Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT:
Labor M-P for Newcastle Sharon Claydon says the city is finally on track to becoming the high-speed rail hub of Australia.
The Sydney-Newcastle high-speed rail link has been under discussion since 2022, but Ms Claydon says the project has finally reached a turning point.
"This is a very exciting day for Newcastle - as I like to refer to it this city is the birthplace for high speed rail in Australia - this is just the latest - but this is a really critical step forward for high speed rail."
Work has begun on a two-year development phase for the project.
The Federal Government says shovels could be in the ground as early as 2028.
With a new $229 million commitment, federal spending on Australia’s inaugural high-speed rail project has hit $659.6 million dollars.
The central coast part of the line will be finished by 2027, with the link up to the Sydney airport in expected to be completed in 2042.
Catherine King, the Minister for Transport says the high-speed rail line reduce travel time between Sydney and Newcastle, and Sydney and the Central Coast.
"So whilst high-speed rail will bring the travel down from Newcastle to Sydney to an hour. From Gosford to Sydney to 30 minutes. Really what that means for this economy here is a heavy vote of confidence. Now we know the costs of this project are high. But we can't build a rail project without significant cost. There are none in the country that haven't cost money. High speed rail is an expensive project."
High Speed Rail Authority C-E-O Tim Parker says the project is a key tool for tackling the housing crisis, enabling people to live in regional centres like Newcastle while maintaining a fast, efficient commute to Sydney.
"What we've seen overseas is when you have high speed it affects regional development - people want to locate in the region. Look at Newcastle, what a great place to live and work - and of course you can build businesses here and still attract people from Sydney to Newcastle and in the regions."
The project involves digging out 114 kilometres of track between Sydney and Newcastle, as well as 115 kilometres of track beneath Greater Sydney.
Ms King says that despite the upfront costs, the released business case estimates a $250 billion saving over the next 50 years, largely driven by the ability for residents to live further from the city centre.
The total cost of the project will come close to 90 billion dollars, but the government is still considering how to pay for it.
Ms King says the government will tip in an extra $5 billion if they cannot raise the necessary funds through private investment.
"The cost being around the 55 billion dollar mark - now that of course includes all of the stations, all of the signalling and advanced manufacturing facility to actually build the trains here and all of the rolling stock. So the construction of the actual rail itself is around about the 31 billion dollar mark but really overall the project including rolling stock we've made sure we've got all of that costed because you can't run a rail line without putting some trains on it as well."
Ms King says she understands the scepticism over whether the project will ever break ground, given its long history of delays.
However, she says that Western Sydney Airport faced the same doubts, yet it is now complete and set to begin operations in October 2026.
The development phase will be responsible for the approvals process of the route, awarding contracts and finalising the design.
"What that means is doing all of the detailed design work - getting early contract involvement to make sure we have got this project right. Getting the design of the tunnels. Getting the design of the stations. Understanding the signalling system that is needed. Getting that designed right the way through. Really getting this ready for a future investment."
SBS took to the streets of Sydney to speak to commuters.
“MAN 1: If you’re looking like 50 - 100 hundred years in the future then I think we would get good use out of it so..."
WOMAN 1: "It’s a lot of money - I guess the government would have to consider what their priorities are..."
WOMAN 2: "Yeah for people who live here and go up to the coast yeah I think it would be yeah."
WOMAN 3. "Dear - I think that money should be going to other things - healthcare and hospitals - state of the hospitals - more doctors and all that."
MAN 2. "Personally, I’m coming from Germany. We have such a train it’s called ICA - and it takes you from Berlin to Munich within four hours. My friend lives in Newcastle and I’d like to go there by train because from car it takes maybe one hours - two hours."
WOMAN 4: "I think it would be great to do something like that yes.”
This section of the railway link is the starting point for a proposed East Coast network, stretching 180 kilometres from Brisbane all the way to Melbourne.
