High-speed Rail In Australia
High-speed rail projects in Australia have been under investigation since the early 1980s, but none have yet progressed beyond the planning stage. The fastest trains currently in use in Australia have a maximum speed of 160 km/h (99 mph) (significantly below the internationally accepted definition for high-speed rail of 200 km/h (120 mph)).
Various combinations of the route between Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, and Brisbane have been the subject of detailed investigation by prospective operators, government departments and advocacy groups. Some have advocated extending the network to Adelaide or Perth. Others advocate concentrating on shorter routes servicing dormitory towns of the major capitals (such as Wollongong, Geelong or Bunbury), possibly as a precursor to a full interstate link.
In 2010, the Australian government announced a A$20 million detailed feasibility and corridor study to determine the economic viability of, and identify potential routes for, a high speed rail network on the east coast of Australia. The first phase of the study was completed in 2011, and projected that an east coast High Speed Rail would cost between $61 and $108 billion ($2011), depending on which route and station combination was selected
Read more about High-speed Rail In Australia: Background, Proposals and Studies Prior To 2007, Corridor Selection, Economics, Medium-speed Services
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