Industry update - March 2026 | Major industry briefing

Australia’s High Speed Rail is now in the Development Phase

Tenders in market for specialist advisers

The High Speed Rail Authority has released seven major tenders for key experts to help develop Line 1.

Taking onboard lessons from other megaproject delivery from around Australia and the world, the Development Phase includes securing time-critical environmental and planning approvals, confirming technical and engineering advice related to rail infrastructure and trains, and starting early involvement with construction companies and industry as a whole.

Specialist organisations from across Australia and around the world are invited to lodge tender proposals to provide expert advice to the Authority.
The tender packages are for:

• Technical and Architectural Adviser

• Business, Operations and Maintenance Adviser

• Commercial and Transactions Adviser

• Delivery Partner

• Strategic Property Acquisition Adviser

• Environmental Planning and Assessment Adviser

• Demand Forecasting Adviser

Further tender information is available via the Australian Government’s AusTender platform.

A briefing for registered participants will be held later this month.

Major industry briefing

In April, the High Speed Rail Authority will hold a major industry briefing in Newcastle, New South Wales.

This briefing will be the start of the tender process for the first two major contract packages for Line 1. Following this briefing, Expressions of Interest (EOI) will be called for:

• Area Package 1: Design and construction of about 35 kilometres of twin TBM tunnels and associated civil works, an underground station and complete installation of the systems supplied by the Trains, Systems and Systems Integration contractor.;

• Trains, Systems and System Integration: Supply of trains, design of all systems, construction of the rail depot and operations control centre, and ultimate integration, testing and commissioning of all relevant systems for the Newcastle to Sydney High Speed Rail corridor. System designs and components will be provided to the Area Package contractors who will be responsible for the installation drawings and installation of the systems.

Successful parties from this EOI will take part in an Early Contractor Involvement process. This includes optimising and finalising the alignment and other critical elements between Newcastle and Sydney and supporting HSRA's planning approvals processes.

These processes will provide the Australian Government further detailed information on price and program for the construction of Line 1 to allow it to make an investment decision.

At the conclusion of the Development Phase, the Authority will select preferred tenderers. However, no major construction contract will be awarded until a government decision-making process is complete.

Future procurement opportunities

This briefing will also provide industry with an opportunity to find out more about other major procurement activities during the Development Phase of the project, including:

• Proposed Delivery Strategy and funding and financing models;

• Details of the Advanced Manufacturing Facility tender process; and

• Future area packages.

Generations of opportunities

At the peak of construction, the Newcastle to Sydney project will increase national economic activity by $3 billion a year and create up to 15,000

construction jobs a year.

This is a project of national significance and international scale, bringing with it many opportunities not just for the communities and regions it will serve but for the many thousands of people who will deliver it over many years.

High Speed Rail will offer meaningful long term employment in roles that support major national priorities including infrastructure delivery, regional development and the transition to a low-emissions economy.