Rail in Review
Welcome to the inaugural KWM’s Rail Round-up, our new quarterly go-to source, summarising the most recent developments across the rail industry.
The first half of FY26 has seen prominent developments in rail across Australia, as highlighted in this edition. This includes the transformative introduction of interoperability standards, a significant milestone for the Australian rail industry. With the adoption of European Train Control Systems standards announced at the recent Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ Meeting, the rail sector is poised for enhanced digital signalling and control systems. Additionally, the approval of the high-speed rail link between Sydney and Newcastle marks a pivotal step towards a national east coast network, promising faster travel and improved reliability. In South East Queensland, rail projects supporting the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games are progressing, set to redefine regional transport infrastructure.
As we move forward, the Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board's insights into new interoperability standards underscore the importance of industry collaboration in shaping the future of rail.
Interoperability
In the first half of FY26, we have closely followed the introduction and development of interoperability standards in Australia, one of the most significant changes to the Australian rail industry.
At the Infrastructure and Transport Ministers’ Meeting on 11 August 2025, it was announced that any future digital train control and signalling system on the National Network for Interoperability would be required to comply with European Train Control Systems standards.
Related regulations were also introduced in the Rail Safety National Law National Regulations (Safety Management System) Amendment Regulations 2025. These Regulations require that accredited rail organisations have in place systems and procedures for the identification of interoperability issues and prepare an Interoperability Management Plan as part of their safety management system.
Interoperability has been flagged by the National Cabinet as a priority issue, and the National Transport Commission has also highlighted its importance, as Australian rail networks move towards digital signalling systems.
For further details, please see our articles on each stage of announcements.
- Are you ready? The signal has changed. European Train Control System to be introduced on Australian Rail Networks
- Full Steam Ahead! Interoperability requirements introduced under the Rail Safety National Law
- Interoperability Update: Regulations commences and consultation on ONRSR guidance open
High Speed Rail
In early November, Infrastructure Australia, the federal government’s independent assessment body, approved the business case for a high speed rail link between Sydney and Newcastle via the Central Coast. The project is positioned as the first stage of a national east coast high speed rail network.
The High Speed Rail Authority’s business case for the Sydney–Newcastle corridor will now progress to the Development Phase following Infrastructure Australia’s evaluation. The preferred Stage 1 alignment spans approximately 194 kilometres, with significant tunnelling between Sydney and the Central Coast and maximum speeds of up to 320 km/h north of the Central Coast. The staged delivery plan targets initial operations to the Central Coast by 2037, Sydney Central by 2039, and Western Sydney International Airport by 2042, with stations at Newcastle (Broadmeadow), Lake Macquarie, Central Coast, Sydney Central, Parramatta and Western Sydney International.
Infrastructure Australia supports advancing detailed planning and design, aiming for at least 40% design maturity, alongside market engagement and environmental approvals to improve cost certainty and benefit realisation. The assessment highlights material uncertainties to be addressed in the Development Phase, including tunnel-driven speed constraints in Sydney, integration costs, biodiversity offsets, greenhouse emissions accounting and the robustness of housing uplift assumptions. Travel times are forecast to reduce to around one hour between Newcastle and Sydney Central, with reliability gains from a dedicated high speed line and broader productivity benefits expected across the corridor.
Final investment decisions will rely on updated cost, schedule, environmental and benefit analyses at the conclusion of the Development Phase.
High speed rail | High Speed Rail Authority | High Speed Rail Authority
Regional focus: South East Queensland
A series of rail projects related to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games are currently in different phases of development. As part of the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 project, the first LRV has travelled along the new section of track between Broadbeach and Miami. Further testing will be conducted throughout the next few weeks before the passenger service opens next year.
Construction is also continuing on Cross River Rail, the underground heavy rail project which aims to develop a new rail line under Brisbane, as well as a number of stations across South East Queensland. The project is expected to be operational in 2029, ahead of the Olympic Games.
The Queensland Train Manufacturing Program (QTMP), which aims to build 65 new passenger trains over the next ten years is also underway. The QTMP is intended to support economic and population growth in South East Queensland, as well as provide improved transport options for the 2032 Olympic Games. As part of the program, a new rail facility will also be constructed at Ormeau, in the Gold Coast. The first train is expected to enter passenger service in 2027.
Relevant links:
Full Steam Ahead
Considerations for the new year:
On 14 October this year, the Rail Industry Safety and Standards Board (RISSB) hosted the webinar Driving national rail interoperability: A stronger role for RISSB in national rail standards development. In this discussion, RISSB provided insight into how the new interoperability standards are expected to operate.
RISSB indicated that in the new framework, they will have a stronger and more formal role in shaping standards under the national rail system. It was also suggested there will be a full review of RISSB structures and capability.
One of the key discussion points, was that the new standards would be accompanied by the introduction of a standards prioritisation framework, consisting of mandatory standards, harmonised standards and local standards. Mandatory standards will be focused specifically on interoperability and digital signalling systems and will require operators to comply. These standards will be approved by Ministers under the Rail Safety National Law. Harmonised standards will likely be focused on areas such as operating rules and rolling stock, and RISSB will strongly encourage their adoption. Local standards will focus on areas where interoperability is not affected, and operators may choose to adopt locally set standards.
Importantly, RISSB highlighted that standards would continue to be industry led, with emphasis on maintaining a co-regulatory, industry driven development process of standards. RISSB highlighted that input from industry would be important in not only the development of new standards, but also the prioritisation framework.
RISSB also indicated international experiences of the adoption of ETCS would be leveraged, as well as consideration of a new technical assurance group, which would provide greater peer review of standards, fostering trust in the quality of standards and the ease of their adoption.
While the details of the new standards are yet to be confirmed, this discussion from RISSB provides the first insight into their practical operation. We expect further details to be released shortly and will continue to closely monitor this space.
In the Spotlight
KWM was proud to host the Transport Asset Manager of New South Wales’s inaugural National Legal Rail Forum on 9 December 2025. The forum discussion was led by Carolyn Walsh, Chair of the National Transport Commission and the attendees participated in a dynamic and insightful discussion on interoperability and the implementation of the ETCS.
