NSW Budget 2024-25: New and More Reliable Public Tra
The Minns Labor Government is building better communities with city-shaping projects that are supporting more homes for people across the state.
The 2024-25 NSW Budget invests $22.09 billion to build and improve transport services.
In Western Sydney, $2.1 billion is being provisioned for Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 construction to accelerate the delivery of better-connected communities in Western Sydney.
This will connect the growing communities in Western Sydney along the 12-kilometre alignment between Ermington, Melrose Park, Parramatta and Olympic Park, and includes:
- 14 new stops between at Camellia and Carter Street, Olympic Park.
- Dedicated 8.5km active transport corridor.
- New river crossings.
The iconic NSW made Tangara trains will also receive critical upgrades, while the Minns Labor Government forges ahead with a Future Fleet Program to return domestic manufacturing to NSW and build the next generation of Tangaras here.
$447 million will keep the current Tangara fleet on the tracks for approximately 12 more years to ensure passengers have safe and reliable services while the new fleet is built.
An additional $17.5 million will fund the Future Fleet Program, developing a Strategic Business Case to build the next generation Tangara fleet here in NSW.
The 2024-25 Budget also commits $75.2 million to the continued reliability, resilience, and future of the rail network across NSW.
Funding focuses on the key areas of procurement, safety and the workforce, this includes:
- A new digital train radio system.
- The Illawarra Rail Resilience Plan.
A further $24.7 million will boost bus services in Western Sydney. This will specifically target bus service improvements in areas including Penrith, Mount Druitt, Blacktown, St Marys, Kemps Creek, Eastern Creek and Arndell Park to deliver bus services that communities can rely on.
$23.8 million is allocated to a State-Wide Medium Term Bus Plan and supporting business case to identify future bus network enhancements.
The funding also supports service improvements to bus routes in regional areas to improve access to key destinations.
The reliability of bus services will be improved across the Opal network, with $91 million allocated to a new Bus Transport Management system. This will improve real-time information for passengers and make buses more accessible, with onboard audio and visual next stop information.