The very fast train proposal: Sydney - Melbourne corridor

The VFT is a proposal for a new high speed rail system between Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, speeds of up to 350 km/h will allow non stop travel times of one hour between Sydney and Canberra and two hours between Canberra and Melbourne, giving an overall time of three hours between the two state capitals. The system will be electrically powered and will use steel wheels on steel rails, similar to the technology employed on the successful and profitable high speed railways in Japan and France, but utilising higher speeds. The operating speed of 350 km/h planned for the VFT will make it faster than any other train currently operating in the world. The VFT project is planned to be built and operated by private enterprise. The current two year feasibility study of the project by a Joint Venture of BHP, Elders IXL, Kumagai and TNT to a budget of $18.9 million. Preparation of the Concept Report is an early activity in the feasibility study of the project. Its purpose is to address issues which are of interest to governments. It has been prepared by the VFT Joint Venture, with discussion and comment at successive stages being provided by the New South Wales, Victorian and Commonwealth Governments and the ACT Administration. The Concept Report does not attempt to resolve every VFT issue relevant to government. Rather, it is intended to identify and expose those issues, and to specify how they will be addressed during the remainder of the project. The Concept Report has been indentified as the basis on which governments will make decisions to facilitate further activities involved in the feasibility study. Receipt of positive government responses to the Concept Report is the first milestone in the feasibility study program. The VFT Joint Venture expects that governments will indicate their support for the feasibility study process in the following ways: - take action promptly to facilitate access to land for survey and testing for route investigation purposes - facilitate the feasibility study program through the cooperation of all relevant departments and instrumentalities - indicate that provided due processess including environmental studies are satisfactorily completed, governments will at that time support the project and will legislate to support the process of land acquisition for the route.

Media Info

  • Pagination: 6p. ; PDF
  • Monograph Title: Permanent Way Institution (PWI) NSW, 1989 annual convention

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01711369
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: ARRB
  • Files: ATRI
  • Created Date: Jul 19 2019 2:23PM