The NSW Government will deliver a record investment into regional roads and transport in 2022-23, with the commitment totalling $10.6 billion.
Regional Transport and Roads minister Sam Farraway said the NSW Government was securing a brighter future for families by building what matters to make daily life better.
“More than ever before, this year’s Budget is about investing in projects that better connect regional communities for generations to come,” he said.
“Our investment in rail infrastructure will replace the current XPT fleet with a modern one, and our commitment to fast rail that will transform the way we travel through the Central West.
“Regional NSW has been challenged by natural disasters and the pandemic, so I know that our transport planning and delivery needs to be agile and adaptable to better respond to changes in commuter needs and travel patterns.
“We are focused on building back better so our communities can build their way forward. This commitment is highlighted by our $156.3 million commitment, matched by the Commonwealth Government, to strengthen long-term resilience and connections for regional communities with a priority on supporting those on the NSW North Coast.”
This year’s NSW State Budget will deliver a record $39.8 billion in funding for transport infrastructure and service delivery in 2022-23. This investment will help continue to deliver certainty, create jobs and minimise the impacts of COVID-19 on the State’s economy.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, critical construction and maintenance work across the NSW roads and transport networks, including projects in regional and rural areas, ensured more than 130,000 people directly or indirectly were kept in a job.
Funding commitments to regional transport in this year’s Budget includes:
- $399.1 million to deliver a modern new Regional Rail Fleet to replace the XPT, XPLORER and Endeavour trains, which will be maintained at a new purpose-built facility in Dubbo
- $95 million to continue detailed planning and start early work on the Fast Rail network, to deliver fast, frequent and reliable connections between Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle in collaboration with the Commonwealth Government
- $42.5 million for the Fixing Country Rail Program to provide improved capacity, access, efficiency and reliability of the regional rail network and to improve movement of freight in and out of regional areas