Alstom, Siemens Mobility and Hitachi Rail, together with their partners, are competing to supply the first high-speed trains for Australia and associated systems.
The consortia have been shortlisted for the Development Phase of the Newcastle–Sydney high-speed rail project, which will use trains capable of operating at speeds of up to 320 km/h.
Three international consortia have been shortlisted following a competitive process:
Alstom/UGL Joint Venture – Alstom Transport Australia and UGL Engineering;
ARC Joint Venture – Siemens Mobility, Siemens Mobility GmbH and Mott MacDonald Australia;
Hitachi Rail STS Australia.
The three consortia will compete to design and develop the high-speed trains and systems required for Australia’s first high-speed rail network. The competitive approach is intended to deliver the best possible outcomes in terms of construction costs and project delivery timeframes.
The proposed solutions will be based on trains and technologies that have already been proven and successfully deployed on high-speed rail networks around the world. They will, however, be adapted to Australian conditions, with the support of internationally experienced specialists in design, systems integration and engineering.
Australia prepares for its first high-speed trains
The journey between the two cities is expected to take around one hour on a new dedicated railway, while journeys from the Central Coast to either Newcastle or Sydney are expected to take around 30 minutes.
The three consortia have been shortlisted through the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) process led by Australia’s High Speed Rail Authority. The process is intended to finalise the project’s cost, scope, design and approvals, bringing it to construction readiness. At the end of this phase, the Australian Government will be able to make an investment decision.
The authorities do not intend to develop an entirely new system from scratch. Instead, the process will focus on integrating mature and proven rail technologies and adapting them to Australian requirements.
“The three shortlisted proponents will take globally proven high-speed rolling stock and systems and adapt them for Australian High Speed Rail, Australian conditions and Australian passengers,” said Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King.
The Trains, Systems and System Integration contract package includes:
the supply of Australia’s first high-speed trains;
the design and delivery of rail systems;
the construction of the depot and operations control centre;
the integration, testing and commissioning of the Newcastle–Sydney high-speed rail system.
The project will also examine the potential of Australia’s manufacturing sector and advanced manufacturing capabilities. The Authority is proposing an Advanced Manufacturing Facility that would use automation, robotics and precision manufacturing technologies to help deliver the railway more efficiently.
According to the Authority, the facility could create skilled jobs and provide additional opportunities for Australian manufacturers and suppliers involved in delivering the high-speed rail network.
No major construction contract will be awarded until the Government’s decision-making process is completed following the end of the Development Phase.
One of the three proponents will subsequently be selected to supply the trains, depot and associated systems.
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