Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance and NSW Premier Mike Baird announced the $10 billion public transport project at Sydney Olympic Park. Picture: Stephen Cooper
NSW Premier Mike Baird has unveiled plans for a new $10 billion rail line for Sydney.
Mr Baird and Transport Minister Andrew Constance announced the Parramatta to Sydney CBD rail line at Sydney Olympic Park on Monday morning.
The new rail line will link the two major business hubs with Sydney Olympic Park and the Bays Precinct, and ease pressure on the city’s western line. It will have a capacity of 40,000 passengers an hour in each direction.
Construction on the largely underground line is expected to begin within the next five years and should be up and running between 2025 and 2029.
Mr Baird said the new line would “transform” the city.
“A metro line in western Sydney will effectively double rail capacity between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD, transforming the way we get around our city forever,” he said in a statement.
The Premier said the Sydney West Metro would be at the centre of Sydney’s “unrivalled public transport boom”.
NSW Premier Mike Baird said the new rail line would transform Sydney’s two major business hubs. Picture: Stephen CooperSource:News Corp Australia
Planning Minister Andrew Constance said the new line would be “turn-up-and-go system”, and passengers could do away with timetables, unlike on current infrequent services.
“Customers won’t need a timetable on this 21st century turn-up-and-go system, which will deliver new capacity and more services for generations to come,” he said.
“This new rail line will be able to move about 40,000 people an hour in each direction, delivering a massive boost to public transport.
“It will also mean faster and more frequent services will be able to be delivered on the Sydney Trains network from other major centres like Penrith and Blacktown.”
The government said it would determine the number and location of stations along the route “through consultation with industry and the community”.
GAME changer for event goers @ANZStadium w @mikebairdMP announcing $10b Sydney Metro West rail line CBD to Parramatta via @olympicpark_syd. pic.twitter.com/c4JKj6Xcey
— ANZ Stadium (@ANZStadium) November 13, 2016
The announcement has been well received by the business community.
A tweet from ANZ Stadium said the Metro West rail line would be a “game changer” for event goers”.
Director of the Western Sydney Business Chamber David Borger said there was “zero downside” to the project.
Mr Borger said the congestion-relieving rail line would also help to cement Parramatta’s position as a second CBD.
The rail line is also being flagged for possible expansion to Badgerys Creek, where Sydney’s second airport will be constructed, and to Malabar in Sydney’s east.
The project is expected to be funded from the state government’s $16 billion Ausgrid sale, as well as private investment.
But Opposition planning spokesman Michael Daley has criticised the announcements timing, and the fact that it has come in light on details.
The weekend’s by-election in Orange was devastating for the government. Picture: Jonathan NgSource:News Corp Australia
The deputy Labor leader labelled the announcement a diversion tactic, designed to draw attention from the weekend’s devastating by-election for the NSW nationals in Orange.
The final numbers are not yet in, but the Nationals suffered a swing of more than 30 per cent against them, indicating the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party are positioned to take the once safe seat.
“The Government has rushed this announcement undercooked because they’re desperate to talk about anything other than what happened in Orange on Saturday,” Mr Daley told ABC.
“There are no details, no design, no dollars attached. If they’re going to spend this sort of money on a project like this, they should do the full analysis, including on what better options there might be — none of that work’s been done.”
During this morning’s press conference, Mr Baird did address the by-election, saying he takes “full accountability” for the result.
“It’s a terrible result, that’s the truth of it,” he said.
“The community there has sent a very loud message and it’s something that we need to consider over coming weeks, no doubt about it.”
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