Articles discussion etc: Paramatta - Epping Line

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Gillard's $2b transport fix

... THE Gillard government will make a push into western Sydney today with a promise to build the long-awaited $2.6 billion rail link between Parramatta and Epping.

In what will be the biggest single funding announcement of her campaign so far, the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, will promise $2.1 billion in federal funds towards the project, with the state government to contribute $520 million.

Preliminary work on the 14-kilometre heavy rail link, which will shave 25 minutes off the trip from Chatswood to Parramatta, will begin next year and construction is due to be completed in 2017 ...

[colinw]

Same story in the Tele ... Click here

All aboard the PM's Parramatta express

JULIA Gillard's faltering campaign to woo western Sydney will be given a $2.6 billion injection - with the promise of a rail link between Parramatta and Epping.

The long-awaited 14km rail line would be completed by 2017. Following talks between Ms Gillard and NSW Kristina Keneally, the rail link leapfrogged several other more expensive major Sydney infrastructure projects including the M5 duplication ($5 billion), the M4 East ($10 billion) and the Northwest Rail link ($5 billion).

...

As someone whose NSW branch of the family is mostly in the rail-less north west of Sydney (my sister lives a stone's throw from the promised Franklin Rd station), I am disappointed that there's nothing for the North West Rail Link.  But then there's no chance of any Labor gains out that way ...

[#Metro]

Estimated unit cost: 143 million/km

[ozbob]

From the ABC News click here!

Gillard's $2b rail promise for RSL forum

Gillard's $2b rail promise for RSL forum

By Sarah Collerton

Updated 1 hour 2 minutes ago

Prime Minister Julia Gillard will go into a community forum tonight armed with a $2.1 billion promise to fix rail services in the key election battleground of Western Sydney.

Ms Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott are both taking part in the town-hall style meeting in front of 200 voters at the Rooty Hill RSL.

Ms Gillard will go into it with a plan to build what Labor calls "the missing link" in Sydney's rail network.

Labor's rail plan involves the Federal Government teaming up with the NSW Government to build a $2.6 billion rail link between Epping and Parramatta.

Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese says the project is vital for the region.

"This is an important project for Sydney that links two major economic hubs that will have a transformative impact on Sydney, particularly confirming that Parramatta is Sydney's second CBD," he said.

"The Commonwealth commitment begins in 2014, so there's no impact on the budget bottom line.

"But we know that this is a project that's viable, we know it's necessary and we know it's a much-needed project for western Sydney.

"It is an important step forward for Sydney and that is why the two governments have come together for this project."

The Federal Government will cover 80 per cent of the construction costs, while the NSW Government will put forward $520 million for the project.

Construction will start in 2014 and it will take three years to complete.

But this morning Mr Abbott told the Macquarie Radio network that he doubted the rail link would ever be built.

"Since 1995 the State Labor Government has promised $28 billion worth of rail projects alone that have never actually started," he said.

"It's absolutely straight from the New South Wales Labor playbook. You make a big promise before the election and it becomes a broken promise after the election. All that gets delivered is the glossy brochure.

Before heading to tonight's forum, Ms Gillard will be campaigning in Melbourne while Mr Abbott will start his day in Adelaide.

While Ms Gillard focuses on transport, Mr Abbott will go into the forum with a $750 million Murray-Darling river plan he is announcing in South Australia today.

[somebody]

Oh dear.  Yet another promise requiring them to win two elections before they fund it.

[colinw]

Oh dear.  Yet another promise requiring them to win two elections before they fund it.

The Redcliffe Railway Strategy goes national!

[Dean Quick]

Maybe so, but we all know the coalitions WOEFUL record on public transport investment - 12 years of  NOTHING!!!
Its very easy to dismiss this latest announcement but I believe that ANY commitment to build much needed rail infrastructure must be applauded and supported.

[somebody]

PT isn't really a federal responsibility, although some roads have received Federal funding and that's not a federal responsibility either.

[#Metro]

PT can be a federal responsibility if they want to.
It is in the constitution! 

http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/general/constitution/par5cha1.htm


Commonwealth Of Australia Constitution Act
Chapter I. The Parliament.
Part V - Powers of the Parliament

51.The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to: -

(xxxiv.) Railway construction and extension in any State with the consent of that State:

[somebody]

(xxxiv.) Railway construction and extension in any State with the consent of that State:

The bolded part makes that a useless section IMO.  They can do anything they like with the consent of the relevant state.

[#Metro]

What state does not want to consent to having billions of dollars thrown at them?
ahh, maybe NSW?

[Dean Quick]

Does it really matter who's responsibility it is? If the federal gov't wants to assist in building much needed PT infrastructure then let them!! I am just happy to finally see an increased interest in RAIL no matter who its from!!