The ACT government has stoked up the tension with NSW over the slow train from Canberra to Sydney with the Chief Minister urging his big neighbour to drag its railway lines "out of the 19th century".
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian declared herself a convert to the cause of high speed rail in Australia, reversing her previous scepticism of high speed rail.
But Andrew Barr, whose Labor territory government is a long-term champion of high speed trains linking the east coast capitals, said a good start would be for NSW to "drag itself" into the 21st century with some track work and new trains on the neglected Canberra to Sydney link.
The NSW government confirmed to Fairfax this week that new trains and upgrades were planned for the route, but long suffering passengers must wait until the 2020s.
Rail has long been the poor cousin of transport options between the national capital and Sydney, with services currently running just three-times-a-day and taking about four hours to complete the journey, if the train runs on time.
The location of Canberra's station has also been seen as a drawback for the rail option, tucked away in a quiet corner of Kingston, next to Fyshwick and much of the track between the two cities has not been upgraded in decades.
On Sunday the station was busy with passengers arriving and getting ready to leave. Some, with kids in tow, were on the train for the adventure.
Others, like Rivett couple Hendrika and John Van Dijk, take the train twice a year. They were dropped off by their son and would be picked up by family in Sydney.
Both were fans of the train to Sydney and said they took it twice a year, taking advantage of the free trips they receive as pensioners.
Mr Van Dijk, a tall man, said the four-hour train journey was better than the plane. And the couple had brought overseas family along for the ride in the past to enjoy the countryside.
"But it's got to go faster," Mrs Van Dijk said.
"It's just two hours too long."
Mr Barr welcomed Ms Berejiklian's embrace of fast trains, but said NSW had work to do on its existing network.
"A more immediate opportunity for the NSW government is to drag the existing Canberra to Sydney rail service out of the 19th century with some track work and a new train," the Chief Minister said.
"I am encouraged that they are looking at this."
He re-iterated the territory's desire to see fast trains speeding between Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne but said a "spur line" into the ACT from the main link between NSW and Victoria, would not be good enough.
"The ACT government remains committed to working with all governments on any high speed train proposal," Mr Barr said.
"We would expect Canberra, as the national capital, would be on any Sydney-Melbourne leg rather than a spur line."
The management of the Canberra-Sydney line is complex, with three operators; Sydney Trains, Australian Rail Track Corporation and John Holland Rail each responsible for different sections in an arrangement that makes upgrades and improvements difficult.
But the NSW government recently announced some good news for rail passengers, with the replacement of the ageing rolling stock for lines between between Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, and major regional centres.
The new regional trains will not begin rolling in the early 2020s.
"The NSW government recently announced that it will be replacing the entire regional fleet, meaning modern new trains are on their way for customers travelling between Sydney and Canberra," a Transport NSW spokesman said.
"NSW TrainLink is working closely with the operators of the network between NSW and the ACT to ensure the most reliable service for its customers between Sydney and Canberra."
with Alexandra Back
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