A fast train for Australia?

In December 1979, Premiers' Conference agreed to commission a report examining the feasibility of electrifying the Sydney-Melbourne line. Proponents believed that electrification could potentially decrease rail travel time from over 12 hours to under 10 hours, and involve energy, staff and maintenance cost savings. The Sofrerail report was subsequently released in June 1980 and was supportive of the proposal.

In the lead up to 1980 Federal Election, Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser promotes the proposal. Concurrently, the Senate Standing Committee on National Resources examined a number of alternative energy sources-including an examination of the rationales for the electrification of rural rail lines. The Senate report found that electrification of the Sydney-Melbourne line is probably not justified on economic or energy efficiency grounds.

In October 1981, the Institution of Engineers proposed the Bicentennial High Speed Railway Project, to link the five capitals in south-eastern Australia. The project involved the building of new railway lines to replace sections of existing track, the upgrading of other sections, and the construction of bypasses. High speed diesel or electric trains would be purchased, and eventually the line would be electrified throughout. The scheme proposed that eventually the journey between Sydney and Melbourne could be completed in 9 hours, Sydney-Canberra in 3 hours, Melbourne-Canberra in 6 1/2 hours, Brisbane-Sydney in under 12 hours and Adelaide-Melbourne in under 8 hours.

Neither project was followed up, but the idea of a fast train did not go away.

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