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Collapse Issue 537:<br />7 Feb 2022<br />_____________Issue 537:
7 Feb 2022
_____________
Collapse  NEWS NEWS
More medium and high density housing proposed
Details of new ambulance station 'inadequate' - Tesch
Community views about local newspapers surveyed
Banner policy move follows Australia Day request
Council defends its use of the Australian flag
Council to pursue special rates variation application
The Bays group to hold annual meeting
Woy Woy man on drink charges after falling overboard
Rotary club raises $2500 through bingo
Two books for CWA book club
Monthly car boot sale planned
Whale tail sculptures restored
Uniting Church service online
Cooking competition winners
Ferry diverted
Appeal raises $2000 for hall maintenance
Christmas display raises $2600 for charity
Supported playgroup at Mingaletta
Bays group gets its own QR code
Rotary club celebrates 46 years
Rotary holds relaxed social evening
Rotary appeal accepts donations for Tonga
Another two 'for the Peninsula'
Waiting list started for opening night tickets
Rain over three days nears January total
Collapse  PLANNING PLANNING
Housing strategy aims for 25 per cent increase
Better than increasing Peninsula housing density?
Housing strategy report provides Peninsula profile
Housing discussion: the questions
Proposal for four apartments on The Esplanade
Residents object to Timbertop Dr tree removal
Portal problems acknowledged
Resubmitted Ferry Rd application lacks documentation
Dual occupancy open for comment without plans
Pearl Beach secondary dwelling set back from lagoon
Collapse  FORUM FORUM
Housing discussion paper deserves factual response
Nature's forces give a glimpse of the future
Headline accurately predicts the future
Fast train: Keep election promises within cooee of reality
Collapse  HEALTH HEALTH
Active coronavirus cases reported drop below 600
Aged care home comes out of lockdown in stages
School community member tests positive
Hospital prepares for expansion
Collapse  ARTS ARTS
Little Theatre plans short play festival
Collapse  EDUCATION EDUCATION
Woy Woy South swimming carnival on Wednesday
Drive through collection for rapid antigen tests
Continuing as Ettalong relieving principal
Karen Wardlaw takes on principal role at Umina Beach
New staff start at Woy Woy South
Year 7 camp postponed
Collapse  SPORT SPORT
Brisbane Water wins interclub bridge event
Men's Fours championship won
Bridge club holds red point events
A gala day of bowls, barbecue and raffle
Family discounts for board riders
Jacob qualifies with personal best
Delayed Major Pairs championship finally played
Back in the water for the Iron Series
Southern Spirit cricket results
Significant milestones for Ben and William
First Aid teams win gold
Umina Bunnies hold junior registration days
Netball association seeks expressions of interest
Roosters junior training starts
Thomson stays on as media contact
Veteran singles

EXTRA!!!

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Fast train: Keep election promises within cooee of reality

I don't think we need to get too excited about Labor's announcement of a fast train between Sydney, Central Coast and Newcastle ("No mention of Woy Woy in Labor fast rail announcement", PN 535).

Announcements of a fast train always come thick and fast in election lead-ups, but these engineering masterpieces have yet to show up in the real world where, if anything, trains are slower than ever.

Nobody is going to build a fast train between Newcastle and Sydney, because the engineering problems are enormous, the costs would be astronomical and the low level of patronage would require fares so expensive that nobody could afford them.

Surely, even the most gullible voter must realize by now that these promises are completely meaningless, particularly when associated with a notional allocation of a derisory $500 million for a project that would run into the multi-billions.

A fast train isn't something you can build a piece at a time: it either exists or it doesn't.

You either commit to it and budget for it or you don't.

On the flimsiest possible analysis, somebody has decided that this ephemeral train will only stop at Ourimbah in Central Coast, so it is hardly surprising that Woy Woy is not mentioned in the Labor announcement.

Of course, if anyone can show me an affordable fast-train alignment that connects Newcastle to Sydney via Ourimbah, I'll make sure he gets the engineer-of-the-year award (make that engineer-of-the-decade).

Let us recall, also, that the State Government has already closed the old line between Hamilton and Newcastle, so that Newcastle no longer has any train connection at all: where will a fast train go to terminate at Newcastle?

Statements that a fast train would "include stops in the Central Coast ... (with) Gosford and Wyong ... obvious possibilities" verge on the moronic.

The engineering requirements of a fast train are such that stations so closely spaced are impossible: the absolute minimum distance between stations is 50 km., and this is far from optimal, as every start-stop movement detracts from the efficiency of the system.

Dr. Reid's magic train that is going to achieve speeds "over 250 kph" between Gosford and Wyong only exists in comic books: let us try to keep election promises somewhere within cooee of reality.





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