AUSTRALIA: A Keolis-led team will advise Australia’s first high-speed rail line, embedding operational, maintenance and safety expertise in the Newcastle–Sydney project during its two-year development phase.

Existing NSW TrainLink intercity train beside another passenger train at Newcastle Interchange, shown as illustrative route context
Existing passenger trains at Newcastle Interchange, the northern end of the proposed high-speed rail line. Illustrative image; it does not show the future high-speed train. Photo: JustARandomEditor123 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0.

Shadow operator role starts during project design

The Australian Government’s High Speed Rail Authority has appointed the partnership as Business, Operations and Maintenance Adviser for the Newcastle–Sydney project. Under the official Keolis appointment, the team will act as the authority’s shadow operator and maintainer while the railway is being developed.

That role brings operating requirements into the design process before construction begins. Its remit covers service planning, customer experience, maintenance strategy and operational readiness, allowing operational and maintenance requirements to be considered alongside engineering decisions.

Keolis will lead the programme and transport integration work. SNCF will contribute high-speed rail design, operation and optimisation experience, while CERTIFER will cover safety management, systems assurance, regulatory compliance and certification. Together, the partners bring more than 40 years of experience from TGV, Eurostar, Al Boraq and OUIGO services, as well as advisory work on Canada’s Alto programme and California High-Speed Rail.

Don’t miss…Dublin MetroLink Cost Estimate Could Reach €19 Billion

Two-year phase prepares the line for construction

The adviser joins the project during a AUD 659.6 million Development Phase announced by the Australian Government in February 2026. Over two years, the authority plans to advance detailed design, planning and approvals, procurement and delivery planning while refining the project’s scope, cost, schedule and risks.

The work is intended to make the line construction-ready, but it does not constitute final construction approval. The completed development work will inform a future Australian Government investment decision.

One-hour Newcastle–Sydney route takes shape

The planned railway would use a dedicated new alignment and trains capable of up to 320 km/h. The target journey time is around one hour between Newcastle and Sydney, while trips from the Central Coast to either city would take about 30 minutes.

Proposed stations include central Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, the Central Coast, central Sydney, Parramatta and Western Sydney International Airport. The authority has also issued development tenders covering trains and tunnelling, including about 35 kilometres of twin tunnels, an underground Central Coast station, a train depot and an operations control centre.

Preferred construction tenderers are expected to be selected after the Development Phase. However, the authority says no major construction contracts will be awarded until the government’s decision-making process is complete.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Don’t miss…Pacific National recruits drivers across three states