Australia's brilliiant thinkers are at it again

[Ded Driver]

So this genius group from the University of WA's Australian Urban Design Research Centre, made an astounding revelation that it would be a good idea to connect regional towns to the cities with rail.
Why hasnt anyone thought of that before? ok ok I'm being just a bit sarcastic
The rail system in the S/West of WA has been dismantled over previous decades.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06...population-growth-rail-linked-cities/12383882

 

[Deepseeker]

The late Tim Fischer once said "We have spent 100 years ripping up our rail network. We will spend the next 100 regretting it"......

 

[Ded Driver]

The late Tim Fischer once said "We have spent 100 years ripping up our rail network. We will spend the next 100 regretting it"......

so very true!
Most of our freight rail system here is a run-down joke, leased to a company that thinks it now owns it, & the land it runs on, which they dont, but they are supposed to properly maintain the rail lines they use.

 

[Sandta]

HA !
Just have a look at what the brains trust have done here in Our Town , Newcastle
Ripped up the train line , built out the corridor , and built a billion dollar light rail TRAM line .... ON THE ROAD!

 

[Thomo]

HA !
Just have a look at what the brains trust have done here in Our Town , Newcastle
Ripped up the train line , built out the corridor , and built a billion dollar light rail TRAM line .... ON THE ROAD!

This is what happens when developers and their associates take over the councils and governments.

 

[Goldfreak]

I wonder if you could combine some modern recycled plastic onto a pipe system, build it around a maglev rail, induce a vacuum and then send freight around the country at a 1000kms plus per hour? We hear about electric transport being the future but we already had electric trams every where 100 years ago.

 

[Manpa]

Exactly the same in SA, very little regional rail left.

 

[CreviceSucker]

I wonder if you could combine some modern recycled plastic onto a pipe system, build it around a maglev rail, induce a vacuum and then send freight around the country at a 1000kms plus per hour? We hear about electric transport being the future but we already had electric trams every where 100 years ago.

If its freight only that could be a winner however freight mass is wildly variable and unpredictable from day to day.

Hyper loop passenger trains have the risk of cabin depressurisation which would create a red mist event but non sensitive freight has potential.

A traditional passenger train carriage could weigh 16 tonnes while a freight wagon could be 55 tonne , freight may not be viable on a maglev unless there were controls on mass limits.

Maglev trains have a lower tare weight as rail bogies are not required so that is one bonus.

https://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/120099/Magtube-Question

 

[stevewilko]

In the 1970's with the development of the Maglev train the idea of a fast service Melbourne to Sydney Maglev line was introduced into Federal Parliament.
Cost was $AUD 5 million.
Wasn't done.
Deemed too expensive.
Today not even a specialist Melbourne to Melbourne Airport service has been built.
This technology has not been made available anywhere in Australia even today.
China built 6 maglev lines encompassing an approx 3000 klm duplicated service in 2 years.
Hmmm wilko.

 

[silver]

I wonder if you could combine some modern recycled plastic onto a pipe system, build it around a maglev rail, induce a vacuum and then send freight around the country at a 1000kms plus per hour? We hear about electric transport being the future but we already had electric trams every where 100 years ago.

And there's plenty of extra plastic just floating around out there in the sea (all the bits that are not UV sensitive, all pre sorted and ready to go) they could make huge leggo sections in multiple factories that clip together and can be covered by a layer of earth to protect them from wilde fire. All bits conforming to a set plan... even the stations and solar powerhouses, batteries &etc. Service tunnels inbuilt for maintainance and part replacement.... heck.... build em huge with two lane two way travel and the occasional side track for if one of the lanes is out of serice for any length of time.... I'm sure RJ would know how it would need to look to be functional. Our plastic rubbish and the free wild stuff providing the building blocks to our economic future for generations to come..... I like the sound of that Goldfreak erfect:

 

[Nightjar]

The Northampton railway line ran from Geraldton through Northampton and on to Ajana in Western Australia. Serviced farmers, sandalwood gatherers and lead miners. It operated between 1879 and 1957. It was the first government railway constructed in Western Australia.