The Property Council of Australia has welcomed the Albanese Government's decision to commit $50 million to initial upgrades of the Sydney-Canberra rail corridor, saying the decision reflects sustained advocacy for faster, more reliable rail to lift productivity and unlock housing growth across the region.
Tuesday's Federal Budget will include $50 million in Commonwealth funding, matched by $25 million each from the ACT and NSW Governments, to deliver early works and planning to improve performance on the long-neglected corridor.
Property Council ACT and Capital Region Executive Director Ashlee Berry said the funding commitment aligns directly with calls the Property Council made earlier this year for a staged upgrade of the corridor to cut journey times and modernise the line.
"This is exactly the conversation we've been pushing - Canberra and the surrounding region can't afford to keep falling behind when it comes to national rail investment," Ms Berry said.
"In February, we said the Sydney-Canberra corridor needed serious, coordinated investment. Today's announcement shows that message is being heard."
Ms Berry said the initial funding would support priority works to improve safety, reliability and journey times, while also progressing planning and design for the next phase of upgrades.
"Early works and proper planning are critical to delivering real improvements," Ms Berry said.
"Improving the performance of this line is about more than passenger convenience, it's about national productivity, housing supply and sustainable growth."
"A faster, more reliable service would better connect businesses, workers and Commonwealth agencies with Australia's largest economic centre, while opening up new opportunities for housing around station precincts," she said.
"The current service is simply too slow and unreliable to compete with driving or flying. Upgrading the line is about giving people a genuine, low‑carbon alternative and supporting growth along the corridor."
The Property Council has consistently argued that upgrades should be delivered through a three‑level partnership between the Commonwealth, NSW and ACT governments, starting with modernising and straightening the existing corridor to deliver early improvements while preparing the line for higher‑speed services over time.
"We welcome this first step and look forward to working constructively with all levels of government to make sure this investment translates into faster journeys, more homes and stronger economic links between Sydney, Canberra and the regions in between."
