The NSW government has revealed that it will use part of the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund to build a faster rail link from Sydney to Canberra and other “transformational” transport projects.
Deputy premier and minister for regional NSW John Barilaro said that the some of the fund would be used to improve rail safety and speed by upgrading existing regional rail lines.
One project Barilaro identified was the future development of new corridor for a “very fast train” between Canberra and Sydney.
Barilaro said that the current service, which takes four and a half hours, could be dramatically improved upon.
“Part of the big problem is the alignment of the rail lines, the tracks themselves need realignment, straightening and new technology,” Barlaro was quoted as saying by the ABC.
“We have an opportunity to invest now in the infrastructure.”
The $4.2 billion fund was established following the federal government’s purchase of state’s share of the Snowy Hydro Scheme.
Barilaro said that other rail projects would potentially receive investment to improve the speed of travel between the state’s regional and metropolitan areas.
“We want to identify where we can invest in faster rail,” Barilaro told 2GB radio.
“Long term, it’s got to be the VFT [Very Fast Train].
“It’s not just the Canberra-Sydney corridor – it’s getting up to the Central West, it’s getting up to Newcastle. And we’ve got an opportunity to do it.”
Earlier this year, the NSW Labor Opposition promised to fund a business case into a faster rail link between Sydney and Canberra if it won government. Opposition leader Luke Foley made the pitch in Monaro, the marginal seat held by Barilaro, in August.