Why can't Australia have a bullet train?

Why no bullet trains in Australia?

Okay, so bullet trains in Australia, huh? Always wondered about that myself.

The general reason, as far as I understand, is that the numbers just don't add up. Australia's population isn't dense enough.

I mean, think about it. You need tons of people regularly using those trains to justify the huge cost of building and maintaining them. I’ve looked at some feasibility studies (can't remember the exact date now), and the predicted ridership just wasn't there.

Saw a report once, maybe it was 2015? Said something about needing, like, a consistent flow between major cities every single hour. Doesn’t seem super feasible, does it?

Plus, let's be real, our cities are pretty spread out. Sydney to Melbourne is a loooong way. Would folks REALLY give up cheap flights for a train, even if it was super fast? I dunno.

I vaguely recall reading about land acquisition issues, too. Buying up all that land for the tracks... that can get real pricey.

Personally, I'd love to see a bullet train here. Imagine zipping up the coast! But hey, maybe one day the population will grow enough, and someone will figure out a way to make it work. I'm not holding my breath, though.