Alstom, Siemens and Hitachi shortlisted for Newcastle–Sydney high speed rail trains

The High Speed Rail Authority has named the three groups that will compete to supply Australia's first high speed trains, and three construction consortia that will compete to build the Newcastle–Sydney line's first tunnelling package.

Who made the cut

For the Trains, Systems and System Integration package, the shortlist is:

• 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 package covers more than the trains themselves: the successful group will design and deliver the rail systems, the depot and the operations control centre, and carry the integration, testing and commissioning of the future line.

For Area Package 1 — around 35 kilometres of twin tunnels between Berowra and Ourimbah, bored by tunnel boring machines, plus a Central Coast station at Gosford — the shortlisted constructors are:

• Acciona John Holland Joint Venture
• Advanced Alliance Joint Venture — Gamuda Engineering, FCC Construction Australia and Samsung C&T Corporation
• GoFar Joint Venture — CPB Contractors, Ferrovial Construction (Australia) and VINCI Construction Grands Projets Australia

What happens next

All six groups enter an Early Contractor Involvement process, developing their plans in competition before contracts are let. The Authority is deliberately buying proven technology rather than commissioning something new. "We're not starting from scratch — Australia's High Speed Rail will use tried and tested high speed trains and systems," said HSRA chief executive Tim Parker.

Federal infrastructure minister Catherine King pointed to the local build story: "Australia has a proud history of building trains here, and we are ready to drive a resurgence in local industry."

The numbers

The line is designed for trains running at up to 320 km/h, putting Newcastle about an hour from Sydney and the Central Coast roughly 30 minutes from either city. The $230 million development phase runs until early 2028, with major construction from 2029 — subject to a government investment decision — and services as early as 2038. Phase 1A, including stations and rolling stock, is estimated at around $55 billion.

For contractors and subcontractors along the corridor, the ECI shortlists are the starting gun: the tunnelling consortia will be assembling their supply chains for one of the largest single construction packages in New South Wales.

Published 25 August 2026