The High Speed Rail tending process has begun

Over a thousand national, international and local business people convened at the NEX today to begin the Newcastle to Sydney High Speed Rail tending process.

It's a chance for bigger industries giants from around the world from Italy, to Korea, China and Japan to mingle with Aussie businesses here in the Hunter.

High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) CEO Tim Parker says during the project they're looking to 'maximise' local trade.

"What we're trying to encourage is, instead of putting a percentage of local content, we're saying, what will it take," Mr Parker says.

"We're a government project, so things for us, the economic value of this project is really important.

"It's not just driven by lowest cost, you know, sometimes you find it may cost a little bit more to manufacturing Australia, but it's more better economic value.

"So we are looking at an advanced manufacturing facility, for instance, which will make a lot of the components here in Australia, but that facility can be used for other projects as well."

High Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) CEO Tim Parker at the NEX, credit: newsroom.

Today's event is focusing on finding someone to deliver the trains, stations and tunnels for the network in a bid to be shovel ready at the end of two years.

"The next two years will be planning approval and also the procurement of number of the major packages," Mr Parker says.

"When we get to that point, we've completed the development phase and at that point, government has to make a final decision about whether they want to move the next phase, which is the delivery phase.

"But by doing this work up front, we'll be able to give government more certainty on the cost, the benefits and also make sure that we're construction ready. So if government says, go, we can start construction immediately from that point."

From HSRA's point of view at this point there will be a lot of interest from contractors on tunnelling and the stations, something which rely on local manufacturers to take part in.

When weighing up whether to build the line above ground or in tunnels, the HSRA has considered a number of factors. With the Australian landscape being front of mind, tunnels were the front runner due to the hillscapes between Newcastle and Sydney and national park land.

"High speed trains, they can't go up steep hills," the HSRA CEO says.

"We're looking at a balance between environmental and also a practical way of building this and as far as tunnel speeds are concerned, we're looking at mainly at travel time."

He goes on to say it's also allows landholders to continue to enjoy use of space above ground.

"The great thing about tunneling is you're in the substrata, you're underground and we've also got in Sydney, we've got some of the best tunnels in the world.

"So we've got the expertise, [and] whilst we're tunneling, we're not disturbing people on the surface and so there's no land acquisition, but it is more expensive and it takes longer to build."

High Speed Rail meeting graphic at the NEX, credit: newsroom.

After learning from similar high speed rails around the world in Europe and Asia, Mr Parker says here in Australia the main challenge will be managing climate.

"We're hot and we're dry, and that's probably the major issue," he says.

"We do have much higher temperatures. We also have high rainfall.

"When they were bidding for the Olympics, they were talking about Manchester has less rain than Sydney. However, Manchester rains all the time, whereas Newcastle just rains in spurts."

However, he assures the technology is out there.

"Recently, there was a project in Egypt, and again, they were able to use trains to go through Egyptian deserts," Mr Parker says.

"So I'm pretty sure there's the technology is not new. It's out there, and it can be used."

Mr Parker also confirmed HSRA is eyeing 2037 as the year it will be achievable to have the rails first opening on the Central Coast.

Much further down the track when the project is fully complete, the Australian economy is tipped to reap the benefits of a $250 billion boost.

"No one has said, 'I've built a high speed rail I regret', no one has said that. In fact, quite the opposite."

People beginning to walk into High Speed Rail meeting at the NEX, credit: newsroom.