$1bn federal funding to deliver new Bradfield City Centre rail links

The Australian Government is investing $1 billion towards the development of a future rail connection between Leppington and the new Bradfield City Centre, further future-proofing the transport links in Western Sydney. 

This proposed connection is a missing link on Sydney’s rail network, and it joins the new Western Sydney International Airport to Sydney’s south west rail corridor. 

“Back in 2014, as Shadow Minister for Transport, I said we needed rail as well as road in order for this airport to work. 

“Today, we’re delivering on that – investing $1 billion to continue planning the rail connection Sydney’s new airport should have had. 

“We don’t want residents of Sydney’s south west to have to rely on buses to get to the airport. We want them to have fast, frequent rail access, and our investment today will help deliver that. 

“This is all part of our plan to build Australia’s future – connecting people with the jobs of the future, and with each other,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. 

The significant investment from the Federal Government will help secure future rail corridors not just between Leppington and Brafield, but also between Bradfield City Centre and the growing suburbs in the Macarthur region. 

The proposed new rail corridors will pave the way for Metro or Sydney Trains network extensions that will provide passengers and workers at Sydney’s new airport easy rail access to Sydney’s south west and to the Sydney CBD. 

In addition, the proposal will also connect the south west Sydney regions with the airport, enabling access to the world. 

“Our $5.3 billion investment in Western Sydney Airport will transform the way Sydneysiders travel around our country and across the globe. 

“Our Government is not just investing in this new airport, but also giving people the connections they need to get there, now and for decades to come. 

“This includes our $5.25 billion investment in the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport, connecting commuters to the Western Line in St Marys with fast and frequent services and our $1.6 billion investment in the new M12 which will connect the new airport to Sydney’s network of motorways. 

“This new investment will open the airport up to rail connections to Sydney’s South West, giving commuters more options when travelling in and out of the airport and the future Bradfield City Centre,” Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said. 

Sydney Metro network, including proposed corridors (source: Sydney Metro)

This funding injection is the next practical step in safeguarding the future and ensuring the delivery of infrastructure that communities across south west Sydney need. 

This investment also builds on the recently released funding for a joint State and Federal $195 million business case, which is already underway to explore future rail connections in Sydney’s west. 

Timelines for delivery of the corridor preservation work will be finalised with the New South Wales Government. 

“The booming suburbs of South West Sydney have grown under the promise of future rail connections, but under previous Governments they never came. 

“Now we’re putting in the work to preserve these vital rail corridors so our region can have the future public transport it needs and deserves. 

“I’m really pleased that our Labor Government is delivering for south west Sydney’s future,” Member for Macarthur Mike Freelander said. 

Source: Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; Sydney Metro; Roads & Infrastructure Australia; Infrastructure Magazine