THE Southern Tablelands Rail users Group (STRUG) is calling on candidates in the upcoming federal election to support a feasibility study into electrification of the Southern Highlands railway line from Sydney to Canberra.
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They argue that electrification, along with the use of tilt-trains, would make a two-hour train trip from Goulburn to Sydney a reality.
STRUG president Greg Price said yesterday the group was seeking a funding commitment from candidates for the completion of the feasibility study into the project.
“This is the bedrock on which we can produce our business case for electrification and tilt-train technology,” Mr Price said.
“We know from our meetings with Hume MP Angus Taylor that the Federal Government can contribute up to 50 per cent of the feasibility study’s funding as well as the cost of the actual electrification installation program.
“We are seeking a response from them on whether they would be willing to assist with obtaining this funding as well as how they would generally assist in bringing this project to fruition to bring this Sydney to Canberra corridor into the 21st Century and support the population growth that is projected along this corridor. This growth will not happen unless we have proper public transport services.
“Specifically, as the Minister for Cities, we would see that Mr Taylor would have a big stake in the outcome of this project, given it will impact the cities of Canberra, Queanbeyan and Goulburn as well and emerging cities in the Picton and Camden area.”
Mr Price said the Turnbull Government was more receptive to funding urban rail projects than the Abbott Government. He cited the recent examples of federal assistance for the Metro project in Melbourne and the G-Link project on the Gold Coast as evidence.
“Mr Abbott would not allow funding for urban rail, but Mr Turnbull is a big believer that urban rail needs to be supported and funded,” Mr Price said.
“Since he has taken over as PM he has been prepared to fund certain projects - so we would be confident if Turnbull is reelected that funding for the electrification project may become available.
“That said, the ALP in the past has supported funding requests for passenger urban rail projects and we see them continuing to do that.”
STRUG secretary John Proctor said they saw the Very Fast Train (VFT) as a separate but complementary project to the electrification of the Southern HIghlands line.
“The VFT is a higher transport solution and electrification of the Southern Line is more of a local transport solution,” Mr Proctor said.
“Under the VFT proposal, there is only one station between Canberra and Sydney - listed as Aylmerton, in the Southern Highlands - so if you live in Goulburn you will have to drive an hour to Canberra or Aylmerton anyway. The the tilt-train would get you to Sydney in two hours anyway, so you would only save 20 minutes on the VFT.”