Australia: Bechtel Named Delivery Partner for Newcastle–Sydney HSR Phase
Bechtel has been announced as the High Speed Rail Authority’s Delivery Partner for the development phase of the Newcastle to Sydney high speed rail project, the company said in a 13 July press release.
Bechtel said the two-year development phase is intended to get the project construction ready pending a final investment decision. The company linked the award to its Australian infrastructure work, including Sydney Metro and Western Sydney International Airport, and to its global rail experience.
Dr Richard Freer, Managing Director of Public Infrastructure, Australia at Bechtel, said: “Bechtel is proud to partner with the High Speed Rail Authority to help deliver one of the country’s most significant and forward-looking infrastructure programmes. This award reflects our deep global rail experience and capabilities, coupled with over 70 years of delivering some of the most impactful projects across Australia. We look forward to working closely with the High Speed Rail Authority to help turn the vision of High Speed Rail into reality for Australians.”
According to Bechtel’s release, the High Speed Rail Authority was established as an Australian Government corporate entity in 2023 to lead planning, development and delivery of a national high speed rail network connecting Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and regional communities on the east coast.
Bechtel said the Newcastle to Sydney connection — described as a nationally significant corridor between the two largest cities in New South Wales — is proposed as the first stage of that national network. New high speed trains would travel up to 320 km/h on dedicated tracks, taking one hour from Newcastle to Sydney and 30 minutes from the Central Coast to Newcastle or to Sydney, the release said.
Bechtel also cited the High Speed Rail Authority’s Business Case submission projections that high speed rail could boost the national economy by A$250bn over 50 years and create up to 99,000 new jobs. The company said it is Delivery Partner at Western Sydney International Airport, where it managed design and construction of the A$5.3bn project, completing it nearly seven months ahead of schedule and on budget. Bechtel said it is also supporting Perth Airport’s multibillion-dollar expansion programme.