Extra services to Sydney’s south west will kick in later this year as part of the state government’s $1.5 billion rail capacity program, Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said.
The ‘More Trains, More Services’ initiative was announced last year.
Under the program, the NSW Government made a three-year commitment for a number of measures to boost rail capacity across the Sydney Trains network.
Berejiklian on February 27 announced the following initiatives would be underway by the end of 2017:
- An extra 20 express trains per week will operate in peak hour for Campbelltown and Macarthur customers to the Sydney CBD, via the T2 Airport Line
- Train services every 6 minutes on average, with 10 express trains an hour in the busiest periods
- A new direct link from Leppington to Parramatta and Blacktown
- The addition of late night and weekend services on the T5 Cumberland Line
The premier noted that during the morning peak, 80% of customers travelling between Campbelltown and Macquarie Fields are heading to the CBD, on packed trains.
“Peak hour trains out of Campbelltown are struggling with demand,” she said.
“So we’re simplifying the network to add the 20 extra weekly peak hour services to boost capacity.”
Minister for transport and infrastructure Andrew Constance said the introduction of a direct link from Leppington to Parramatta and Blacktown would boost peak hour services from 4 to 10 on the South West Rail Link.
He said customer growth is forecast to rise 21% across the network in the next five years.
“What we’re announcing today is vital to cater for that major growth, connecting people with jobs and new housing,” Constance said.
“Regions to the west of Sydney are rapidly expanding, with new roads and an airport all under development or on the way.”