$500 MILLION TO DEVELOP FASTER RAIL FOR NSW

The New South Wales Government has committed $500 million to help build fast rail connections between Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle.

The funding will go to the first stage of the Northern Corridor, helping build two new electrified rail tracks between Tuggerah and Wyong, new platforms and station upgrades, new bridges including over the Wyong River and safeguarding future fast rail connections to the north and south, subject to agreement with the new Federal Government.

The New South Wales Government commitment is conditional on $500 million in matched funding from the Federal Government that was announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prior to the federal election.

New South Wales Premier, Dominic Perrottet, said the State Government’s Fast Rail vision could slash travel times between Sydney and Newcastle to one hour, Sydney and Gosford to 25 minutes and Sydney to Wollongong in just 45 minutes.

“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,” Mr Perrottet said.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said the New South Wales Government’s commitment for rail improvements on the Central Coast builds on a Federal Government commitment to this part of the state.

“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,” Mr Crouch said.

Site investigations as part of the project are scheduled to commence before the end of 2022.