NSW Tilt Train Proposals

["David Proctor" <daproc@bigfoot.com>]

Interesting proposals for NSW Tilt Trains, as reported in the latest (March
1998) edition of Transit Australia (below).

I am still working through some of the issues involved, and will post my
comments at a later stage - should make for an interesting thread, though.

Regards

David Proctor
daproc@bigfoot.com

Excerpt fron March "Transit Australia"

Tilt Train Inquiry

An inquiry into the tilt train and other high speed rail options for NSW has
been launched by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works. The
inquiry has been initiated as a result of the new Queensland Tilt Train
project. Chairman Paul Crittenden MP said, “The Committee believes the
Queensland project represents an important development in rail technology in
Australia. Past attempts to match this kind of technology to the NSW rail
network have been abandoned because of concerns that the cost of the project
outweighs the benefits. The Committee believes that it is time to assess the
options for existing NSW rail services.” It believes an examination of tilt
train technology is appropriate for existing interurban services in NSW,
particularly routes such as Sydney-Central Coast-Newcastle, Sydney-Blue
Mountains and Sydney-Illawarra where the current length of the trip inhibits
economic opportunities and affects commuter quality of life. The Committee
will examine the feasibility of tilt and other train technology for NSW
interurban and regional rail networks. It will also consider the state of
existing rolling stock, possible track realignments to improve travel times
and line capacity issues.

It will not consider the Sydney-Canberra corridor where the Very High Speed
Train proposal is being developed. The Committee called for submissions in
late November 1997 and held public hearings in late January. Tilt technology
is currently in use in Italy, Sweden, Japan, Spain, Canada and Germany.

Reproduced from March 1998 edition of Transit Australia