High Speed Rail

Clean, efficient, affordable

April 2014

Renewable-powered, high speed rail from Melbourne to Brisbane within a decade

Travelling long distances is an unavoidable part of living in Australia, with about 1,800 towns spread thinly over some 7.7 million square kilometres. Travel accounts for one quarter of Australia’s total energy consumption, and 15% of our greenhouse gas emissions. High Speed Rail shows how high speed rail between Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane can provide clean, efficient, affordable and comfortable transport for 80% of Australia’s population along the east coast. And, reduce our travel emissions at the same time.

Connecting 21 stations, 11 regional centres

High Speed Rail (HSR) shows a system running from Melbourne to Brisbane via Canberra and Sydney, to be developed as part of a zero emissions transport strategy for Australia. Once operational in 2025 it can become a dominant mode of transport for the busy east coast corridor, providing a superior service over flying or driving for a major portion of regional journeys. Some 60% of Australia’s population would live within 50 km of a HSR station.

Connecting 21 stations, 11 regional centres

High Speed Rail (HSR) shows a system running from Melbourne to Brisbane via Canberra and Sydney, to be developed as part of a zero emissions transport strategy for Australia. Once operational in 2025 it can become a dominant mode of transport for the busy east coast corridor, providing a superior service over flying or driving for a major portion of regional journeys. Some 60% of Australia’s population would live within 50 km of a HSR station.

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High Speed Rail benefits include:

  • 45% of Australian regional travel is contained within the proposed High Speed Rail network corridor
  • Journey times of less than three hours from the centre of Sydney CBD, to the CBD of Melbourne or Brisbane
  • 60% of Australian population is within 50km of a High Speed Rail station on proposed network
  • 40 year capital repayment from operating profits
  • 100% renewable energy powered HSR allows zero emissions journeys
  • Internationally, comparable HSR projects have been delivered in less than 10 years
  • $7 billion estimated fare revenue when fully operational in 2030
  • Three million fewer domestic passengers at Sydney Airport in 2030 than current levels, removing the need for a second airport in Sydney

"High speed rail is an intergenerational project that will transform our nation… High speed rail must become a reality in Australia."

Bryan Nye

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CEO, Australasian Railway Association

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