High Speed Rail

High Speed Rail Study

The Australian Government has committed to a strategic study on the implementation of high speed rail on the east coast of Australia —Moving forward with high speed rail.

The study, which is being carried out in two phases, is looking at potential routes from Brisbane to Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, as well as the economic viability of such a network. It is drawing on international experience, public and private sector expertise, growth forecasts and other contemporary data.

Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference for the study were released on 31 October 2010 by the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.

• High Speed Rail Study—Terms of Reference [DOC: 32 KB]

Phase One

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP, the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, launched the report from phase one of the study on 4 August 2011:

• A blueprint to Australia’s transport future: First stage of high speed rail study released;
• High Speed Rail: Interim Report Released Address to Infrastructure Partnerships Australia’s Partnerships 2011 Conference—Sydney, 4 August 2011.

The report found that such a network could:

• cost between $61 billion and $108 billion (in $2011) to build and involve laying more than 1,600 kilometres of new standard-gauge, double-track;
• achieve speeds of up to 350 kilometres per hour and offer journey times as low as 3 hours between Brisbane and Sydney and Sydney and Melbourne; just 40 minutes from Sydney to Newcastle; and 1 hour between Sydney and Canberra;
• carry around 54 million passengers a year by 2036 including, for example, about half those who would have flown between Sydney and Melbourne—currently the world’s fifth busiest air corridor; and
• offer competitive ticket prices, with one way fares (in $2011) from Brisbane to Sydney costing $75–$177; Sydney to Melbourne $99–$197; and $16.50 for daily commuters between Newcastle and Sydney.

Copies of the report are available for download below:

• High Speed Rail Study—Phase One Report Executive Summary [PDF: 1207 KB]
• High Speed Rail Study—Phase One Report [PDF: 9207 KB]
• High Speed Rail Study—Phase One Report Appendices [PDF: 7783 KB]
• High Speed Rail Study—Phase One Report Full Report [PDF: 16120 KB]

Phase Two

Work on the second and final phase of the study has now commenced, and is scheduled for completion in late 2012. While it will build on the outcomes from the phase one report, the second phase will be considerably broader and more detailed in its objectives and scope, including:

• a recommendation for the final preferred alignment and station locations along the route;
• an assessment of the commercial and financial viability;
• an examination of potential public and private funding sources;
• advice on a management model to plan, construct and operate the rail system;
• the projected travel market in the east coast corridor;
• an environmental, social and economic appraisal; and
• options for implementing institutional and governance arrangements.

Media Release

• High Speed Rail Study: Stage Two Begins

 

Contact

Inquiries about the high speed rail study should be directed to: highspeedrailstudy@infrastructure.gov.au