Re: Latest news on Speedrail

["Tezza" <tezza2000@dingoblue.net.au>]

"Dave Proctor" <daproc@spambait.ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
news:Y%yy5.4521
> "Tezza" <tezza2000@dingoblue.net.au> wrote in message
> > > > But they're putting computer and internet access on planes now,
> > so.......
> > >
> > > But only whilst at cruise, which for a 55 minute flight is around 25
> > > minutes. Not a lot of time to get in and do something.
> >
> > So on a plane trip to Melboorne they'd still be about an hour ahead.
>
> Not really - assume leaving Central Station at the same time (1200),
> Speedrail (to Melbourne) would have you in the CBD of Melbourne at 1500.
> With flying, you would arrive at the airport station at 1210, 1215 by the
> time you walk up to the checkin counters, if you are a corporate client
you
> will get express check-in so 5 minutes to do all that (1220 by this
stage),
> the earliest your flight could be is 1240 (20 minute minimum check in) -
> more likely 1300. Assuming there are no delays, pushback at 1300, landing
in
> Melboring at 1405, 10 minutes to wait for baggage, 30 minute cab ride into
> CBD has you in the CBD at 1445 (if everything went exactly to plan).

So for the VFT at Central, you would also have to allow time for check-in
and baggage and the same in Melboorne. Trains also have delays, the VFT will
certainly have them Central to Campbelltown and then again in Melboorne. The
30 minute cab ride after the plane would get you to your destination, the
VFT would not (unless again your home/office was on the platform), so more
time again there.


> In the train, you would have 3 hours of usable time (assuming you did not
> eat lunch). If you flew you would have about 20 minutes before the flight,
> about 20 minutes in the air, and about 25 minutes in the cab - all
> disjointed time as opposed to the 3 continuous hours on the train.
>
> It has been proven to work in Europe over similiar flight times to
Sydney -
> Melbourne, and there is really no reason why it can't work here as well.

I really don't think they'll get the numbers to make it viable, we just
don't have the population densities. Every big project in years has used
fanciful numbers to justify it, and a lot have then needed government
handouts or anti-competitive clauses to try and make them viable.

I'd certainly like to see it go ahead, but all the way to Melboorne straight
off the bat and gear it for freight to try and get a couple of hundred
thousand truck movements off the road.