Construction of Sydney Metro West railway fast-tracked
Construction of the Sydney Metro West railway has been fast-tracked to begin next year with the aim of opening by 2028. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said once operational the underground metro line will take just 20 minutes to travel from Parramatta to the city.
Construction of the Sydney Metro West railway has been fast-tracked to begin next year with the aim of opening by 2028.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said once operational the underground metro line will take just 20 minutes to travel from Parramatta to the city.
The line will include stations at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays Precinct and the City. The government is also looking into building additional stations at Rydalmere and Pyrmont.
Ms Berejiklian said her government will provide $6.4 billion over the next four years to fund the planning of the project and the necessary property acquisitions for the train station sites.
She was tight lipped on the final overall cost of the project.
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“We always said we would build Metro West as fast as possible and today’s announcement shows we mean business,” she said.
“Metro West will more than double the existing rail capacity between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD.
“This crucial project will reduce the journey between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD to around 20 minutes, with trains running every two minutes,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said construction would begin next year, and take around eight years to complete. He said the final schedule for the project will be confirmed on completion of the final business case.
“We already have runs on the board. Metro North West will open in May and construction is underway on Sydney Metro City and South West,” Mr Constance said.
The election sweetener from the Liberal/Nationals government comes one month after Labor leader Michael Daley pledged $8 billion towards fast tracking the Metro West project if he gets elected on March 23.
“Trains are running late, the system can’t cope with increased demand and the public can no longer rely on government to deliver a basic service,” he said in February.
“The Liberals are struggling to deliver transport today, let alone transport for tomorrow.”
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