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NSW fast rail: Liberals pledge $80m to realign track between Woy Woy and Sydney

Another step towards fast rail? NSW Liberals commit to developing new rail alignment between Woy Woy and Northern Sydney designed to shave travel time.

RAW: British rail expert explains approach to Sydney fast rail assessment

NSW Liberals have committed $80 million to develop a new rail alignment between Woy Woy and Northern Sydney designed to shave travel time.

The pledge would be “the first step” towards a fast rail network designed to streamline travel between the Central Coast to Sydney and deliver travel times less than an hour.

The announcement forms part of a $295 million commitment that is assessing fast rail opportunities across the state.

Terrigal State Liberal MP Adam Crouch said the $80 million “put in place the building blocks for the fast rail that will give people greater choice about where they live and how they commute to work”.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announcing a fast rail plan in December 2018. Picture: Dean Lewins
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announcing a fast rail plan in December 2018. Picture: Dean Lewins

The investment will also investigate potential tunnelling options to support high speed trains to between the coast and Sydney.

The NSW Liberals reaffirmed a commitment to start construction of a fast rail network in the next term of government.

Transport minister Andrew Constance said the $295 million package was a “down payment on the future”.

“Last year we appointed High Speed Rail expert Professor Andrew McNaughton to confirm the most appropriate routes, train speeds and station locations and now we are taking the next steps to make fast rail a reality,” Mr Constance said.

Professor Andrew McNaughton is working behind the scenes on the NSW Liberals high speed rail plan. Picture: John Grainger
Professor Andrew McNaughton is working behind the scenes on the NSW Liberals high speed rail plan. Picture: John Grainger

“We are committed to getting the early work done, so that we can move ahead in delivering a truly revolutionary rail system to connect NSW.”

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told the Express Advocate in January that the fast rail commitment was a reality.

In December, Ms Berejiklian announced that $4.6 million would be spent planning a high-speed train network with routes from Newcastle to Sydney, Goulburn to Canberra, Lithgow to Parkes and Wollongong to Sydney.

An artist’s impression of a fast train at Gosford station.
An artist’s impression of a fast train at Gosford station.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/nsw-fast-rail-liberals-pledge-80m-to-realign-track-between-woy-woy-and-sydney/news-story/b6df81d0c348a279c95c4c490817e3ca