Electrification of the Bomaderry rail line would simply be too expensive according to Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Speaking in Nowra on Monday the minister said “at this stage it would simply be too expensive.”
“What we want to do is invest in more services - run more trains.
“We’re a government that has delivered an extra 180 weekly services on the line to Sydney since we came to office, so we will continue to invest in more services.
“Ultimately we are investing in new trains, the Intercity Fleet Train, a $2.3 billion new train servicing people of the Illawarra to Sydney, providing disabled access and disabled toilets on board. All the mod cons like being Wi-Fi accessible and access to charge points.
“We are trying to develop a modern train for the region and get people off the road onto trains.”
He said the fact a train trip from Bomaderry to Sydney in 2017 was slower than back in the time of steam trains was because Sydney had grown at such a pace it affected the ability to get inter city trains into the heart of Sydney quickly.
“I just wish our founding fathers had built the rail line all the way to the Victorian border but that didn’t happen so we have to continue to invests in bus services,” he said.
He dismissed claims the diesel line from Kiama to Bomaderry would be phased out.
“Absolute rubbish,” he said ” we’re going to continue train services from Bombo through to Bomaderry. We have put in place a bus service so there is better connections with the electrified lines.
“Hundreds of people are using that service every week, which is a good thing but people still catch the train too.
“I’m pleased we’ve got great passenger rail in this state.”