Good news for Sydney’s Traffic

Following the signing of a historic intergovernmental agreement, work will start in February on the next stage in the modernisation of the Interstate Rail Network, a $1.1 billion project which will speed up the movement of trains through Sydney, take up to 200,000 trucks a year off its roads and improve the reliability of passenger trains.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese on Dec 7 joined NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell at Hornsby Station for the announcement, with both pledging to work together to upgrade the corridor from North Strathfield through Sydney’s northern suburbs to Newcastle.

“At present, Sydney is the biggest bottleneck on the main line between Melbourne and Brisbane.   The Northern Sydney Freight Corridor Upgrade project will ease this congestion by greatly expanding track capacity along this 160 kilometre long corridor,” said Mr Albanese.

“Once completed in 2016, the new infrastructure will lift the corridor’s carrying capacity by 50 per cent from 29 to 44 freight trains a day, helping to accommodate the threefold increase in interstate freight volumes that’s expected over coming years.”

The project is expected to cut annual carbon emissions by more than 100,000 tonnes.

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