NSW Government commits $500m towards Fast Rail development

Through the 2022-23 State Budget, the New South Wales Government is committing $500 million towards the delivery of faster rail as well as quicker and more reliable connections between Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle. 

According to Premier Dominic Perrottet, the State Government’s vision for Fast Rail will help reduce travel times between Sydney and Newcastle to just an hour; between Sydney and Gosford to only 25 minutes; and from Sydney to Wollongong in only 45 minutes. 

“We’re committed to a rail network that helps shape our State’s growth for the next century, starting with improvements to cut delays and lay the foundation for making faster travel times a reality. 

“This investment will improve reliability and increase capacity in the rail network helping deliver better services closer to home for the people on the Central Coast as we plan a brighter future for the people across the State,” the Premier said. 

The new half-a-billion-dollar funding will jump start works on the first stage of the Northern Corridor of the Fast Rail development. Subject to the agreement with the new Federal Government, this stage of the project will include: 

• Building two new electrified rail tracks between Tuggerah and Wyong 
• New platforms and station upgrades 
• New bridges including over Wyong River 
• Safeguarding future fast rail connections to the north and south 

“We’re committing $500 million towards early works, planning and further development of the line that will initially minimise delays and eventually allow high speed travel and drastically cut travel times. 

“This will create tens of thousands of jobs and significantly boost the economy,” Treasurer Matt Kean said. 

Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes said that the works will help improve connections as part of the Government’s six cities vision. 

“Infrastructure creates opportunity. Faster and better connections between our great cities will improve reliability, improve travel times and ultimately improve quality of life for the many across our state. 

“These infrastructure improvements have enormous productivity benefits for the whole community and pave the way for further investment down the track,” Minister Stokes said. 

The new funding commitment from the New South Wales Government for rail improvements on the Central Coast builds on the significant investment from the Federal Government towards this region. 

The $500 million funding from the State Government is conditional on the matched funding from the Commonwealth Government that was announced before the federal election. 

“This investment will help improve the capacity and reliability of the intercity network, and will make journeys to and from our region faster and easier for Central Coast commuters. 

“This is in addition to the $300 million investment in the state-of-the-art rail maintenance yard in Kangy Angy, which has helped create over 90 full time jobs for Central Coast locals,” Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Adam Crouch said. 

Site investigations for the Fast Rail development are due to commence before the end of this year. 

Four potential routes have been identified as the starting points for investigation. This includes: 

• Northern Corridor – Central Coast, Newcastle, Taree and Port Macquarie 
• Western Corridor – Lithgow, Bathurst and Orange / Parkes 
• Southern Inland Corridor – Goulburn and Canberra 
• Southern Coastal Corridor – Wollongong and Nowra 

Source: NSW Government – Media Releases; Transport for NSW; NSW Government – Projects; Sky News; ABC News