Shoalhaven Council’s plan urging state government to fix Bomaderry railway

An outdated south coast train line will be at the forefront of an upcoming council meeting with discussions around bringing it to the “21st century”.

Shoalhaven Council will discuss writing a letter to NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen about upgrading the Bomaderry to Kiama train line. Picture: Van Mal Group Construction.

An outdated and – at times – unreliable south coast train line in dire need of upgrades is set to be discussed by a regional council, who will determine whether the topic of bringing the railway to the “21st century” will be brought to the state government.

The train line between Bomaderry and Kiama outside Nowra sees a singular diesel train travel between the towns once an hour on a singular track, taking upwards of 25 minutes per trip.

Shoalhaven Council are set to discuss the condition of the railway at a meeting on Monday, with a motion written and to be presented by Councillor Matthew Norris.

Mr Norris’ motion requests the “urgent prioritisation of the duplication and electrification of the railway” and will lead to a vote from council as to whether a letter requesting such upgrades is presented to NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen.

Mr Norris said the proposed upgrades arose due to the tough decision for many south coast residents heading to Sydney – do they drive and risk congested highway traffic, or do they wait an hour at Bomaderry Station to ride an extremely outdated diesel train before transferring onto a modern train at Kiama.

Shoalhaven Councillor Matthew Norris. Picture: Shoalhaven Council.

“This dearth of reliable transportation options pushes people toward the highway, despite its headaches of traffic jams and bottlenecks,” Mr Norris said in council papers.

“And with new urban release areas like those along Moss Vale Rd and Nowra coming online, the strain on our roads is only set to worsen.”

Bomaderry's outdated diesel train. Picture: Van Mal Group Construction.

Mr Norris said it was time for the railway to be upgraded and join the likes of train lines from Kiama into Sydney and surrounds.

“We envision a modernised railway system, complete with double-deck electric trains, equipped with CCTV and informative passenger displays,” he said.

“Increasing the frequency of services is essential to meet the diverse transportation needs of our growing Kiama, south coast and Shoalhaven communities.”

Part of the proposed letter for Ms Haylen will note the increased danger for young schoolchildren using the train line – particularly in the evening – travelling home, due to its age, increased possibility of a break down and lack of security cameras.

NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen. Picture: File.

“We must ensure that everyone has access to reliable transportation options that facilitate connectivity, accessibility, and economic opportunities,” Mr Norris said.

“It’s about aligning our transportation networks with the demands of the 21st century.”

Ms Haylen told The South Coast News she welcomed all conversations on improving railway services around the state, however major upgrades had financial burdens.

“Unfortunately, the Government inherited the largest debt in our state’s history, with the state on track for a record $187.5 billion in debt and a $7 billion black hole of unfunded programs,” she said.

“These budget conditions limit the number of capital investments our government can undertake in the immediate term.”

Ms Haylen however noted the recent upgrades completed on the Bomaderry to Kiama railway after bad weather damaged the tracks.

“Last month, Sydney Trains invested $600,000 to restore services on the Kiama to Bomaderry line following extreme weather,” she said.

“A further $1.5m will be spent in the coming months to improve resilience of the tracks, ensuring a consistent and reliable service.”

Shoalhaven Council will vote on Monday whether the letter is sent to Ms Haylen, as well as South Coast MP Liza Butler and Kiama MP Gareth Ward.

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