Three consortia have been shortlisted to deliver the first package for Australia’s Newcastle to Sydney High Speed Rail.

The three shortlisted for an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) process following a competitive tender are:

  • Acciona John Holland Joint Venture
  • Advanced Alliance Joint Venture: Gamuda Engineering, FCC Construction Australia, Samsung C&T Corporation
  • GoFar Joint Venture: CPB Contractors, Ferrovial Construction (Australia), Vinci Construction Grands Projects Australia

The consortia will compete to develop plans for Area Package 1, the section of the route between Berowra and Ourimbah, which include around 35km of twin bored tunnels; construction of the Central Coast High Speed Rail Station at Gosford; and installation of all rail and station systems and other structural and surface infrastructure works. 

The High Speed Rail Authority’s ECI process will finalise the cost, scope, design and approvals for the project to get it construction-ready and allow the Australian government to make an investment decision at the end of the development phase.

On the high speed route journey times between Newcastle and Sydney would be around an hour, and travel from the Central Coast to either Newcastle or Sydney around 30 minutes.

The consortia will adopt advanced manufacturing for the project. An advanced manufacturing facility would use automation, robotics and precision manufacturing to deliver the railway more efficiently.

Minister for infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government Catherine King said the government was taking a considered approach.

“We said we’d go metre by metre, and carefully plan the first stage of High Speed Rail between Newcastle and Sydney. That’s what we’re delivering with these new contracts,” she said.

High Speed Rail Authority CEO Tim Parker said this was the critical next step of the development phase.

“Over the past 15 years, Australia has developed a world-class tunnelling industry with hundreds of kilometres of tunnels built here – now we’ll be working with some of the best of the best on Australia’s High Speed Rail,” he said.

The long-term plan is for a high-speed route from Brisbane to Melbourne, connecting major cities on Australia’s east coast.