{"id":690773,"date":"2026-05-24T04:07:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T04:07:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/690773\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T04:07:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T04:07:21","slug":"china-traveller-calls-for-solution-desperately-needed-in-australia-so-backward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/690773\/","title":{"rendered":"China traveller calls for solution ‘desperately’ needed in Australia: ‘So backward’"},"content":{"rendered":"

An Aussie has highlighted a glaring issue with travelling between Australian cities<\/a>, calling for an extensive high-speed rail network<\/a> that could rival airline travel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Motoring writer Paul Maric, co-founder of CarExpert, said Australia is in ‘desperate need’ of fast trains that could get people from Sydney to Melbourne in no time, pointing to countries like Japan and China that have pulled it off<\/a> seamlessly.<\/p>\n

Maric came to the conclusion while travelling at 350km\/h on a train from Changsha to Beijing in China recently. The journey took five hours compared to “around 3-4 hours on the plane with travel in-between,\u201d he told Yahoo News. <\/p>\n

Perched in a luxurious recliner chair in his business class cabin, Maric said \u201cthe train was super comfortable\u201d. And while the journey was slightly longer, \u201cthere’s less stress, and it’s a much easier process than flying\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n

Do you have a story about a transport experience? Contact newsroomau@yahoonews.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Left:<\/p>\n

Maric booked a seat in business class on the high-speed train travelling at 350km\/h from Changsha to Beijing in China.<\/p>\n

(Paul Maric)<\/p>\n

He was first looking to fly but found train travel \u201cway more affordable\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though the train is travelling at up to around 350km\/h, you barely feel a thing. It’s impressive how smooth it is,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

High-speed train should be considered for Sydney to Melbourne<\/p>\n

The automotive expert said Australia is \u201cbackwards\u201d for its lack of travel options<\/a>, with travellers relying solely on airlines for domestic travel.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don’t understand why we can’t have high-speed rail in Australia. We desperately, desperately need this in Australia,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

A plan is underway for a Sydney to Newcastle high-speed rail line,<\/a> which could cut travel times between the two cities to just one hour. Construction of the 194-kilometre line is set to begin in 2028.<\/p>\n

While he\u2019s \u201cglad something is happening,\u201d Maric said it\u2019s a \u201cbizarre route to start with\u201d.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/p>\n

Instead, he thinks, travellers between Sydney and Melbourne<\/a> could highly benefit from train travel.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe route between Sydney and Melbourne, for example, services something like eight million passengers a year. An express high-speed train between Melbourne and Sydney could be knocked over in around three hours,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

\"Left:<\/p>\n

Planning the Newcastle to Sydney high-speed rail line is currently underway.<\/p>\n

(High Speed Train Authority)<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to break the monopoly airlines have over this travel route as it becomes far less competitive with less airlines.<\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially during peak periods where it becomes incredibly expensive to travel between these two cities.\u201d<\/p>\n

High-speed train from Sydney to Newcastle underway<\/p>\n

A high-speed rail network has been proposed for Australia, with the government planning to connect Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, and regional communities across the east coast by 2060.<\/p>\n

The first line, from Sydney to Newcastle, is now in the Development Phase, which prepares the project for construction.<\/p>\n

\"Graphic<\/p>\n

Population density along the proposed high-speed rail corridor in Australia, according to the High Speed Rail Authority.<\/p>\n

(High Speed Train Authority)<\/p>\n

According to the High Speed Rail Authority, the Newcastle, Central Coast and Sydney corridor is the most densely populated part of Australia, with 624 people per square kilometre.<\/p>\n

As it\u2019s the busiest regional corridor, Newcastle\u2013Sydney is the best place to start.<\/p>\n

Along the line, high-speed rail stations are proposed for central Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, the Central Coast, central Sydney, Parramatta and Western Sydney International Airport.<\/p>\n

Gosford has also been confirmed as the Central Coast location for a future underground high-speed rail station.<\/p>\n

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