Early Models Suggest High-Speed Rail Slower Than A Nissan Patrol Down The Mooney Mooney Bridge

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

Preliminary modelling for the proposed high-speed rail link between Sydney and Newcastle indicates the service will operate at speeds of up to 320 kilometres per hour, falling short of the 480 kilometres per hour reportedly achieved by a Nissan Patrol on the southern descent toward the Mooney Mooney Bridge.

The rail project, overseen by the High Speed Rail Authority, remains in development, with travel times of roughly one hour projected between Sydney and Newcastle. While the proposed service would represent a significant upgrade to existing intercity rail, transport observers note it would not exceed the velocity attributed to a modified Nissan Patrol during a late-night run down the approach to the Mooney Mooney Bridge.

The Patrol incident, believed to have occurred in the mid-2000s, was first disclosed in a service station forecourt conversation before being corroborated in a McDonald’s car park shortly after midnight. According to primary witness testimony, the driver initiated acceleration near the crest before allowing gravity to contribute materially to the outcome.

Verification of the 480 km/h figure was initially informal. However, the claim was subsequently strengthened when the driver, standing beside the open bonnet, swore on his nan’s grave that the speed had been achieved. Sources present described the oath as "clear, unhesitating and delivered with eye contact."

While no GPS data was preserved and the vehicle’s speedometer was later described as "a bit optimistic," the solemn nature of the sworn statement has been widely accepted within relevant automotive communities as sufficient evidentiary threshold.

By contrast, the high-speed rail proposal relies on formal modelling, engineering assessments and regulatory approvals. Officials concede that while the train will operate within strict safety parameters, it will not benefit from a long downhill gradient or familial oath-based validation.

Construction timelines for the Sydney–Newcastle rail corridor remain subject to funding and planning approvals. In the meantime, the 480 km/h benchmark continues to stand, uncontested on moral grounds.

More to come.