A RAIL research group is planning a major study into an east coast high-speed rail line, which would include links from Newcastle to Sydney and Brisbane.
Rail advocates want the Federal and State governments to pay for the study.
A fast train would transform cities, Cooperative Research Centre for Rail Innovation chief executive David George said yesterday.
Travelling at 250 kmh, a fast train could travel from Newcastle to Sydney in less than one hour.
The federally-funded research centre is a venture between the Australian rail industry and universities.
The study would build on research the centre has produced on high-speed rail.
A report, which the centre recently published, said the "most likely corridor for high-speed rail along Australia's east coast would connect Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Greater Newcastle, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne".
The report included a map that listed Broadmeadow and Hexham as part of such a corridor.
A tunnel would need to be built under "Hawkesbury sandstone country" for a fast train from Newcastle to Sydney, the report said.
"North of Newcastle, any alignment has to negotiate low but steep coastal ranges until Taree is reached."
Mr George said a fast-train line could accommodate inter-city trains stopping at few stations and trains that "accelerate and decelerate more and stop at intermediate stations".
He said a fast train would "provide the option of using Canberra and Newcastle airports to increase Sydney's airport capacity".
Email a friend