NSW rail benefits from Federal Budget

The Federal Government has made a major commitment to transport infrastructure to benefit passenger and freight rail in its 2011-2012 Budget.

In NSW, new funding allocated in the Budget will be used to:

– undertake the Scone Level Crossing Study

– improve the freight rail network through Sydney’s northern suburbs to Newcastle (federal contribution: $840 million)

– resleeper the 691 km line between Broken Hill and Parkes (federal contribution: $253 million)

– realign tracks and reduce the severity of curves between the Newcastle and Queensland border (federal contribution: $170 million).

The RTBU has welcomed the Federal Government’s focus on rail infrastructure, particularly in the light of the forecast doubling of freight movements across Australia within the next 20 years.

This is an important investment in an industry that will see strong jobs growth for RTBU members into the future.