During a February 17 ABC News Breakfast interview, Albanese announced an update within weeks on the east coast high-speed rail project, starting with the 191-kilometer Sydney-Newcastle route that would cut travel time from 2.5 hours to one hour at 320 km/h.
He noted the corridor’s huge population—78 percent of Australians—and routes extending to Canberra and Melbourne, though the full build won’t finish in his term and could cost up to $90 billion.
Reactions mix hope for economic boosts with doubts over past infrastructure delays and rising expenses, as the High Speed Rail Authority seeks more funding amid state funding hesitations.
