Fast train network a simple solution to our traffic woes

THIRD-WORLD nations including even Pakistan are building fast trains, yet a first-world nation like Australia simply continues to talk about it.

The two cities in Australia that have the largest secondary city close by is Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Both Sydney and Melbourne don’t have a city anywhere near the population of the Gold Coast nearby. (Newcastle approx 55 per cent of the Gold Coast’s population and Geelong, which is getting one, 70,000 less again).

Thus a fast train should be built first between the Gold Coast and Brisbane, reducing travel times to as low as 22 minutes (extending to the Sunshine Coast afterwards).

It could be funded by the private sector or Chinese companies (the world leaders in fast train technology) for less than $10 billion, solve the traffic problems and truly secure the Gold Coast’s future.

Such a fast train network can even be built down the middle of the freeway or a new freeway.

With foresight, such infrastructure should be getting built using a lot of the bridges and existing freeway from the Gold Coast to Sydney, including the current freeway section being built from Ballina to Coffs Harbour, to reduce costs and utilise much of the same infrastructure by having it run down the middle of the freeways to avoid bridge duplication in many cases.

Who would bother driving to Brisbane if a fast train can get us there in 22 minutes (express) to 35 minutes (multiple stops). Or to Sydney in under three hours (competitive to the time to fly once you consider check-in times and getting to the airport etc).

If poor countries can afford such infrastructure then why can’t a rich one, especially considering it can be built with little cost to the taxpayer.

It will cost more in lost productivity to continue to just talk about it. Let’s be a nation of those who act and lead, not fall behind third-world nations.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, GOLD COAST