NSW Seeks Private Investors to Pursue Sydney’s North West Rail Link

The New South Wales (NSW) government said on Monday that it will push through with the North West Rail Link project in Sydney despite the rejection by the federal government of its request for a $2.1-billion financial assistance. It is now seeking private investors to finance the said project.

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REUTERS/Yves Herman
A passenger waits next to a high speed Eurostar train at Brussels Midi/Zuid railway station Sept. 20, 2007. The UK's high speed track, known as High Speed 1, arriving in London's St Pancras International station reduces the time of travel between Brussels and London to 1 hour 51 minutes.

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The rail system would link the northwest suburbs in Sydney to Epping and the city centre. Infrastructure Australia turned down the request of NSW for financial assistance since the former favoured instead a multibillion-dollar line between Parramatta and Epping. In the 2010 federal election, Prime Minister Julia Gillard promised to build the 23-kilometre Parramatta-Epping rail system on the condition that the NSW government chip in $500 million for the infrastructure project.

NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklain said that Industry Australia's decision indicates how out of touch the federal government is with reality and she insisted the north west rail line is an absolute necessity.

Due to the federal government's decision, the minister suggested tapping private sources. She said that NSW has over 40 submissions from industry experts around Australia and the world.

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(Photo: REUTERS/Yves Herman / )

A passenger waits next to a high speed Eurostar train at Brussels Midi/Zuid railway station Sept. 20, 2007. The UK's high speed track, known as High Speed 1, arriving in London's St Pancras International station reduces the time of travel between Brussels and London to 1 hour 51 minutes.