TRANSFORMING NSW: SOUTH WEST RAIL LINK TAKES SHAPE

NSW Premier Mike Baird and Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian today announced major construction has been completed at two brand new stations on Sydney’s South West Rail Link – a project which is one year ahead of schedule and $100 million under budget.

Mr Baird, Ms Berejiklian and local MPs visited the site of the new Leppington Station, which along with Edmondson Park, is one of two new stations along the 11.4km South West Rail Link.

“A key priority of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is delivering infrastructure that will transform NSW,” Mr Baird said.

“The South West Rail Link is being delivered at a rapid pace, with services set to start for customers next year – 12 months ahead of schedule and $100 million under the $2.1 billion budget.

“This site was just grass paddocks three years ago, and now you can see major construction of two modern and accessible stations has been completed and track has been laid for the length of the new rail line, from Glenfield to Rossmore.

“This rail line was promised by NSW Labor, then axed, then re-announced – but it never laid a centimetre of track for this vital project.

“The South West Rail Link will provide rail services to one of Sydney’s fastest growing areas and means a huge economic boost for the region. The South West Rail Link has created about 3,000 jobs each year in construction alone.

“The South West Rail Link is just one of the transformational projects being delivered in NSW, including the North West Rail Link, WestConnex, NorthConnex, the CBD and South East Light Rail and Bridges for the Bush.”

Ms Berejiklian said when the new rail line opens next year, people in Sydney’s South West will be able catch regular train services from two new modern, safe and accessible stations at Leppington and Edmondson Park.

“The new stations will include about 1,250 new commuter car parking spaces for customers, lift access, shade and shelter on the platforms and overhead concourse, bicycle racks, kiss and ride drop off facilities, bus shelters and interchanges,” she said.

“To ensure the safety of our customers, we have installed CCTV surveillance linked to a central monitoring network, as well as security and safety lighting in the car parks and stations.”

The NSW Government’s priority is to make the new line available and ready for its first customers as soon as possible.

The new track has been laid, 95 per cent of train signals are in place and 80 per cent of overhead wiring has been installed. The focus now is on completing the installation of rail and communications systems, testing the new infrastructure and training staff.

Work is also underway to ensure the smooth integration of services into the existing Sydney Trains network and important links to other public transport services.

“The South West Rail Link is a catalyst for economic development in this region, bringing more local jobs and linking the area to the CBD and other major employment centres,” Ms Berejiklian said.

The South West Growth Centre will be home to about 300,000 new residents over the next few decades – a population around the size of Canberra.

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government committed to ensuring this essential infrastructure was in place, and we are delivering.”