The Urban Developer
AdvertiseEventsWebinars
Urbanity
Awards
Sign In
Membership
Latest
Menu
Location
Sector
Category
Content
Type
Newsletters
FINAL CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR URBANITY-25 JOIN MORE THAN 550 ALREADY ATTENDING
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR URBANITY 550+ ALREADY ATTENDING
REGISTER NOWDETAILS
TheUrbanDeveloper
Follow
About
About Us
Membership
Awards
Events
Webinars
Listings
Resources
Terms & Conditions
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Republishing Guidelines
Editorial Charter
Complaints Handling Policy
Contact
General Enquiries
Advertise
Contribution Enquiry
Project Submission
Membership Enquiry
Newsletter
Stay up to date and with the latest news, projects, deals and features.
Subscribe
ADVERTISEMENT
SHARE
112
print
Print
InfrastructureAna NarvaezFri 22 Mar 19

Scott Morrison Rolls Out $2bn High Speed Rail Proposal

fff4ab01-c9cd-4823-8a4c-7c430ba5343b

Prime minister Scott Morrison has thrown federal support behind two major fast rail proposals, committing $40 million in funding for five new business cases as part of its wider plan to connect Australia’s capitals to regional centres.

High-speed trains would travel at speeds of up to 200km/hr, cutting the Melbourne to Geelong commute to just 32 minutes, while Brisbane to the Gold Coast would take just 35 minutes.

At a press conference in Melbourne on Friday, the prime minister promised $2 billion in investment for the Geelong-Melbourne fast rail service. The Victorian government would need to match the $2 billion federal contribution for the project to be viable.

Minister for Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge joined the prime minister and treasurer Josh Frydenberg at the announcement on Friday, saying construction on the Geelong-Melbourne link could begin in as little as 18 months.

“This is all part of our plan to manage population growth [t]o take the pressure off our big cities like Melbourne and make our regional cities like Geelong even more attractive places to live and work,” prime minister Scott Morrison said.

Related: High Time for High Speed Inland Rail

Victorian transport infrastructure minister Jacinta Allan said that the Geelong-Melbourne connection would cost at least $10 billion, much more than the $4 billion the government has estimated.Jacinta Allan MP / Twitter.


The prime minister also flagged plans for a “congestion busting” Gold Coast to Brisbane link.

Gold Coast-based federal member Karen Andrews said that a fast rail link will reduce commuter travel times and get people off the M1.

“Easing the commute from the Gold Coast to Brisbane is something I’ve long fought for.

“Improving rail connectivity will complement the work happening to upgrade the M1 to get people home to their loved ones sooner, boost productivity and create jobs.”

High speed rail between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast is already on the cards, with the Queensland project securing business case funding from the Turnbull government in early 2018.

Among other fast rail election promises, shadow infrastructure minister Anthony Albanese pledged $2.8 billion in funding for a high-speed inland rail link from Melbourne to Brisbane.

While the Berejiklian government identified at least four potential high-speed routes within 300 kilometres of Sydney in December.

In its 2018 budget, the Andrews’ government announced $50 million of funding to develop a business case for the Geelong to Melbourne link.

If elected, the Coalition said it will create a National Fast Rail Agency to guide the work and determine priorities for the construction and funding of the projects.


The government committed to five fast rail business cases: Brisbane to Gold Coast; Melbourne to Albury Wodonga; Melbourne to Traralgon; Sydney to Wollongong and Sydney to Parkes.
InfrastructureAustraliaConstructionPolicyPlanningPlanningPolicy
AUTHOR
Ana Narvaez
The Urban Developer - Editorial Director
More articles by this author
ADVERTISEMENT
TOP STORIES
Warren and Mahoney Western Bulldogs Women's Health and Leadership Hub HERO
Exclusive

Beyond the Boys’ Club: Inclusive Architecture Disrupting Sporting Precincts

Leon Della Bosca
7 Min
Exclusive

Inside the $10m Heritage Refit of Sydney’s $25,000-a-Year Members’ Club

Taryn Paris
4 Min
Kurraba Point 93 Kurraba Road TUD PLUS
Residential

Council Over Court: How HFO Won Rare North Sydney Approval

Vanessa Croll
7 Min
Exclusive

Why Sentinel is Betting Big on Olympic City Office Sector

Phil Bartsch
5 Min
The Port of Brisbane has released its Vision 2060 which details the need for inland rail connectivity
Infrastructure

Brisbane Port’s $15bn Future Faces One Big Obstacle

Renee McKeown
5 Min
View All >
Court Place in the Subi East precinct is set to deliver 447 new homes, including 300 affordable and 147 social homes in a prime location just four kilometres from the Perth CBD.
Community

Providers Selected for Subi, East Freo Housing Projects

Renee McKeown
Goldfields Kyneton Central Edgecombe Road precinct rendering
Development

Goldfields Forges Ahead on $150m Kyneton Central Hub

Leon Della Bosca
An aerial view of Ipswich, whose suburb Springfield Lakes, had the highest number of house sales for Queensland in Q2, 2025.
Residential

Ipswich Suburb Leads Queensland House Sales

Marisa Wikramanayake
A quiet dark horse in the race, Ipswich's Springfield Lakes has now topped Queensland's house sales list for the second …
LATEST
Court Place in the Subi East precinct is set to deliver 447 new homes, including 300 affordable and 147 social homes in a prime location just four kilometres from the Perth CBD.
Community

Providers Selected for Subi, East Freo Housing Projects

Renee McKeown
3 Min
Goldfields Kyneton Central Edgecombe Road precinct rendering
Development

Goldfields Forges Ahead on $150m Kyneton Central Hub

Leon Della Bosca
3 Min
An aerial view of Ipswich, whose suburb Springfield Lakes, had the highest number of house sales for Queensland in Q2, 2025.
Residential

Ipswich Suburb Leads Queensland House Sales

Marisa Wikramanayake
5 Min
Development

Zen Group’s West End Towers Greenlit

Taryn Paris
2 Min
View All >
ADVERTISEMENT
Article originally posted at: https://www.theurbandeveloper.com/articles/scott-morrison-rolls-out-2bn-high-speed-rail-proposal