ABC News Daily Why it’s finally time for high speed rail
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Mar 8, 2026 Joe Langley, an urban planner who worked on Australia’s high-speed rail studies, explains costs, timelines and route choices. He revisits past proposals and why projects stalled. He discusses tunnelling, realistic 320 km/h train tech, funding challenges, and which legs to prioritise. He outlines a two-year design window and a possible construction start within two years.
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XPT Delay Demonstrates Stagnant Rail Technology
- Joe Langley recounts a Canberra to Sydney XPT trip that was scheduled for 4.25 hours but took 4.75 hours, illustrating long-standing slow rail service.
- He uses that personal experience to argue Australia still uses 50‑year‑old train technology and needs high-speed rail to keep pace.
First Leg Prioritises Newcastle To Gosford With Heavy Tunnelling
- The High Speed Rail Authority plans a staged approach with Broadmeadow to Gosford as the first leg and much of the Sydney section underground.
- Roughly 60% of the first leg is proposed underground, which is a major driver of the project's $90 billion cost.
Do Detailed Design For Two Years Before Building
- The Authority recommends a two‑year detailed design phase to true up costs and investigations before final investment.
- Detailed metre‑by‑metre engineering and site investigations aim to produce a robust, shovel‑ready business case for 2028 decision‑making.