Our wish is granted - planning has started

Last week, we blogged that planning should start for high speed rail into Melbourne. Today, Tim Parker, HSRA CEO, said that planning for the Victorian end is at an early stage.

Tim's key points could have been lifted directly from our own advocacy:

• "Now is the right time to join the growing number of nations including Indonesia and India investing in high-speed rail as a way to boost economic performance, redistribute population growth, and reduce transport emissions."

• "This is very much a regional economic project, which actually connects the regions and the cities."

• "There are a lot of people that would like to move to the regions if they were better connected."

• "High-speed rail will open up regional areas for new housing development that will help tackle the housing crisis and take pressure off Sydney and Melbourne."

• "Spain is an example of what is possible when countries embrace the possibility of people living in smaller towns and commuting to work in larger cities."

• "The Victorian leg should be built and commence operating in smaller segments before eventually extending from Albury to Canberra where it would connect to the track from Sydney."

• "A stage terminating at Shepparton would still provide huge economic benefits to Melbourne and to the region."

• "Whatever the estimated costs, they needed to be compared to the cost of widening major freeways, worsening road congestion, and planet-warning pollution from road and air travel."

Perhaps most controversial was his comment that the line should "commence at Southern Cross Station and stop at Melbourne Airport on the way to Shepparton and Albury". This may throw a spanner in the works for the Andrews/Allan Government's plan to extend the suburban rail network to the airport.

He also suggested "a link to Geelong would make sense", so it will be interesting to see how he plans to do it.

But, as we all agree, "building an initial stage will prove the value of high-speed rail and make it easier for subsequent sections to be approved to Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane". Let's hope he can get the Sydney-Newcastle business case up.