THE HON CARL SCULLY MP
Minister for Transport
Minister for Roads
Media Release
EIGHT MAJOR RAIL PROJECTS FOR SYDNEY
New rail links across the north western suburbs to Castle Hill, from Hurstville to Strathfield and high speed links to Newcastle, the Central Coast and Wollongong are among eight major rail projects to be built in Sydney by 2010.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Carl Scully, said Action for Transport 2010 would invest $2.6 billion in major extensions to the CityRail network, which would open up public transport to thousands of Sydneysiders for the first time.
A further $480 million will be spent on new state-of-the-art Millennium Train carriages which will serve the people of Sydney into the next century.
"This fully funded rail blueprint will deliver eight new rail lines by 2010, providing links will areas of Sydney where the population has expanded rapidly and where future urban growth is forecast to boom," Mr Scully said.
"More people are using public transport, with 850,000 passenger journeys undertaken everyday on the CityRail network," Mr Scully said.
"This is great news for improving our air quality in Sydney.
"Projected growth in patronage on the CityRail network means the existing infrastructure will have reached its capacity by 2006. We need to act now to build the rail lines, which will take us into the next century."
"To build these new fines and supply the rolling stock required for the 21st century will require an average capital works budget of $300 million per year for 10 years," Mr Scully said.
"This is a realistic and affordable plan for Sydney's rail network approved by NSW Treasury."
The rail plan features:
- A $360 million rail extension from Epping to Castle Hill by 2010, with potential to be extended to Mungerie Park and Rouse Hill after 2010.
- A $800 million line linking major growth centres at Strathfield and Hurstville to be commenced in 2010.
- A $30 million Y Link at Liverpool, allowing direct services between Fairfield and Hurstville for the first time.
- A $800 million high speed rail link from Hornsby to Newcastle the first stage of which would be completed by 2007 with further work to Newcastle commenced by 2010.
- A $287 million high speed rail link from Sutherland to Wollongong by 2010.
"These projects will build on those major projects which are already under construction or in the planning phases, such as the $1.4 billion Parramatta Rail Link to Chatswood via Epping, the $700 million New Southern Railway connecting the airport and the CBD and the Bondi Beach Railway," Mr Scully said.
The plan canvasses future rail links from Chatswood to the northern beaches at Dee Why and Bondi Junction to Maroubra. These projects would be considered for construction after 2010.
It also details the Government's plans for extension of the light rail network through the Inner West to Lilyfield, with a possible future extension to Ashfield.
"Action for Transport 2010 will provide for faster, more frequent and convenient public transport access to Sydney's major employment, educational and shopping centres by rail," Mr Scully said.
All the major projects in Action for Transport 2010 are subject to normal environmental planning approval and community consultation.
