Originally Posted by
LeadSled
Another Number,
A cynical statement, feel good now??
Whether you believe it or not, the economics of HS rail in Australia simply does not add up
One bright idea to "balance the books" is/was to raise a land tax on the basis that HS passenger rail access would increase inter-urban land values, along the rail corridor, payable as a subsidy.
As I said a while back, the problem with HS rail in Australia is the devastatingly competitive real world cost of air transport..
AND---- taking a total (as opposed to cheery picked) environmental picture, air transport brushed up pretty well environmentally.
Tootle pip!!
Feel good? Not really!
I wasn't even implying HS rail was a good idea in Oz, let alone suggesting it. (Nuclear power is also nice, but wouldn't recommend it here these days, either).
However, sensible economics doesn't prevent costly schemes as much as a
bit of opposition gentle nudge in the Club.
If our politicians spent sensibly, we wouldn't be wasting $40 billion or so on Pyne subs (not to mention JWH JSFs, etc...)