Western Sydney desperately needs heavy rail

According to news reports today, a whopping 75 per cent of western Sydney residents don’t live within walking distance of a train station. That’s around 1.3 million residents.

The numbers highlight the huge need for more rail investment in Western Sydney, especially with the Badgery’s Creek airport plans looming.

Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils chief executive Charles Casusceli told the media: “There has never been a better time to invest in rail. The Budget is in surplus, interest rates are at an all-time low, and investor interest in the west is high.”

At the Loco Division we agree that we desperately need more high-quality, well-planned investment in heavy rail for Western Sydney – lines which integrate and expand the existing network.

Unfortunately, the NSW Government does not have a good track record when it comes to looking at the big picture and getting the best transport outcomes for our community. Instead of creating jobs in regional NSW, the State Government outsourced the manufacturing of the NIF to South Korea. And instead of putting safety first, it’s pushing for guards to be removed on inter-city trains and for driverless trains on the new metro link.

You can have your say on Western Sydney’s rail needs by making a submission via westernsydneyrail.transport.nsw.gov.au/have-your-say