A future high speed rail project between Newcastle and Sydney will take in the new Western Sydney International Airport and Parramatta.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King made the comment during a speech at the 2025 Aerotropolis Conference in Sydney recently.
She says Infrastructure Australia is now working its way through the business case for the first stage of the project.
“I’m really pleased to say that Western Sydney International and Parramatta are right there in the proposal — six stations from Newcastle to Western Sydney International,” King says.
The minister says the new project will halve rail travel times; Newcastle to Parramatta could take a likely 75 minutes (currently at 150 minutes) while Newcastle to the new Western airport may take 90 minutes as opposed to more than 180 minutes (three hours).
“This is a long-term project but we’re getting on with the work of the first section between Newcastle and Central,” King says.
“Here’s what matters: as we plan the east coast transport future, Western Sydney isn’t an afterthought. You’re not tacked on at the end.”
EAST COAST HIGH SPEED RAIL
She says the new airport and Parramatta are core stations in connecting Newcastle to Sydney to Canberra and beyond; plans eventually call for a high speed rail link between Brisbane and Melbourne.
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The minister points to a 10-year, $120-plus billion infrastructure investment pipeline that will help build more housing and services, increase public transport and improve freight efficiency.
King also says the new airport will help drive other manufacturing and industry nationwide.
“We’re investing over $19 billion in Western Sydney, including on projects to ensure the airport and precinct are well connected from day one,” she says.
On other rail projects, $10 billion is being spent on the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project will deliver six stations on a new 23-kilometre line from St Mary’s to the airport; construction is already under way.
“Looking forward, the Australian and NSW governments committed $195m to a Business Case for future decisions on a rail line from Bradfield to Glenfield via Leppington, and from Bradfield to Macarthur.”
King also says $1 billion has been allocated to preserve the corridor for the future Bradfield-Leppington and Macarthur lines.
