Infrastructure Australia endorses development phase of Newcastle

Infrastructure Australia has endorsed the development phase of the Newcastle-Sydney section of the high-speed rail network.

It’s understood the first stage of the project, linking the two cities, would include six stations – at Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Central Coast, Sydney Central, Parramatta and Western Sydney International – over the 194-kilometre route.

It also comprises 115km of tunnelling, 41km of surface track and 38km of bridges and viaducts.

According to the business case, the initial delivery and operations from Newcastle to the Central Coast (stage 1A) would be complete by 2037, to reach Sydney Central (stage 1B) by 2039 and Western Sydney International Airport (stage 1C) by 2042.

The High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) is now seeking Australian Government funding to support