High-Speed Rail Plans to Be Put on Track

The high-speed Deutsche Bahn ICE3 InterCity Express at St Pancas International station, October 19, 2010. The 200-mph trains are due to run cross-channel links from London's St Pancras station to European destinations including Frankfurt and Amsterdam in 2013. European Union rules now permit competitors on the Channel Tunnel route previously dominated by Eurostar.Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Fast trains connecting Sydney to Newcastle and Melbourne to Brisbane could be more than a pipe dream under a plan announced by the federal government.

A proposal to establish a high-speed rail authority tasked with starting the major, long-term infrastructure project was presented to parliament on Thursday.

A high-speed national network would allow passengers to travel between major cities and significant regional cities at more than 250 kilometres an hour.

An employee of German railway operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) stands next to an ICE high-speed train at the main railway station in Munich, southern Germany, on Aug. 23, 2021. Christof Stache/AFP via Getty Images

A board made up of rail and infrastructure sector experts will oversee the new authority, which will provide independent advice to governments on planning and delivery.

It will also be the lead agency to coordinate the project with states and territories.

But its first priority will be to plan a Sydney to Newcastle link, backed by an initial $500 million federal commitment, Infrastructure Minister Catherine King says.

“The time is now, we need to stop procrastinating and start taking action to actually deliver high-speed rail,” she told parliament.

“This is a long-term project with significant benefits, and it’s not just about a political cycle but rather a focus on Australia’s future.”

Australians may soon have the option of high-speed train travel. The main timetable screen is seen at Central Station after a union rail strike disrupted train services in Sydney, Australia, on Dec. 21, 2021. AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

Initially working with the NSW government on the Sydney to Newcastle section, the authority will also plan for fast trains connecting Brisbane and Melbourne with stops in Canberra, Sydney and regional centres.

“A high-speed rail network along the east coast of Australia will truly be a transformational project that has the ability to touch the lives of all Australians,” King said.