Growing up, I never liked waiting for trains. Why would I? They never waited for me. So, I’ve got myself into the habit of timing my arrival to the train station just as the train arrives.
Of course, the only time I’m ever early for a train is when the train is late.
It sounds like a good system, but I’ve missed more trains than even I am willing to believe and I’m quite gullible. Of course, if you believe that, so are you.
Are you feeling confused now, or gullible? Well, I feel both every time I hear a government say “high-speed rail is coming!” Pfft. So is Christmas!
If high-speed rail ever gets here, the next time I catch a train – which will actually be the next time I miss a train – I’ll be able to get depressed even faster now knowing that the train I should be on has already reached the destination I should already be at.
Of course, the biggest laugh in the high-speed rail conundrum is that it’ll take them decades to build it – I heard maybe even 60 years! At that rate it would almost be quicker to walk!
No wonder previous generations didn’t take carriage of the situation.
But this is where you rightfully say to me “high-speed rail is for our future generations, Padre. And stop using obvious train puns!” They’re not all obvious ... I’ve thrown in a few sleepers.
I read once that in the future there will be a high-speed rail service linking the major cities of Australia that will run about once in every three years – whenever there’s an election coming up.
When a government signals interest in high-speed rail in this country, the project gets terminated at the station.
Many of us will never benefit from its advantages, only the disadvantages of inconvenient traffic interruptions and less government money to throw around and, perhaps, even more taxes. Even so, if we sincerely care for future generations we should try and keep this high-speed rail discussion on the tracks.
If the NSW state government’s Re-elect Us Express doesn’t get derailed, there’s still the long journey of convincing neighbouring states to get on board.
Because if we have to change trains at the border, that kind of defeats the purpose of high-speed rail, doesn’t it?
Still, regardless of the problems (train wreck?) we may face down the track, I still think high-speed rail for Australia is just the ticket. Not trying to throw anyone under the train here, but it appears the usual voices against the environmental damage of infrastructure are putting aside their tunnel vision and have come on board when it comes to high-speed rail.
So, from this perspective, now is a good time to lay down tracks.
It’s hard to know where the youth of today want to be in the future, but I’m confident that, wherever it is, they want to get there fast. High-speed rail is providing a future for our children.
And I do believe part of our role in this life is to make tomorrow something wonderful for future generations.
It’s the sort of thing that hurts your head if you muse on it too long.
But we would still be riding around on horseback with the only person in town possessing an “eye pad” being the poor fool who got stabbed in the eye in a duel, if it wasn’t for those in the past who worked towards a better future.
High-speed rail would, eventually, make living in rural Australia and visiting family and friends who live far away more viable.
And given that the quality of our lives comes down to the quality of our relationships, the value of high-speed rail cannot be underestimated.
Given previous generations did not make a successful start on high-speed rail, many of us will never benefit from its advantages, only the disadvantages of inconvenient traffic interruptions and less government money to throw around and, perhaps, even more taxes.
Even so, if we sincerely care for future generations we should try and keep this high-speed rail discussion on the tracks.
I know all the jokes I railed off this week weren’t first class, but this column is not the right platform for them.
However, the high-speed rail discussion has already frustratingly slowed down, so a few train puns are great for letting off steam.
Twitter: @fatherbrendanelee