Resolution criteria

The market resolves YES when the first high-speed rail service in Australia begins commercial operation. This may be the Sydney-Newcastle line, expected to be completed by 2039. Resolution will be confirmed via official announcements from the High Speed Rail Authority or Australian government transport ministry. The service must meet the international definition of high-speed rail: new lines designed for speeds of 250km/h or more.

Background

High-speed rail has been investigated by every federal government since the early 1980s, but nothing has ever gone beyond the detailed planning stage. As of February 2026, the Australian government has officially entered the next critical phase in construction of the High-Speed Rail network between Newcastle and Sydney. The High Speed Rail Authority will spend the next two years moving metre-by-metre along the proposed Sydney to Newcastle route to lock in the design, approval processes, scope and cost of the project, which could require $90 billion to build. A final investment decision is targeted for 2028.

This description was generated by AI.