Public transport growth surges past NSW government predictions

Reports today that show that growth of NSW’s public transport network is “hurtling past long-term government predictions” is yet another clear sign the NSW Government needs to be investing more into the heavy rail network.

RTBU Loco Division Secretary, Bob Hayden, said that investing in and expanding the state’s heavy rail network – the network with the most capacity to move large numbers of passengers quickly and efficiently – should be a priority of the Berejiklian Government, whose track record of poor planning when it comes to transport projects is crippling our transport networks.

“The lack of foresight from this government is disturbing. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out that public transport demand is outweighing supply at a rate of knots, and these figures today just prove that.

“Of course any investment in public transport is good, but this government really should be thinking ahead and investing in long-term projects that are going to meet the needs of our growing populations – not just looking for the latest, shiny new toy.”

The Sydney Morning Herald today reports that a report used by the NSW government as the “framework” for investing tens of billions in transport projects over the coming decades predicted rail growth would increase by 26 per cent between 2011 and 2031.

However, the rail network reached and then exceeded that predicted figure by 2017, more than a decade early.

Click here to see the full story from the Sydney Morning Herald.