The New South Wales (NSW) Government will spend $4.1 billion building Sydney’s North West Rail Link over the next four years, ministers have revealed.
Setting out planned infrastructure spending costs, the NSW Government revealed that it would also be setting aside funding for the South West Rail Link and the Inner West Light Rail Extension.
Ministers also confirmed that they expect to have spent $8.3 billion by the time rail link opens in 2019, with the first tunnel boring machine to be lowered into the ground next year.
Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian said: “We originally estimated the project would cost between $7.5 billion and $8.5 billion plus rolling stock – and as we’ve moved down the contract path we can confirm the project cost will be $8.3 billion including Sydney’s new generation of single-deck trains.
“Over the next year, the NSW Government’s massive infrastructure investment on the North West Rail Link includes awarding the tunnelling contract and buying and delivering the tunnel boring machines which will build Australia’s longest rail tunnels – 15km of twin tunnels between Epping and Bella Vista.”
The latest budget also includes $67 million to complete to complete the Inner West Light Rail Extension and $423 million for a planned light rail line through Sydney’s CBD.
Australasian Railway Association (ARA) chief executive Bryan Nye said: “During the one hour peak of morning travel around 100,000 people are transported by train in Sydney. This extra funding partnered with the introduction of innovative technology, such as driverless trains, will increase productivity and efficiency on Sydney’s rail network allowing for the city’s 100,000+ morning commuters to travel to work quickly, easily and safely.”
