SET IN TRAIN: Plan for Geelong high-speed rail link to Brisbane

GEELONG’S coming high-speed rail line could connect all the way to Brisbane as the federal government sets wheels in motion for an interstate east coast link.

The federal government has introduced legislation to create a High Speed Rail Authority, which would deliver a new rail network with trains travelling up to 250kmh to connect the capitals of Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane, as well as stops at regional centres in between.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts said the existing Geelong fast rail project to Melbourne would continue as planned under the new agency, which would oversee the pipeline of projects for the cross-country route.

“The new High Speed Rail Authority, once established, will provide independent advice to government on high-speed rail planning and delivery, and will lead the co-ordination with states and territories on delivering the high-speed rail project,” a department spokesperson said.

“The authority will deliver on the existing scope and functions of the National Faster Rail Agency in collaboration with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, including the Melbourne to Geelong Fast Rail project.

“Development and introduction of the authority will not impact the delivery and timelines of the Geelong Fast Rail project, which is currently in planning and continues to be progressed with the Victorian government.”

The state government expects construction to begin next year on the $4 billion stage one Geelong line, which would create a dedicated track between Werribee and Laverton to cut existing travel times by up to 15 minutes.

The federal government introduced legislation for the authority earlier this month in one of its last acts before Parliament suspended sittings following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said the project “recognised the importance of prosperity in our regions”.

“High-speed rail offers the promise to change the lives of millions of Australians, especially in our regions, while also bringing our east coast capitals closer together.

“This is a visionary investment in opening up our regions to greater opportunity.”

The High Speed Rail Authority is an escalation of the existing National Faster Rail Agency, which was established in July 2019.

Federal government studies found a high-speed train track was viable and would return double its expenditure in economic benefit.

A Sydney-Newcastle link, backed with $500 million in federal funding, would be the first project delivered under the new authority, with Geelong’s project to continue under the state government.