US construction firm Bechtel has been selected as the delivery partner for the development phase of a $90 billion project to deliver high-speed rail between Newcastle and Sydney.
Bechtel will work alongside the High Speed Rail Authority, which will lead the planning, development, and delivery of Australia's high-speed rail network.
The development phase is expected to take two years.
If the federal government proceeds with construction following the development phase, the Newcastle to Sydney leg could be operational by 2039.
The announcement of Bechtel as the authority's business partner follows the issuing of two major tenders for trains, tunnelling and station construction in April.
Bechtel is also the delivery partner at the new Western Sydney International Airport, where it managed the design and construction of the $5.3 billion project.
Bechtel managing director of public infrastructure Richard Freer said the company was proud to work on one of the country's most significant and forward-looking infrastructure programs.
"This award reflects our deep global rail experience and capabilities, coupled with over 70 years of delivering some of the most impactful projects across Australia," he said.
"We look forward to working closely with the High Speed Rail Authority to help turn the vision of High Speed Rail into reality for Australians."
The Newcastle to Central Coast stretch would aim to be delivered by 2037, followed by an extension to Sydney Central by 2039 and Western Sydney International Airport by 2042.
It would include stations at Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Central Coast, Sydney Central, Parramatta and Western Sydney International.
The project's business case found the entire project would deliver between 80 cents and one dollar for every dollar spent on its construction.
In March, Infrastructure Australia recommended the federal government consider prioritising the Sydney-Newcastle HSR link for further planning and investment.
The agency found the project would increase connectivity between Newcastle, Sydney and Western Sydney Airport, unlock opportunities for population, economic and housing growth, boost productivity and support Net Zero objectives.
"The Australian government should consider prioritising the proposal for further planning investment to support analysis of housing objectives, investigate funding strategies, and improve certainty on costs and benefit realisation," it said.
The Newcastle to Sydney project will create an opportunity for 160,000 new homes between the Hunter Valley and Sydney and boost the Australian economy by $250 billion. It is also tipped to create more than 99,000 jobs in the economy after it opens, as well as up to 15,000 construction jobs a year.
High-speed rail will connect Newcastle to Sydney in about one hour on trains running up to 320kmh, with the Central Coast just half an hour from both Sydney and Newcastle.
