On Sunday, 30 April 2017 3:25 PM, Matthew Geier wrote.-- ........ In
Australia - any urban area dense enough to support a fixed rail connection
is dense enough to electrify and use heavy rail rolling-stock.
Newcastle might have application for the concept, but not Sydney.
................................
My thought is that tram-trains could effectively operate in the southern and
western suburban areas where existing stations are widely spaced almost the
same as when the railway was built.

Possible routes could be beyond Liverpool towards Picton, beyond Blacktown
towards Richmond and towards Penrith and the lower Blue Mountains and north
of St Marys towards the old Ropes Creek area.

Tram-trains could serve short wayside platforms and existing minor stations
allowing 'heavy' trains to operate express, stopping only at major centres
such as Campbelltown and Penrith.
Tram-trains could provide preliminary low cost rail connection from outer
suburban areas to Badgerys Creek Airport on the route proposed for a final
heavy rail service.

Tram -trains from Newcastle could operate to small platforms and minor
stations on the Gosford route [using 1.5Kv DC] and similarly on the Maitland
route [using on-board battery or coupled generator power].
Noel Reed.