NSW Government commit to fast-track construction of Sydney Metro West with $6.4b injection
It was a major promise of the March State Elections and now the NSW Budget has committed to fast-tracking the Sydney Metro West.
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It was a major promise of the March State Elections and now the NSW Budget has committed to fast-tracking the Sydney Metro West.
Construction of the multimillion-dollar Sydney Metro West project, which is set to connect Greater Parramatta to the Sydney CBD, will be fast-tracked to start next year following a $6.4 billion budget injection.
NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance revealed the funding, which will be rolled out over four years as a promise to accelerate construction of the Sydney Metro network.
Mr Constance said the NSW Government were committed to building Sydney Metro West “as fast as possible”.
“This commitment in the State Budget shows that when we commit to doing something, we mean business,” Mr Constance said. “We have worked our guts out to get the budget in a strong position and now we are able to deliver crucial rail projects like Metro West quicker than anyone thought was possible.”
The driverless transport network, which will also include stations at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays Precinct and Pyrmont, promises to slash travel times between Parramatta and Sydney to 20 minutes and double existing rail capacity.
“We already have the runs on the board, we’ve opened North West Metro with phenomenal results and construction is well underway on Sydney Metro City and Southwest,” Mr Constance said.
The Transport Minister said the final schedule for construction of the multibillion-dollar project will be confirmed on completion of the final business case.
A total of $3 billion was already reserved in last year’s budget.
It is understood NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottett is negotiating $3 billion Federal Budget injection.
Mr Perrottett said the Sydney Metro West services were scheduled to start in the second half of the next decade.
“Sydney Metro West will be a game-changer for Western Sydney, doubling rail capacity
through an underground metro railway line and providing a faster, easier and more reliable
journey between Sydney CBD and Greater Parramatta - through Olympic Park and the
Bays Precinct - with a journey time of around 20 minutes,” he said.
More than $90 million has already been spent on the planning of the Sydney Metro west project, with $56 million allocated in 2019/20.
The $6.4 billion Sydney Metro West commitment is part of a $93 billion budget spend announced on Tuesday.
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