- The leaders of Australia and Japan, Tony Abbott and Shinzo Abe, are working together on an ambitious $114 billion high-speed rail project connecting Brisbane to Melbourne. - The project would involve constructing a bullet train system like Japan's famous Shinkansen train, which Abe touted as a potential great economic and social benefit at its 50th anniversary celebration. - Abbott and Abe will attend summits in November to further discuss funding and implications of the proposed high-speed rail line, which could be privately financed and bring Australia recognition as an advanced transportation leader.

1. Australia’s High-Speed Rail Project
Created by: Todd Kleperis

2. From Brisbane to Melbourne
Canberra and Tokyo’s prime ministers, Tony Abbott and
Shinzo Abe, have been working collectively as leaders in the
Asia-Pacific region to construct a jaw-dropping bullet train
that rides from Brisbane to Melbourne, costing $114 billion.
Abe spoke with a lot of excitement at the Shinkansen’s 50th
anniversary dinner about “this dream project, a great force
for social and economic development.”

3. 01
The Latest
News…
✤ Both Abbott and Shinzo will be attending three
summits in November to discuss further
implications of the new high-speed rail project. !
✤ Construction would be eligible through private
funding, though there may be need for some
funding stemming from “availability payment”
like the ones toll roads and rezoned
development stations obtain.!
!
✤ This project will not only benefit from
bipartisanship, but will also provide Australia
with high regards globally to an advancement
in transportation technology. !
✤ Currently, the high-speed railroad project has
approached the final round of discussion for
Abbott and Abe, though the theme has not yet
been regarded.

4. 01
Maurice Newman Speaks
About High-Speed Rail
Project:
✤ Maurice Newman is the
former head of the Australian
Securities Exchange and
current chairman of Abbott’s
Business Advisory Council.!
✤ Newman voiced his
speculations of when the
project would start,
insinuating that the sooner,
the better, since values will
raise after the train is
officially developed.

5. “I am concerned about how congested our cities are. This
would foster growth along the corridor, as has happened,
everywhere else. For us, it might especially benefit Shepparton
in Victoria, say, or Goulburn in NSW. These places would
suddenly acquire a life of their own and take some of the
pressure off major urban centers. However, economic costs
would be bankable, unlike NBN, and could be funded
privately.”
–Maurice Newman

6. 01
Japan’s Success
✤ Taiwan’s high-speed
railroad project
flourishes with zero
accidents …!
✤ … and 99.91%
punctuality.!
✤ Australia strives to reach
the same success with the
HSR.

7. What’s Next: Looking to Japan
Australia should continue to look to Japan in the innovations of
high-speed rail accomplishments, especially in the way Japan
handles freight to passenger transport. !
!
People don’t want to deal with going through security systems,
where a divide between passengers and transportation
management becomes more prevalent. !
!
By looking at Japan’s culture and approaches to traveling
advancements, Australia’s people will experience exponential
growth in satisfaction and punctuality while they travel.

8. 01