Train travel between Sydney and Gosford on the central coast will be reduced to 25 minutes on a fast rail link between the two cities, with funding from the NSW and Commonwealth governments.
Key points:
- $ 1 billion in state and federal government funding now promised for Gosford to Sydney express train
- NSW says its promise is conditional on the Commonwealth fulfilling its election campaign promise
- A university campus in Gosford also promised an investment of $ 18 million
NSW Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet announced today that $ 500 million for a rapid train upgrade on the Sydney-Central Coast train line would be part of this month’s state budget.
The pledge is conditional on the new federal government’s $ 500 million election campaign promise in its first budget for the acquisition of the corridor, planning and early construction of the Newcastle-Sydney express railway.
Perrottet said the $ 1 billion total investment from the federal and state governments would make the upgrade a reality, and travelers would eventually see significant reductions in travel time.
“Once this is a reality, we will see travel time between Sydney and Newcastle [reduced] two and a half hours to an hour, Sydney to Gosford in 25 minutes, then Sydney to Wollongong in 45 minutes, ”he said.
“Today’s half a million dollars will make that vision a reality.”
Construction would include two new electrified railroad tracks between southern Tuggerah and northern Wyatt. (ABC: Justine Kearney)
Central Coast Parliamentary Secretary Adam Crouch also announced funding for a new University of Newcastle campus to be built in Gosford.
“This is a very historic day for our region: half a billion dollars on our rail network and an additional $ 18 million to offer a Newcastle University campus right here in Gosford,” Crouch said.
NSW funding for the Gosford University campus also coincides with the Commonwealth investment.
Perrottet said the railroad improvements were an essential step in bringing the vision of six cities under his government, improving accessibility among the state’s major centers.
“Big cities can’t be built without building a major transportation infrastructure, and … that $ 1 billion from the state and federal government will lay those groundwork and establish more investment as we move forward,” he said.
The proposed high-speed rail link would help improve accessibility between major centers in the state. (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)
Funding will begin construction on the first stage of the North Corridor, which includes two new electrified railroad tracks between South Tuggerah and North Wyatt, new platforms and station improvements at Wyong and Tuggerah, and new bridges.
Sydney Committee CEO Gabriel Metcalf said the combined government funding would help deliver a “transformative” high-speed rail project.
“Getting from Gosford to the city in 25 minutes and Newcastle in less than an hour will be a game changer for travelers, students and many more,” he said.
“It will reform the geography of our city.
“Better connections across this region, south to Wollongong, north to the central coast and Newcastle, and linking west Sydney, means we will effectively work as a larger, more gravitational global city. economic “.
Posted 59 minutes ago 59 minutes ago, Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 3:41 AM, updated 53 minutes ago, 53 minutes ago, Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 3:46 AM