a number of studies having been completed into the viability of HSR.
“I think that, initially, the cost has put people off,” Calder explained. “And in the past, the technology wasn’t as advanced as it is now. But Japan has had a bullet train running since 1964, and is probably on its third or fourth iteration. The next generation of trains will be maglev – or magnetic levitation – trains, which are quieter and faster than previous models.
“The TGV that was originally set up in France has now expanded across Europe. China is expanding rapidly and is probably at the forefront globally in terms of the total length of its high-speed rail network.”
So what will it take to surpass logistical and political hurdles, and finally implement high-speed rail in Australia? Learn more below.
Featuring infographic design by Nina Armitage.
Seems way more expensive with more embedded energy than a hyperloop.
We need to consider embedded energy in everything we build.
Excellent to see, Must happen before we get even further behind “3rd” and 1st world countries
We need to be more regional and a decent alternative to air between major centres (not just capital cities)
China’s basic fast trains (not the single maglev they did) on convential rails do 300km/h, why is Australia aiming for so slow at 250km/h, Syd to melb/Bris needs to be 3hrs and the HS train stations need to be right in/under our CBDs not way out like airports. Learn from China, they have been doing it for decades now.
China’s conventional high speed railways (trains on tracks, not maglev) are designed for a standard operation speed of 350kmph. With new technology coming online in the next few years, the speed will be lifted to 450kmph.
Also, it is incorrect to say China has been building high speed rail for decades. China’s first high speed rail line, linking Beijing and Tianjin was opened just in time for the 2008 Olympics. Despite its late start compared to countries like Japan and France, China has now over 2/3 of the world’s total high speed rail tracks. Individual provinces in China now have networks not much smaller than the total network length of countries like Japan and France. The progress is truely astounding.
That said, in China, most high speed rail stations are built on the outskirts of town, not the centre. New districts are developed around the stations though, and these districts are typically well linked to the central districts by metro rail. The primary reason for building on the outskirts is that getting this kind of infrastructure into the centre of an established city is very expensive. A big part of the projected cost of high speed rail in Australia is the cost of building massive tunnels to bring the trains under Sydney to Central. I would argue that Central is not actually the best location for Sydney’s station anyway, because it simply isn’t very central. A much better, and cheaper option would be to build the Sydney station somewhere closer to Sydney’s geographic centre, in the Parramatta region.
High speed rail should incorporate high speed freight capability. We want to eliminate the need for hydrocarbons to support interstate freight by road and air.
What will it take? Hm…it will only take waiting a hundred years until the population of Australia grows to about 100 million, which might make a project like this economically feasible. Maybe…
So long as Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin, Bonza et al are offering air travel between Sydney and Melbourne we shall not have HSR! And if we did eventually get it (I should live so long!) and it was routed via Canberra, then Goulburn, Albury &c would demand to have stops on the service and High Speed Rail would become Medium Speed Rail!
HSR is Not primarily about redirecting and outcompeting Aviation over Long distance, but reimagining Connectivity in Major corridors around cities and transforming regional Areas plus avoiding the Expense of Highway Widening and car dependance. Even if a Melbourne-Syd HSR line did have stops in Wallan + Seymour + Shepparton + Wangaratta + Albury + Wagga + Canberra + Goulburn + Moss Vale + Macarthur. thats not that different to how HSR has been applied in the German speaking world and Station sprachig is Not Bad. And not every Service Has to stop everywhere, we can Build passing tracks at smaller stations which is what Japan has done.
Many other more densely populated and perhaps interventionist countries have clearly demonstrated the technical and operational feasibility of high speed rail.
What we need to understand and communicate much more is how to demonstrate the social, environmental, financial and economic feasibility, especially in the future Australian context.
For such a major strategic transport project to succeed long-term in Australia there needs to be strong engagement of the Australian public, Governments, and collaboration of the airlines. It will require a compelling case to shift enough passengers away from the status-quo of travelling by road and air.
High-speed rail systems in Australia offer a game-changing solution to our transportation needs. They’re not just about faster travel times; they represent a leap forward in efficiency, connectivity, and sustainability. Imagine cutting down travel times between major cities while significantly reducing our carbon footprint – that’s the promise of high-speed rail. Plus, let’s not forget the economic boost they bring, creating jobs, boosting tourism, and fostering regional growth. Sure, there are upfront costs, but the long-term benefits are immense. High-speed rail isn’t just a transportation option; it’s an investment in our future – one that promises to reshape how we move and thrive in Australia.
I would like to see Townsville connected to Brisbane by HSR.
There is a key element should be done now.
We should earmark the routes so no more development occurs on the route.
Compensation etc can come when the line is built.
Start building the HST Network now, and the fruit of project will only grow in the future. Nothing has been built only by talking !!