This was published 2 years ago
Traveller Letters: Australia needs high-speed trains, for one obvious reason
The skyrocketing oil price will make rail travel a more viable option, writes one reader.Credit: AP
NOT SO FAST
Michael Gebicki, in his regular column (Traveller, February 21) suggests that "with few exceptions, high-speed train lines do not return a profit or even pay their way." I'd suggest an emerging global oil supply shock will render all transportation dependent on petroleum fuels much less competitive with existing high-speed and fast rail services. Countries that don't have existing high-speed or fast rail, like Australia, will now be much worse off. The Brent oil price averaged around $93.75 per barrel for the first three weeks of February before Russia invaded Ukraine. It's been mostly above $110 since. Energy analysts suggest there's plenty of room for substantially higher prices in the coming months with a deepening global oil supply deficit as existing storage reservoirs are depleted. The era of cheap oil has ended. Buckle-up; from now on it's going to be a wild ride!
Geoff Miell, Lithgow, NSW
I must disagree with Michael Gebicki putting the kibosh on the idea of a bullet train from Brisbane to Melbourne. This is seen by you, and it seems, the Grattan Institute, purely in economic terms, and for business travellers, which ignores the social and future needs of the taxpayers who live in this area and are not well served by current travel options. The current travel is piecemeal and at a snail's pace. It would revolutionise travel and tourism in those areas, at the moment it would take days to travel by rail from Melbourne to Brisbane. Honestly, if it can be achieved so well overseas, surely to goodness it can be done here. More folk would relocate out of the major cities if this travel was available.
Lynn Nadjarian, Forster, NSW
LETTER OF THE WEEK
CARGO CULT
Hauling the maximum allowable mini suitcases onto planes for stowing in overhead cabin storage bins is now standard practice. Has anyone noticed the weight of those things being checked? It is a major safety hazard in a serious crash because there is a limit to the G-force the latch on a heavy overhead bin can sustain. Videos of passengers exiting in an emergency show many carrying their mini suitcase with them. That makes a joke of the time limit certification for clearing the cabin in an emergency. However, airlines do not want to offend passengers or lose them to competitors.
Richard Dowling, Blackburn, VIC
SITTING OVATION
My most memorable Viennese musical moment (Traveller, March 12) - and I hope it still exists - was in the underground railway, just near the Opera House entrance, at the ladies toilets. Strauss waltzes played and there were murals of dances, mirrors and lots of artificial flowers in a very clean establishment. It was delightful, with smiles everywhere. There were other concerts, but this moment was by far the most memorable.
Meg Smith, Umina Beach, NSW
TWO UNEASY PIECES
Ian Hamilton's lovely story about his experience on a bus Kandahar (Traveller Letters, March 12), where not a word was spoken, reminded me of a time when my wife and I were driving our clapped out Kombi through Greece in 1976. We'd stopped on top of a hilly range to give the van a breather, it was a beautiful and totally deserted area, with nothing in sight. And then a truck pulled up ahead of us. A Greek Adonis wearing only boots and shorts stepped out. He had a bag on his shoulder and, glistening in the sun, a large machete in his hand. He walked towards us as we sat motionless, mouths agape. To our relief, he then pulled a watermelon from the bag and, with the skill of a surgeon, sliced the watermelon in half. He handed one half to us, turned on his heels and returned to the truck, all with not a word.
Terry Thelwell, North Ryde, VIC
OH LORD
I decided the time had come to book the air tickets for Lord Howe Island, as we are trying to get there for a family holiday in September 2022. We were originally booked to go in September 2020, and then in September 2021, but again were unable to go. Our accommodation has been held all this time. I went into my Frequent Flyer account, clicked on "redeem credit", and chose the flights. No joy. The system kept asking me to put in my credit card number. I had another attempt – to no avail. I gritted my teeth and rang Qantas. After two and a half hours on hold, I spoke to someone and explained what I was endeavouring to do. For the next two hours she came and went from my call – putting me back on hold for long periods of time. Finally she came back, and told me that she had made the booking for me, used the credit, and had sent a confirmation email. I thanked her gratefully, and hung up. I then checked the email – to find we had been booked on a flight 24 hours after when we were trying to fly. I spent four hours, 18 minutes and 38 seconds on the call. Am I eligible for the Guiness World Records book for the longest Qantas call?
Ann Windeyer, Roseville, NSW
WAIT. THERE'S MORE
I am surprised that two interesting cruise lines with some unique features were not mentioned in your story (Traveller, March 12). There was no mention of the Disney Cruise Line, which especially caters to families and Virgin which has at least one adults-only cruise ship, the Valiant Lady.
David Pearce, Eastgardens, NSW
BLOW HARD
Australian country towns rightly bemoan their sad and gradual demise when bypassed by new roads. On our last trip to the UK, we discovered a village in Suffolk adorned with road signs pleading for a bypass. As we quietly beetled through we were met by a bunch of scowling seniors on the side of the road in hi-vis vests, clipboards in hand, with one old chap menacingly aiming what was clearly his wife's hair dryer (cord attached) at us. Our obvious hilarity was clearly not appreciated.
Vikki O'Neill, Ashburton, VIC
WIN A SET OF THREE HARDIE GRANT TRAVEL BOOKS
The Letter of the Week writer wins Hardie Grant travel books worth more than $100, including Undiscovered Tasmania by Rochelle & Wally Dare; Emma Shaw's Ultimate Weekends Australia; and Vantastic by Kate Ulman.
See hardiegrant.com
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