THE OWNERS of Canberra Airport plan to back another bid for a very fast train link with Sydney.
The Howard government rejected the proposal twice, in 2000 and in 2002.
But Terry Snow and his son, airport managing director Stephen Byron, are confident the Rudd Government can be convinced to back the project.
Mr Byron told the Sunday Canberra Times that the airport's new $250million terminal, to be opened late next year, had been designed to allow for a fast train service. He said he and Mr Snow also intended to establish a group of Canberra business figures to back the project.
Mr Byron said a fast train connection between Sydney and Canberra would be an enormous boon for both capitals.
Airline passengers could land in Canberra and be in the centre of Sydney in less than an hour.
He also pointed out that more than 90 per cent of traffic between the two capitals now used cars and large numbers could be expected to switch, given the added speed and convenience of a fast train.
Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said the ACT Government would be very enthusiastic about any plan to revive the VFT project, which he believed would have significant benefits for the city.
Indeed, the ACT Government had never abandoned hope. Land for the route was set aside in a transport corridor near the airport and the ACT Government's Eastern Broadacre Study was taking the possibility of a VFT into account.
Mr Stanhope said the VFT could well be one of the key projects of national importance that could be considered by the Federal Government's new Infrastructure Australia statutory authority, which will be established to promote partnerships for significant projects.
The authority, headed by former British Airways chief executive Sir Rod Eddington, will establish a list of existing national infrastructure and identify crucial gaps.
Infrastructure Australia will begin to consult with the public after its establishment this year, with the aim of reporting by next March with a priority list of infrastructure projects.
A spokesman for the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, said the list would be used to guide billions of dollars in public and private investment.
He said although he could not comment on individual projects, Infrastructure Australia would be asked to consider social, economic and environmental effects.
Mr Byron said the VFT project was rejected eight years ago because the Howard government was reluctant to contribute the $1billion necessary to ensure private backing for the project.
"I think we have a new and exciting new Federal Government in this country that is serious about infrastructure," he said.
"If it took less than an hour to get to the centre of Sydney from Canberra then that would be the end of the discussion ... what a fantastic thing would it be for this city."
Mr Byron said the economics supporting a VFT were sound last time, but there was a lack of national leadership.
"In retrospect, if the [Howard] federal government knew what bountiful [budget] surpluses lay ahead, then the fast train would not only have been built, but would be running," he said.
Mr Byron acknowledged the airport had many critics around Canberra and that it was blamed for much of the traffic chaos in the airport precinct.
But, he said, 10 years ago it would not have been possible to predict the increase in Gunghalin traffic travelling along Majura Road from 4000 vehicles to more than 18,000 a day.
While the airport might have contributed to the traffic, the biggest problem was the failure by government to complete previously agreed roadworks such as the duplication of Pialligo Avenue.