No mention of Woy Woy in fast rail announcement

A Federal Labor Government would give priority to "fast rail connections" between Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle with $500 million allocated in its first budget, according to Labor candidate for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid.

However, the announcement did not mention Woy Woy and the implications for the Peninsula are unclear.

Dr Reid would not be drawn on questions of whether the project would include the replacement of the Rawson Rd level crossing, the removal of the scenic section along Mullett Creek between Wondabyne and Hawkesbury River, or whether the route would even come through Woy Woy.

"With regards to the finer details of the route, these specifics will be announced in due course," he said.

"A Labor Government will always consider the needs of local communities in nation defining infrastructure projects," he said.

Dr Reid said: "It was during Labor's last term in Government, Anthony Albanese as the then Infrastructure Minister commissioned the Phase 2 study report into high-speed rail.

"This identified Sydney to Newcastle as forming the first component of an eventual line to Brisbane, so the groundwork has been laid.

"A Labor Government will establish the High Speed Rail Authority as a statutory agency and issue a clear statement of expectations to the Authority to begin work on the Sydney to Newcastle corridor as a priority.

"This line would include stops in the Central Coast."

Mr Albanese said Gosford and Wyong were "obvious possibilities".

"We will work closely with the New South Wales Government that has already identified this project as a key priority," he said.

"Given that this is a staged project with a long-term focus, the new High-Speed Rail Authority would work collaboratively with the NSW Government to determine the best way of delivering the project, whether that be a phased faster rail approach or an immediate provision of High Speed Rail services.

"We expect the High-Speed Rail Authority to identify and acquire a corridor of land that would accommodate either an initial fast rail line that could eventually be upgraded to high-speed rail, or move directly to build high-speed rail itself.

"This line will be built with the capacity for trains to run up to and over 250kmh.

"From Sydney to Gosford would take only half an hour."

In 2013, the "Phase 2" report was accompanied by detailed maps of a preferred route, with only one stop on the Central Coast, at Ourimbah.

Calls by commuters at the time for a stop at Woy Woy were not taken up.

The NSW Government's current stated "short to medium-term focus" for a staged approach to a "fast rail future" is to undertake track improvements on existing routes.

Building dedicated tracks for new rolling stock with possible speeds over 250km/h was a "medium to long-term focus".

SOURCE:

Social media, 2 Jan 2022

Gordon Reid, Labor candidate for Robertson