When the railways finally came to Australia, they created new towns and alleviated the isolation of the outback. In the cities they enabled the growth of commuter belt suburbs. Railways reached their pinnacle in the 1950s, but have been disadvantaged by sparse population, low density cities, motor vehicles, and air travel. But in Australia’s growing major cities, with traffic and environmental problems, railways have aided the effective operation of cities. The romance of the railways remains.
When the railways finally came to Australia, they created new towns and alleviated the isolation of the outback. In the cities they enabled the growth of commuter belt suburbs. Railways reached their pinnacle in the 1950s, but have been disadvantaged by sparse population, low density cities, motor vehicles, and air travel. But in Australia’s growing major cities, with traffic and environmental problems, railways have aided the effective operation of cities. The romance of the railways remains.