Australian infrastructure bosses have set out a 20-year plan which includes 70 key projects to improve transport links in New South Wales.
Australasian Railway Association (ARA) CEO Bryan Nye has welcomed Infrastructure NSW’s State Infrastructure Strategy 2012-2032 for acknowledging the significant role of passenger rail and the need to preserve a rail corridor for the Western Sydney Freight Line, but criticised the strategy’s focus on roads to alleviate Sydney’s congestion problems.
Mr Nye said: “Buses and cars are already creating car parks on Sydney roads and without a different, planned approach, the city’s congestion will continue to worsen.
“Building new roads and in particular the West Connex motorway project will not ease the challenges caused by population growth and the ever increasing freight volumes.
“Rail can help ease congestion and it should be playing a larger role; one passenger train removes 525 cars from our roads, while the average freight train removes 110 trucks.”
The plan also recommends building a Rapid Bus Transit tunnel under Sydney instead of a light rail network.
“Light Rail along key routes will take cars off Sydney roads, reduce congestion and decrease travel time for all involved,” added Mr Nye.
“I agree Sydney needs an integrated transport system but underground rapid bus tunnels are not the solution.
“If an underground transport network is proposed we should be looking at other cities around the world and introducing an underground rail system.”
