Australian high-speed rail has barely left the station – some experts say a new US project shows a better way

The private-led Brightline West (bottom), to run from Los Angeles to Las Vegas at speeds exceeding 300km/h, represents a vastly different approach to the proposed Sydney to Newcastle fast train (top), experts say. Composite: Guardian Design/Brightline West/High Speed Rail Authority (Australia)/AAP

Progress has been slow on the proposed high-speed rail line between Sydney and Newcastle since the establishment of the High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) in 2023, and the federal government is yet to commit to building the megaproject.

But some experts say there may be a cheaper and easier way to do it, pointing to a US example of what can be achieved.