A new train has been unveiled and the $A3.7 billion operations contract for Sydney’s North West Rail Link has been signed in a milestone month for the project.
New South Wales Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian announced Sydney’s brand new rapid transit trains will run every four minutes during the peak times on the North West Rail Link as part of the operations contract recently signed off by the NSW Government.
Mr Baird said the North West Rail Link will take customer service and safety to a whole new level, bringing a world-class rapid transit rail service to Australia for the first time.
“Services on the North West Rail Link will start in the first half of 2019 with 15 trains an hour during the peak and 98 per cent on-time running – a much higher level of customer service than we first expected and an outstanding outcome for customers,” Mr Baird said.
The North West Rail Link will be Australia’s first fully-automated rapid transit rail network.
The Public Private Partnership contract is the largest ever awarded in NSW and will see the Northwest Rapid Transit consortium deliver the North West Rail Link by the first half of 2019 and operate it for 15 years.
Ms Berejiklian said the contract means Sydney’s new trains will be built by international train supplier Alstom.
“This project will transform and modernise public transport in Sydney forever. With tunnelling now underway and a contract signed to operate the rail network – the NSW Government is well and truly delivering,” she said.
Tunneling works kicked off for the project on 8 September 2014, four months ahead of schedule, during a live streamed event.