Australia’s High-Speed Rail Could Be ‘Shovel Ready’ in Two Years, Government Says

Melbourne 24 February: Australia’s first high-speed rail project could be “shovel ready” within two years, with construction potentially beginning as early as 2028, the federal government has announced. The government has committed an additional $229.6 million to advance the project.

The funding boost will allow the High Speed Rail Authority to undertake further planning work to lock in the design, scope and cost of the proposed rail line between Sydney and Newcastle. The government said this next phase of planning is crucial to ensuring the project is ready for construction.

Once completed, the high-speed rail line is expected to significantly cut travel times, reducing the journey between Newcastle and central Sydney to around one hour. Travel from the Central Coast to either Sydney or Newcastle is forecast to be slashed to about 30 minutes.

With the latest allocation, total federal investment in the development of the high-speed rail project has now reached $659.6 million.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to discuss the project in an upcoming interview on ABC’s AM program with host Melissa Clarke, where further details on timelines and next steps are likely to be outlined.