Work has begun on a two-year development phase for Australia's inaugural high-speed rail project with the Federal Government saying shovels could be in the ground as early as 2028. (Representative image) Credit: KIMIMASA MAYAMA/EPA
Travel time between Sydney and Newcastle could drop to just one hour under Australia’s inaugural high-speed rail project. The next development phase is now underway and the federal government says construction could start by 2028, forming the first stretch of a proposed 1,800-kilometre East Coast line from Brisbane to Melbourne. The nearly $90 billion project promises faster commutes, regional housing growth and long-term productivity gains, despite public scepticism over cost and delays.
Travel time between Sydney and Newcastle could drop to just one hour under Australia’s inaugural high-speed rail project. The next development phase is now underway and the federal government says construction could start by 2028, forming the first stretch of a proposed 1,800-kilometre East Coast line from Brisbane to Melbourne. The nearly $90 billion project promises faster commutes, regional housing growth and long-term productivity gains, despite public scepticism over cost and delays.
