The Government yesterday resurrected plans to link Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne via high-speed rail, with a particular focus on a link between Newcastle and Sydney.

Minister for Infrastructure Anthony Albanese said the study would start later this year and would take about 18 months to complete.

The study would also investigate the viability of including Wollongong.

"Potentially, this could be a Sydney, Newcastle and Illawarra corridor," Mr Albanese told the Mercury.

"The greatest level of detail will be looking at Sydney and Newcastle as a first step, with the intention that it would look at the viability of building a greater network, which could involve Wollongong."

Wollongong community leaders have been lobbying for a high-speed rail link since the mid '90s.

A spokesman for Mr Albanese said the study would look at the most viable way of linking Wollongong with the main line.

"There are different lines on the map but nobody's ever made economic sense of whether those lines are viable or if the [problems] are insurmountable," he said. "The $20 million feasibility study will determine those considerations."

The Coalition hit back yesterday, pledging to build on its Howard government studies to consider the viability of high-speed passenger routes between Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane.

Federal governments have considered high-speed rail since 1981 but the cost has prevented it going ahead.

Mr Albanese said the study would not replicate those of previous governments.

"This study is different because it is looking at the geotechnical and engineering issues associated with it and it's looking at construction cost," he said. "It's also the case that high-speed rail technology has moved forward substantially in recent years.

"Meeting the challenge of climate change increases the economic viability of transport options which produce less carbon emissions."