Budget 2022: $1bn for Newcastle to Sydney fast rail

A new rail line, which will be built to dramatically speed up travel times between Newcastle and Sydney, is expected to support more than 4500 jobs.

A dedicated new $1 billion passenger rail line will be built to dramatically speed up travel times on the critical commute between Newcastle and Sydney as part of a major infrastructure investment in NSW.

The 2022-23 Budget will include funding for 10km of new electrified track, rail bridges and stations between south Tuggerah and Wyong, allowing express passenger services to bypass the slower main line and pave the way for a future faster trains.

The state government will match the Commonwealth funding for the rail project, which in addition to improving the reliability of passenger and freight services, is expected support about 4,560 direct and indirect jobs.

In total the federal government will unveil $3.3bn for mostly new road and transport projects across NSW as part of a $17.9bn pre-election infrastructure cash splash nationally.

A $336m Pacific Highway upgrade on the Central Coast at Wyong, $2264 for the Newell Highway at north Moree, a business case for the Sydney Metro Stage 2 at the Western Sydney Airport and Hawkesbury-Nepean Flood Evacuation Road Resilience Planning are among the NSW projects.

Existing trains will be able to travel faster with fewer stops with a new 10km track between Tuggerah and Wyong. Picture: Monique Harmer

The government has also allocated $232.5m for Mulgoa Road Stage 2 upgrade, $100m for the Southern Connector Road, Jindabyne and $95.6m for planning of the Picton Bypass.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the record infrastructure investment would keep Australians moving and support thousands of local jobs across the country.

“By investing in these projects we are delivering the infrastructure that the Australian economy needs to grow, to get Australians home sooner and safer, and generate thousands of jobs and new opportunities for small businesses right across the state,” he said.

Mr Morrison said the infrastructure package would support more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison joins the Attorney-General, Minister Ben Morton, and local Federal Member Ms Celia Hammond in Western Australia ahead of the budget being handed down on Tuesday. Picture: Adam Taylor

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the infrastructure package will support 10,000 direct and indirect jobs. Picture: Adam Taylor

Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Minister Barnaby Joyce said the road projects would help strengthen the economy.

“Getting more commodities to ports and sending them overseas will generate more export income, making our nation wealthier and stronger. Better roads and infrastructure will enable that,” he said.

Faster trains connecting regional centres is a major priority for the Coalition this budget. Picture: James D. Morgan/Getty Images

Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher said boosting the rail capacity between Tuggerah and Wyong would contribute towards “faster, more frequent and more reliable services between Sydney and Newcastle,” which is currently the busiest regional passenger rail corridor in Australia.

Labor has committed $500 million as a “down payment” in its first budget, if elected, to start corridor acquisition, planning and early works for fast rail between Newcastle and Sydney.

“With the population of the Hunter Valley and Central Coast forecast grow by close to 200,000 people by 2040, Labor knows that planning for our medium to long term future requires vision, dedication and a commitment to work cooperatively with the states and territories,” Labor leader Anthony Albanese said in January.