The Federal Government has released a report by a consortium led by AECOM into the implementation of a High Speed Rail network along Australia’s east coast.

 

The report was released at the annual conference of the infrastructure forum, Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, by Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese.

 

In a statement, Mr Albanese said that based on this preliminary work, an eastern seaboard network connecting Brisbane to Melbourne via Sydney and a range of regional centres is expected to:

  • Cost between $61 billion and $108 billion to build and involve laying more than 1,600 kilometres of new standard-gauge, double-track.
  • Achieve speeds of up 350 kilometres per hour and offer journey times as low as 3 hours from Sydney to Brisbane, and just 40 minutes from Sydney to Newcastle.
  • 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.

A consortium led by AECOM, comprising KPMG, SKM and Grimshaw Architects, won the contract for phase 1 in January 2011. The study’s scope included investigating speed rail corridors, city centre stations between Brisbane and Melbourne, indicative transit times and high level construction and operation costs.

 

AECOM formed a Global Advisory Group to bring the company's high speed rail capabilities from around the world including the UK, US, Japan, Spain, China and Italy.

 

The Federal Government announced a $20m study into the implementation of a High Speed Rail network in August last year. Phase 2 of the yet to be awarded study is due to commence next month to identify a preferred corridor and station locations, refine patronage demand forecasts, and assess financial and commercial viability. 

 

To read the report click here.