Australian Transport Minister questions benefits of high-speed rail

Date: 4/3/2013

Australia's Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese has warned that a high-speed rail track between Sydney and Melbourne could cause significant problems.

As the Herald Sun reports, Mr Albanese believes that a proposed line would result in substantial issues with noise pollution - and that it would not be an ideal solution to the transport challenges that the country is facing.

"It requires a substantial corridor in as straight a line as possible in order to facilitate the 350km hour speeds," he told the Sydney Institute.

"[The project would involve] a wide corridor, major tunnelling, significant noise impacts - and that's before we consider the significant economic costs."

However, Greens MP Adam Bandt is a strong advocate of high-speed technology, and claimed last year that a network on the east coast would have the potential to generate AU$48 billion (£32 billion) worth of benefits.

Indeed, Mr Bandt said that fewer accidents, lower greenhouse gas emissions and less congestion on the roads are just a small number of the advantages such a line could bring. 

Posted by Nick Anderson

International Transport News and Sustainable Transport News