Re: Canberra-south coast

[dbromage@fang.omni.com.au (David Bromage)]

Phil Bruce (filbruce@ihug.com.au) wrote:
> Everyone has missed the obvoius route for a VFT.  Since half of the population of
> Canberra travels to Batemans Bay for the weekend this would be a more logical
> route.  Woden to Mogo in 35 minutes.

Can you justify $2 billion for the twice yearly migration fo Canberra-on-Sea?

The only coastal route which might work is Sydney - Wollongong - Nowra -
Tarago, and then only as an adjunct to the main route via Goulburn. This
would roughly follow the Canberra - Jervis Bay line surveyed by Scrivener
in 1920.

The coastal route (Via Cooma and Bairnsdale) was abandoned in 1989 because:
1) It would cost an extra $1 billion to build (1989 prices)
2) It wuld add 20 min to the journey to Melbourne
3) It would never be allowed through the Alpine National Park
4) Commercial viability was based on the assumption new urban-style
   development along the route at intervals of about 50km.

> Seriously though,  has there been any talk about a branch line to Perisher  for
> example?

Skitube looked at extending into Cooma, but there was some engineering
reason why it can't be done. Besides, there is a receeding snowline.

Cheers
David