For rail, the 2015-16 budget includes $A 977m towards delivering the Sydney Metro Northwest project, with the fully-automated line due to open in the first half of 2019.
$A 120m has been allocated towards the continuing CBD and South East light rail projects in Sydney, plus $A 19m to advance planning for the Western Sydney light rail line radiating from Parramatta.
The NSW government has allocated $A 316m to improve access to the public transport network, $A 99m million to commence procurement of new inter-city trains, and $A 99m to continue implementing the Opal card integrated electronic ticketing system.
Mr Phil Allan, acting COO of the Australasian Railway Association (ARA), says ARA is pleased to see the New South Wales government's continuing investment in the regional passenger and freight rail network with $A 104.8m allocated this financial year to upgrade regional branch lines and develop rail supply chains for the state's primary industries, such as agriculture and mining.
"With the billions from the electricity transactions assured, we will accelerate almost $A 600m of funding for infrastructure so we can get started and deliver these major projects as soon as possible," says Ms Gladys Berejiklian, the NSW government's treasurer. "We are now very well placed to deliver Rebuilding NSW, a $A 20bn boost to infrastructure that will change this state for generations to come."
