Page 4202 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 21 September 2011
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As its name suggests, high speed rail refers to the kind of very fast train networks that operate in places such as Japan, Europe and China. High speed rail networks have been in operation for 35 years in many countries. There are now approximately 1,750 high speed trains operating at speeds of more than 250 kilometres per hour around the world. The benefits to Canberra from a high speed rail connection would be enormous, but it is essential that we position ourselves to ensure we have the best chance of receiving those benefits.
Through this motion, we are asking the government to immediately begin consulting with the Canberra public about the alternative high speed rail routes in and out of Canberra and the potential locations for a Canberra high speed rail station. This coincides with the federal government’s strategic study into a high speed rail network on the east coast of Australia. The study was looking at potential routes from Brisbane southward to Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, as well as the economic viability of a network. This study was actually undertaken and released in 2011 because of the efforts of the Australian Greens, who negotiated this outcome. At the conclusion of this first phase, the federal government has been clear that it is looking to states and territories for cooperation and help with the planning and facilitation of high speed rail routes.
One of the intended results of my motion is that the ACT government present a proposal to the federal government which makes a case to prioritise the Canberra stages of an east coast rail route. This study has identified a number of possible routes and a number of possible locations for stations, which I will not go through now. What is important is that the ACT government does its own consultation and preparation around these questions and actively presents its case. This work will give Canberra the best chance of being part of any initial high speed rail route.
Every year approximately two million people travel between Canberra and Sydney. This is expected to almost double in the next 25 years—that is, four million people travelling just between Canberra and Sydney every year. A high speed rail trip between Canberra and Sydney would take only one hour. The cumulative positive impacts of this new transport mode would be significant. High speed rail has been estimated to be about three times as energy efficient as cars and six times as energy efficient as planes. It would better connect Canberra’s economy, create jobs and reduce carbon emissions.
I would also point out that the modelling suggests that the high speed rail route between Canberra and Sydney is almost the cheapest of the routes proposed. It is a very busy route and it is also placed centrally, making it a smart route to build first. It can be extended in either direction, from Sydney to Newcastle or from Canberra to Melbourne. Travelling from Canberra to Melbourne on a high speed train would only take 90 to 120 minutes.
I am asking in this motion today for the ACT government to be at the forefront, to have a plan for facilitating the implementation of the routes and stations and to begin proactively working with the federal government to make them happen. I have asked for the government to do this by the end of the year. Phase 2 of the strategic study is
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