<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The wheels are now officially in motion for a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/highspeed-rail-australia-sydney-to-newcastle-link-to-be-shovelready-in-two-years-government-says/3776f232-1ad2-46bd-a731-85721758eafb" rel="" target="_blank" title="high-speed train network between Sydney and Newcastle."><span>high-speed train network between Sydney and Newcastle.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The federal government has today announced seven major tenders ahead of construction beginning for the massive rail upgrade, which would connect Newcastle to the </span><a href="http://9news.com.au/sydney" rel="" target="_blank" title="Sydney CBD"><span>Sydney CBD</span></a><span> in just one hour.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Construction for the $61.2 billion rail link is expected to be "shovel-ready" within two years, and among the tender packages are technical and architectural advising, environmental planning and demand forecasting.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attack-iran-live-updates-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/95e0f1d7-cdf4-42ad-866d-569779885e71" rel="" target="_blank" title="US death toll rises to six as Trump warns 'big wave' yet to come"><strong><span>US death toll rises to six as Trump warns 'big wave' yet to come</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Businesses hoping to apply for the open tender can do so through the government's online portal.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A panel is typically used to evaluate tender submissions and designate the projects to businesses.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This announcement marks the beginning of phase one of the $61.2 billion project.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/newcastle-to-sydney-high-speed-rail-government-announces-tenders/a00ce10e-648d-402d-94f7-d03c41d45acf" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The taxpayer bill is expected to rise up to $93 billion once the line goes to the new Western Sydney airport.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government's total investment for the development phase is now $659.6 million.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The first phase will ensure line one is construction-ready and is a key milestone in delivering a "nation-shaping infrastructure project", the government said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The expert teams we are seeking to appoint will help us form a detailed plan to deliver high-speed rail, supporting thousands of highly skilled jobs across engineering and project management in the process," Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-attacks-iran-timline-events/ff4273f6-5e5f-40cf-949d-28907f8dfc21" target="_blank"><strong><span>The timeline of events leading up to the US-Israeli strikes on</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/protection-visa-australia-home-affairs-warns-british-and-irish-visa-holders-against-abusing-system/ae3679c0-7a25-4518-bfce-d149802766d7" target="_blank"><strong><span>British and Irish visitors warned against abusing system by applying for protection visas</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Australian workers and businesses will be front and centre of delivering this project."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The train network will be the most expensive piece of infrastructure ever funded by the Australian federal government.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It will connect Newcastle to Sydney in one hour, link the Central Coast to the capital in half an hour and add billions to the economy, according to a business case spruiked by the government.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 16 million passengers a year would take the $31 one-way trip.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The government also said it would boost the Australian economy by $250 billion over the next 50 years and produce more than 99,000 new jobs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Currently, it takes around two hours and 40 minutes to travel by train between the two major cities.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-choose-9news-as-your-preferred-source-in-google/7e8c11bd-1b8b-4e7f-8fff-154231ab5d16" target="_blank"><strong><span>How to Choose 9News as your preferred source in Google's Top Stories</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese teased the announcement last month, arguing high-speed rail connecting the most heavily populated parts of the country "absolutely makes sense".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An evaluated business case has proposed construction start by 2027 and completion by 2042.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all 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