Re: Speedrail would have spin-off for border region

["Peter Parker" <parkerp@alphalink.com.au>]

James C. <james_ccj@my-deja.com> wrote in message
8slv15$7e2$1@nnrp1.deja.com">news:8slv15$7e2$1@nnrp1.deja.com...
> In article <tctH5.28$gG.6358@news0.optus.net.au>,
>   dbromage@fang.omni.com.au (David Bromage) wrote:
> > The Speedrail company says a very high speed train from Melbourne to
> > Sydney would bring great economic benefits to Albury-Wodonga.
> >
> > http://www.abc.net.au/news/regionals/goulburn/monthly/regwod-
> 19oct2000-4.htm
> >
>
> Albury/Wodonga would become a suburban of Melbourne, increase
> employment rate around that region, after all, who wants to live in
> those expensive and noisy highrise apartment in Melbourne CBD??

ie a dormitory suburb.  Maybe the residential population would increase, but
some of the more specialised retail shops & businesses may close if the
train
encourages local residents to go to Melbourne rather than shop locally.
In the longer term, the range of items available locally would decline
(and/or
the number of outlets would fall - lessening competition and increasing
prices).
The effect would be similar to the impact of the car and good roads on small
country towns over the last 50 years.

And, I haven't mentioned the effect on jobs, though this might be offset by
increases in areas such as supermarkets and general retail if the population
increases.  People are hardly going to jump on a train for everyday basics.

So I'm somewhat sceptical about people who claim huge economic benefits
from railways.

Peter