Fullscreen HTML5Med Res (??MB)HTML4

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus. Editor Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Robert Flynn Darren Yates, B.Sc. Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Sharon Macdonald Marketing Manager Sharon Lightner Phone (02) 979 5644 Mobile phone (018) 28 5532 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Garry Cratt, VK2YBX Marque Crozman, VK2ZLZ John Hill Jim Lawler, MTETIA Bryan Maher, M.E., B.Sc. Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Jim Yalden, VK2YGY Bob Young Photography Stuart Bryce SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 003 205 490. All material copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Macquarie Print, Dubbo, NSW. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $49 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 1a/77-79 Bassett Street, Mona Vale, NSW 2103. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 979 5644. Fax (02) 979 6503. PUBLISHER'S LETTER The Australian Very Fast Train We have been pleased to read that the Australian fast train proposal is about to get another run and has been given support by the Federal Minister for Industry, Mr Griffiths. Let us hope that the new consortium, called Spreedrail, does not get bogged down as did the original VFT proposal. It soured because the consortium members were apparently more concerned with being able to profit from land development along the VFT corridor than with the economics of the proposal itself. If similar attempts are made to gain special tax treatment for this new proposal then it deserves to fail again. Apart from that, it seems as though the public do support the concept of an Australian fast train. It would greatly speed traffic between our capital cities and would be an overall plus for the environment, especially when compared with an equiv­alent expansion of aviation and road transport. The initial $2.4 billion proposal is for a link between Sydney and Canberra with a travelling time of just over an hour. Then the system would be extended to Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide, in that order. There is no doubt that the fast train proposal is technically feasible. It is to be based on the proven and very successful French TGV and the Speedrail consortium is headed by GEC Alsthom which manufactures the TGV. So the technical exper­tise is there, both Australian and overseas-based. The big problem will be in getting the system off the ground and with a minimum of government involvement, although that is probably a vain hope. And once the project is under way, all parties involved will need to devise methods of running it which will circumvent the many inefficiencies which bedevil our existing rail transport systems – a 100+ year old legacy of state government insularity and selfishness, hidebound bureaucracies and unions who are concerned only about survival. If the old ways of working are allowed into the fast train system, it will be a finan­cial disaster. This need not be so. Australians have an excellent record for bringing large projects to completion on time and under budget and then running them as efficiently as anywhere in the world. Our large mineral projects are enough evidence of that. Let us hope that this excellence is brought to bear in the Australian fast train project. Leo Simpson ISSN 1030-2662 WARNING! SILICON CHIP magazine regularly describes projects which employ a mains power supply or produce high voltage. All such projects should be considered dangerous or even lethal if not used safely. Readers are warned that high voltage wiring should be carried out according to the instructions in the articles. When working on these projects use extreme care to ensure that you do not accidentally come into contact with mains AC voltages or high voltage DC. If you are not confident about working with projects employing mains voltages or other high voltages, you are advised not to attempt work on them. Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd disclaims any liability for damages should anyone be killed or injured while working on a project or circuit described in any issue of SILICON CHIP magazine. Devices or circuits described in SILICON CHIP may be covered by patents. SILICON CHIP disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the manufacturing or selling of any such equipment. SILICON CHIP also disclaims any liability for projects which are used in such a way as to infringe relevant government regulations and by-laws. Advertisers are warned that they are responsible for the content of all advertisements and that they must conform to the Trade Practices Act 1974 or as subsequently amended and to any governmental regulations which are applicable. 2  Silicon Chip