NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / World

Big price tag may keep revived high-speed rail proposal on hold

NZ Herald
11 Apr, 2013 05:30 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Advocates of a high-speed rail network say the cost will be spread over decades construction beginning in 2022 and the final stages not completed until 2050. Photo / Thinkstock
Advocates of a high-speed rail network say the cost will be spread over decades construction beginning in 2022 and the final stages not completed until 2050. Photo / Thinkstock

Advocates of a high-speed rail network say the cost will be spread over decades construction beginning in 2022 and the final stages not completed until 2050. Photo / Thinkstock

Almost 30 years since the first proposal was put to Bob Hawke's Labor Government, a 350km/h train running from Brisbane to Melbourne is back on Australia's agenda.

The federal Government is establishing a ministerial committee "to advance this issue further", after the release of a final version of a A$20 million ($24 million) study.

But while the report concludes the high-speed network would be viable and eventually provide a net economic benefit of A$2.30 for every dollar invested, it would come with a massive price tag.

The A$114 billion figure is already daunting the Opposition and even Prime Minister Julia Gillard concedes it is probably more than the nation can afford at present. "I think it's some time away that you would see population density at a point that would make it viable," she said.

Shadow Transport Minister Warren Truss says the cost-benefit analysis needs to be examined: "It's certainly a great dream ... but the cost ... is obviously a huge barrier."

All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

While the Greens support the proposal and want an environmental impact assessment treated as a matter of urgency, previous proposals have foundered on both cost and conservationists' opposition. Qantas is also opposing the plan, which the report estimates would divert 40 per cent of inter-city air travellers and 60 per cent of regional passenger numbers to rail. Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce says the answer to the nation's pressing transport needs instead lies with a second Sydney airport, another proposal that still remains bogged in controversy after decades of debate.

But advocates of a high-speed rail network say the cost will be spread over decades, with a 15-year planning and approval process, construction beginning in 2022 and the final stages not completed until 2050.

It would require about 1750km of track and 144km of tunnelling, including a 67km tunnel around Sydney. The track would be built in two stages, the first from Sydney to Melbourne via Canberra, and the second from Sydney to Brisbane. Inter-city travel between Sydney and each of the two other capitals would be less than three hours.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

When completed, the track would follow the coast from Brisbane to Sydney, moving inland for the link to Canberra and Melbourne. Advocates claim the network would also allow commuting to city centres from distant regional centres, changing the way Australians think about living and potentially relieving heavy growth burdens on state capitals.

The report estimates by the time it is completed the network will be carrying 84 million passengers a year.

High-speed rail

Estimated cost A$114 billion.

Discover more

New Zealand

Trains and buses at V8 fans' service

11 Apr 05:30 PM
World

Gillard's crucial school reforms hit state buffers

15 Apr 05:30 PM
Airlines

Kerr helps Qantas show off designer uniform

16 Apr 05:30 PM

Dedicated 1750km route: Brisbane-Sydney-Canberra-Melbourne.

Stations also at Gold Coast, Casino, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Taree, Newcastle, the Central Coast, Southern Highlands, Wagga Wagga, Albury-Wodonga and Shepparton.

Express journey times of less than three hours between Melbourne-Sydney and Sydney-Brisbane.

Once fully operational from 2065, 84 million passengers annually.

Optimal staging: Sydney-Melbourne line first, starting in 2027 with Sydney-Canberra sector; then Canberra-Melbourne, Newcastle-Sydney, Brisbane-Gold Coast and Gold Coast-Newcastle.

- AAP

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from World

World

Dutch art sleuth recovers stolen trove of Unesco-listed documents

09 Jul 06:00 PM
Premium
World

Trump’s Nasa budget could cede solar system to China, scientists warn

09 Jul 06:00 PM
Premium
World

'You are our dagger in Europe': How Russia started a London cell

09 Jul 05:00 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Recommended for you
Red Bull parts ways with longtime F1 boss Christian Horner
Formula 1

Red Bull parts ways with longtime F1 boss Christian Horner

09 Jul 05:44 PM
Lions tame gutsy Brumbies for fourth straight win
Rugby

Lions tame gutsy Brumbies for fourth straight win

09 Jul 05:35 PM
Public film agency's global missions: 'You won't see any photos of us drinking'
Media Insider

Public film agency's global missions: 'You won't see any photos of us drinking'

09 Jul 05:19 PM
The challenge the All Blacks face ahead of second French test
All Blacks

The challenge the All Blacks face ahead of second French test

09 Jul 05:10 PM
Rainbow Warrior: 40 years on – why France attacked Greenpeace and NZ
Crime

Rainbow Warrior: 40 years on – why France attacked Greenpeace and NZ

09 Jul 05:00 PM

Latest from World

Dutch art sleuth recovers stolen trove of Unesco-listed documents

Dutch art sleuth recovers stolen trove of Unesco-listed documents

09 Jul 06:00 PM

The documents provide insights into the Dutch East India Company's operations.

Premium
Trump’s Nasa budget could cede solar system to China, scientists warn

Trump’s Nasa budget could cede solar system to China, scientists warn

09 Jul 06:00 PM
Premium
'You are our dagger in Europe': How Russia started a London cell

'You are our dagger in Europe': How Russia started a London cell

09 Jul 05:00 PM
Premium
Inside: Trump’s weeks of frustration with Putin

Inside: Trump’s weeks of frustration with Putin

09 Jul 05:00 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search