The rollout of the Australian Government's high speed rail network has reached two further milestones, with the High Speed Rail Authority appointing both a delivery partner and a shadow operator for the development phase of Line 1 between Newcastle and Sydney.
What has been announced
Bechtel has been appointed as the High Speed Rail Authority’s Delivery Partner for the two-year development phase. Bechtel will work alongside the High Speed Rail Authority to progress detailed design, procurement, and further refinement of the project's scope, cost, schedule and risks. The objective is to bring the project to a construction-ready state pending a final investment decision. Bechtel has a track record on major Australian infrastructure projects, including Sydney Metro and the recently completed Western Sydney International Airport.
Separately, the High Speed Rail Authority has appointed a Keolis-led partnership as its Business, Operations and Maintenance Adviser. Keolis will work alongside SNCF and CERTIFER to act as the High Speed Rail Authority’s shadow operator and maintainer, embedding operational, maintenance and customer considerations into the design and development of the rail line. The partnership brings decades of experience operating and optimising established international high-speed rail services, including France's TGV network, Eurostar and Morocco’s Al Boraq.
Looking ahead
These appointments signal significant progress in the development phase. With a delivery partner to drive the project towards construction readiness and a shadow operator to ensure the railway is designed with passengers and long-term operations in mind, the program structure is now taking shape. The development phase will focus on locking in detailed design, corridor protection, the approvals pathway and cost certainty. This will inform the subsequent investment decision and shape how the market engages with the program. We will provide additional updates as the high speed rail development phase continues to progress.
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