Very Fast Train

Long Title

Very Fast Trains: Strategic Information on East Coast VFT Context

Project Number

R1.109

CRC Participants

Related Publications

Conference Paper

von der Heidt T, Charles MB, Ryan N, Gillett P. Contractual arrangements and their implications for the provision of an Australian HSR system. International Conference on Infrastructure Systems, Chennai, India, 9-11 December; 2009.

Research Reports

Research reports will be made available as project progresses. Watch this space!

Public Research Briefs

No research briefs available for this Project

Background

High Speed Rail (HSR) signifies operations of at least 250 kph. Operating at these very high speeds requires special trains, dedicated lines and signalling systems.

Objective

The project aims to investigate and provide as much information as possible on the HSR concept in the Australian context. The critical success factors for the introduction of HSRs will be determined using international case studies of operational HSRs. This research is complementary to the R1.114 project (High Speed Rail (HSR) Quantification of Non-Commercial Benefits).

Outcomes

This pre-feasibility project will present a descriptive summary of information in the public domain relating to HSRs. In particular it will:

  • identify changes in context that have occurred since previous Australian High Speed Rail proposals (e.g., climate change, emissions trading, unstable fuel prices, maturing technology, limited airport capacity, transport policy and transport demand), and
  • assess the general applicability and feasibility of High Speed Rail in the Australian context.

Benefits

The Australian rail industry will benefit from up-to-date information regarding the complex issues pertaining to HSRs especially the technical, contextual and institutional requirements needed for the introduction of HSRs in Australia. This is a necessary precursor to a full concept study.