High Speed Rail

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/blogs/travellers-check/can-we-afford-a-fivestar-fast-train-20110808-1iifr.html
Can a fast train system be done competitively? Do the social “multipliers” justify the cost? Or is it just a great big white elephant?

“It is predicted that approximately eight million passengers could travel on a HSR (high-speed rail) network between Sydney and Melbourne in 2036, and 3.5 million passengers between Brisbane and Sydney in 2036,” the report says. “This equates to approximately half of the projected air market for both sectors in 2036.”

This is a very interesting article about the expected cost and usage of a potential high speed rail link along the east coast of Australia. Very interesting to note that the standard of travel on a high speed rail link is better than that of air travel. It seems a bit silly that something hasn't already been built in Australia before.