The High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) is set to deliver the initial Sydney to Newcastle high speed rail business case with the support of $78.8 million in funding from the Federal Government.
Delivering high speed rail between Sydney and Newcastle is a crucial waypoint towards the Federal Government’s commitment to build a high-speed rail network on Australia’s east coast.
The Federal Government has committed $500 million to the early stages of developing high-speed rail, including business case works.
The Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Catherine King, said that high speed rail is a transformative project that will change travel between cities and provide a catalyst for economic development in regional areas.
“This is more than just a transport project. It will create jobs, improve productivity and support Australia’s progress on environmental outcomes,” Ms King said.
The business case is expected to be provided to Government by the end of 2024, having determined important aspects of the new rail network including the proposed alignment, station locations, the type of train to be used and the estimated cost and timeframe for construction.
“This funding will support the proper planning that is critical to the success of such a significant infrastructure project, bringing high speed rail in Australia one step closer to construction.”