Australian and NSW governments announce Western Sydney rail options

The Australian and New South Wales governments have announced a rail options plan for Western Sydney.

Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Warren Truss, said the plan aims to facilitate the proposed Western Sydney Airport.  

"As the airport will start relatively small, it's not envisaged that there will be passenger rail transport in the early years," said Truss.

"You need to realise that the railway line is not a simple add on to the airport - the railway line is going to cost more than the airport."

Community consultation is underway on both the Airport Plan draft and Environmental Impact Statement draft.

Minister for Major Projects, Paul Fletcher, said considerations were important for the sustainability of the region.

“It’s really about the route, when we build it and how we fund it,” Fletcher said.

“It is now widely accepted that there will be rail, this will give us the when, where and how. The very strong message is that it will provide rail links between the major metropolitan centres of Western Sydney.”

Western Sydney's population is set to increase from two million to three million over the next 20 years.

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