Major Boost For South Coast Commuters

Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast Gareth Ward MP and Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock MP have today announced that a re-elected NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will invest $125 million to deliver the duplication of the rail line between Berry and Gerringong, as part of a $295 million commitment to early works on our State’s future fast rail network.

The rail line duplication between Berry and Gerringong, delivered in the next term of government, will build a 4km crossing loop, around Toolijooa, to enable trains to cross each other.

Additionally, Bomaderry will get extra platforms to create capacity for more frequent services, with passenger trains being able to arrive prior to another departing.

Mr Ward said that this major investment will support our local community with better rail infrastructure.

“As someone who uses public transport, I want better services and more services for our local community. Today’s announcement will help deliver both.

“This infrastructure upgrade will give us the capacity to nearly double the level of connecting services between Kiama and Bomaderry to at least 97%.

“This upgrade will also create the capacity to deliver a regular 30 minute service in peak hours and a regular 60 minute service in the off-peaks.

“Having fought incredibly hard to deliver unprecedented upgrades to our Princes Highway, I want faster, better and more reliable public transport services – and todays’ announcement will help do exactly that,” Mr Ward said.

Mrs Hancock said: “Today’s announcement comes on top of the Government’s recent commitment to double the number of carriages on nearly all weekend services on the South Coast Line, adding nearly 20,000 extra seats per week,” she said.

“With this $295 million down payment on our future investment in fast rail, we will be able to connect towns and regions across NSW like never before – creating a stronger community that is no longer shaped by the tyranny of distance.

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is committed to starting the construction of a fast rail network next term, linking regional centres like Wollongong and Nowra to each other and Sydney.

“With the ability to travel between Nowra and Sydney on high speed rail, people will finally be able to enjoy our lifestyle while still being within reach of the Sydney CBD,” Mrs Hancock said.