The State Government will start securing land for a rail link from Rouse Hill to Badgerys Creek, but it won’t be open by the time the new airport is completed.

Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian, pictured with new Premier Mike Baird, said the State Government would start securing land for a northern rail link to the new airport. Source: News Corp Australia

Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said the government would secure the rail corridor through Marsden Park now to avoid a repeat of the high costs to buy land for the North West Rail Link.

The connection would likely go from the final North West Rail Link station at Cudgegong Rd through Marsden Park to link up with the existing Western line and then the airport at Badgerys Creek.

NewsLocal along with The Daily Telegraph and The Sunday Telegraph launched the Fair Go For The West campaign last month.

Securing a commitment from the Federal Government for a second airport was a key objective of the campaign.

Avoiding the mistakes of the North West Rail Link

Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian said the land needed to be preserved for a rail line to the second airport to avoid the same mistakes made over the North West Rail Link.

Last month Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced Sydney’s second airport but said the Federal Government would only provide additional funding for road infrastructure.

But any rail link from Rouse Hill to the airport via the existing Western line will not be open in time for the airport.

“To begin with, access to the second Sydney airport will be provided through road upgrades, park and ride facilities and public transport services including new express buses,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“The State Government will secure a public transport corridor from the North West Rail Link into Marsden Park for future generations.”

Ms Berejiklian said one of the reasons the North West Rail Link would cost $8.3 billion was because a corridor of land hadn’t been secured.

Planning ahead to secure this corridor now would reduce future costs, she said.

Londonderry state Liberal MP Bart Bassett said the transport corridor into Marsden Park was vital for Western Sydney’s prosperity.

“It’s only at certain times in the political landscape that the political planets align and this is one of those occasions where I actually believe we can make these corridors a reality allowing governments to budget for building rail and road infrastructure in the future,” he said.

Source: Rouse Hill Times by Lawrence Machado. Original article.