Re: High Speed Trains in Australia

[mauried@commslab.gov.au (Maurie Daly)]

In article <3482149E.B43DF68B@ozemail.com.au> David Johnson <trainman@ozemail.com.au> writes:
>From: David Johnson <trainman@ozemail.com.au>
>Subject: Re: High Speed Trains in Australia
>Date: Mon, 01 Dec 1997 12:36:30 +1100

>David Proctor wrote:

>> the new QR electric tilt train to operate Brisbane - Rockhampton, also at
>> 160 km/h (which is still NOT fast).

>It is fast for three foot six!

Its probably worth noting that whilst the XPT can run at 160 km/h there is 
very little of the Rail Network over which it runs where its actually allowed 
to run at this speed for any reasonable distance.
In fact the longest single stretch of 160 km/h running is Albury to Wagga, a 
distance of a mere 125 km.
All of the other lines over which it runs are slower, particular the Brisbane 
line where most of the time its barely hits 80 km/h due to the shocking 
alignments.
Ive never understood why countrylink doesnt run an XPT service to Adelaide via 
Broken Hill.
>From Parkes to Adelaide the line is essentially flat and mostly straight, 
ideal for high speed running.
It would easily compete with the IP which is slow and expensive.

cheers
MD



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Maurie Daly
Department of Communications Lab.
Canberra
Australia
mauried@commslab.gov.au
ph 6 2791331
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