Much has been said by the candidates during the Council Election Campaign about global warming and sustainable living. The community may have forgotten, that the organisation to reopen the northern line to Brisbane, via the existing corridor to Warwick and connecting it direct to the North Coast line requiring 80 kilometres of new track at Stanthorpe, through part of the Mount Lindsay Highway in Northern New South Wales via Woodenbong.
This entity, the New England South East Queensland Rail Instructure Public Authority, would invite rail operators to build H.S.T passenger trains which would run at average speeds of 240 kilometres per hour, run by Solar Electric panels on the carriage roofs and Bio Diesel fueled locomotives, capable of travelling times of 5 hours, between Brisbane and Newcastle and 1 ½ hours to the Sydney Airport, via the Harbour Bridge and then direct to Campbelltown and then to Canberra in 2 ½ hours.
The existing track would be upgraded and new track from Werris Creek to Brisbane would be laid, called Smart Track. The estimated cost would be 2 Billion Dollars. The proposal would be financed by long term low interest rate debt, provided by Workers Superannuation funds and individuals wishing to have secure investments.
F.F Trains would provide overnight fast freight which would also connect to a revived line from Moree to Inverell and onto Glen Innes. Road freight would find it hard to compete with price and service. The saving of CO2 to the environment would be significant, with reduction in road maintenance.
Armidale would have a large rail centre, where all the H.S.T. trains would be serviced and maintained with the Head Office of the Rail Network here in Armidale. Think what opportunities there would be for young people!
Anthony Hardwick,
“Chilcotts Grass”, Kelly Plains.
Independent Candidate
