At a cost of $30-40 billion, the National Broadband Network (NBN) appears cheap compared with the latest high speed rail proposal (High-speed eastern rail link to cost $100 billion):

A FEDERAL government report into high-speed rail along Australia’s eastern seaboard has identified a route between Brisbane and Melbourne, via Sydney and Canberra, that would cost almost $100 billion.

Phase one of the report is due to be released by the federal Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, at an infrastructure conference on Thursday. Briefings for MPs, transport bureaucrats and industry representatives will be held tomorrow.

The Herald understands the report urges the federal government to secure a corridor for the train as soon as possible, with the most likely stops being Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Newcastle, Sydney, Goulburn-Southern Highlands, Canberra, Albury-Wodonga, Tullamarine Airport and central Melbourne.

Given the intense scrutiny the NBN received, and this proposal involves more than double that level of expenditure, I doubt we’ll ever see high speed rail in Australia. $100 billion is around $4,500 per Australian, and it’s slower than catching a plane. Even taking into account the greenhouse gas emissions, air travel is incredibly cost effective, and you don’t need to lay and maintain thousands of kilometres of track.