Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne and Deputy Leader Adam Bandt have said Labor is playing catch up and has failed to commit to the investment needed to get high speed rail moving.

In contrast to the $55 million announced by Labor today the Greens have committed $664 million over the forward estimates to fast tracking high speed rail by establishing a High Speed Rail Authority, securing the rail corridor and facilitating regulatory requirements and planning. The Greens have also committed an additional $570 million to an Environmental Impact Study.

The Greens have announced a plan to fast track the construction of high speed rail on the Eastern Sea board.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Christine Milne and Deputy Leader Adam Bandt MP have announced the plan at Melbourne's Southern Cross Station and Mr Bandt will outline details of the plan to a conference on high speed in Sydney on Wednesday.

As part of the agreement to support the minority Labor government, the Australian Greens secured a $20 million feasibility study into high speed rail.

The Australian Greens Leader, Senator Christine Milne, has joined the ACT Greens as both parties have given their commitment to making high speed rail and light rail a reality.

The call comes after a week of negative signals about high speed rail coming from the NSW Government, Qantas, and the Prime Minister*.

"High speed rail exists in over 20 other countries already, and is expanding.  It is high time that Australia catches up and invests in the infrastructure we need for the 21st Century", said Senator Milne.