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July 13, 2026
Bechtel is taking a new role helping Australia realize its high-speed rail ambitions, with the company today announced as the High Speed Rail Authority’s Delivery Partner for the Development Phase of the Newcastle to Sydney high speed rail project.
This award reflects Bechtel’s substantial experience in working with customers in Australia to deliver major infrastructure projects, including with Sydney Metro and on Western Sydney Airport, and the company’s deep global rail experience.
According to the High Speed Rail Authority’s Business Case submission, High Speed Rail is expected to play a transformational role by connecting Australia’s major East Coast cities, boosting housing development and unlocking economic opportunity, with projections indicating it could boost the national economy by $250Bn over 50 years and create up to 99,000 new jobs.
Reflecting on the award, Dr. Richard Freer, Managing Director of Public Infrastructure, Australia at Bechtel said:
“Bechtel is proud to partner with the High Speed Rail Authority to help deliver 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. 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.”
Bechtel is Delivery Partner at the new Western Sydney International Airport, where it managed the design and construction of the AU$5.3 billion project, completing it nearly seven months ahead of schedule and on budget. The company is also supporting Perth Airport’s multibillion-dollar expansion program, working within an integrated team to oversee design and delivery in a complex, live operating environment.
Bechtel has been serving Australian communities and customers for more than 70 years with projects spanning airports, rail, mines, mineral processing facilities, LNG installations, refineries, chemical plants, power stations, and telecommunications infrastructure.
See more about Bechtel’s Australian operations, here.
The High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) was established as an Australian Government corporate entity in 2023. It has been tasked with leading the planning, development and delivery of a national high speed rail network for Australia, connecting Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and regional communities across the east coast of Australia.
National high speed rail is a strategic investment in Australia’s future productivity, liveability and resilience. It will bring cities, regions and economic zones within fast, reliable reach of one another, connecting people and places in ways not possible through current infrastructure.
The Newcastle to Sydney connection – a nationally significant corridor between the two largest cites in NSW – is proposed as the first stage of the national high speed rail network. New high speed trains will travel up to 320km/h on dedicated tracks, taking one hour to get from Newcastle to Sydney and just 30 minutes from the Central Coast to Newcastle or to Sydney.
Bechtel is a trusted engineering, construction and project management partner to industry and government. Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers’ objectives to create a lasting positive impact. Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, improved the resiliency of the world’s infrastructure, increased access to energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner place.
Bechtel serves the Energy; Infrastructure; Manufacturing & Technology; Mining & Metals; and Nuclear, Security & Environmental markets. Our services span from initial planning and investment, through start-up and operations. www.bechtel.com
