A 15-minute train service from Parramatta to Sydney CBD is needed, according to a new report

AN economic and infrastructure blueprint for western Sydney has recommended a 15-minute express train service be established from Parramatta to Sydney CBD.

Parramatta needs a fast train service to Sydney CBD, a new report says.

• Light rail for Parramatta on track
• Museum location bid for western Sydney

A FAST train could easily transport people from western Sydney to the city in 15 minutes and is a major recommendation to come out of an economic and infrastructure blueprint for the west.

The report, put together by Deloitte, includes transport recommendations such as the fast train service between Parramatta and Sydney CBD, as well as a 30-minute express service from Sydney to Penrith and Liverpool CBDs, along with Rouse Hill town centre.

The report says commitments to these upgrades to be achieved within five years time.

Report co-author Theo Psychogios said the express train could be a bullet train or just a faster service.

“It could be within the existing western line, you would be able to run a fast service through that, which just requires timetable and signalling changes,” Mr Psychogios said.

“It could be an express train with limited stops. The challenge is avoiding the slow down that occurs between the 14 stations it passes through to get to the city. You could do it with the current technology,” he said.

Mr Psychogios said the aim of the recommendations was to create a “24-hour economy”.

“If we get the new Parramatta Stadium, the new Powerhouse, the new Olympic Stadium and the light rail — you are building for people to commute quickly to access the area. It’s about maintaining growth in Parramatta,” he said.

Parramatta needs a fast train service to Sydney CBD, a new report says.

“We need to continue the push west and keep attracting workers in those areas. The government, they have been comfortable with the aspiration that we are trying to do.

“They recognise how important it is to make connectivity between Sydney CBD and Parramatta.”

Another item included in the report was the proposed Western Sydney Orbit Rail (WSOR), which was described as a “game-changer” for western Sydney. The WSOR corridor would link the north west and south west rail links via St Marys and the new airport at Badgerys Creek.

“The WSOR would also provide for the first time, reliable public transport access for some of Australia’s most disadvantaged suburbs. The centrepiece of this new orbital rail system would be Sydney’s new Central Station, located at Parramatta,” the report said.

“(These recommendations) will make Parramatta CBD a more attractive place to work and play. “It’s all well and good to make infrastructure and social amenity in there, but if we have people from western Sydney commuting to the city for two hours and back, they want to get home and rest, they don’t want to go out, so the minute we can create the connectivity the more people will enjoy what’s in their backyard. It will also open up Parramatta to others, and broaden their horizons. A lot of people think at the moment getting to Parramatta is a chore,” Mr Psychogios said.

A NSW Transport spokesman said the State Government was rolling out a major package of improvements that would deliver more express services and extra trains across the Sydney rail network.

“We’re investing $1 billion to get more out of the train network and respond to growing patronage, like those customers on the T1 western line. This program will see upgrades to infrastructure, signalling and fleet that maximise the existing capacity of our network and deliver service improvements like more peak express trains between the Parramatta and Sydney CBDs,” the spokesman said.

“Combined with Sydney Metro City and Southwest these improvements will unblock major bottlenecks in the city and provide up to 60 per cent more trains through the Sydney CBD. That’s an extra 100,000 people an hour during the peak,” he said.