The NSW Liberal National Government is facing more questions about its troubled overseas built Regional Train Fleet after a report from Infrastructure NSW found that Transport for NSW is “now playing catch up on the scoping, designing, costing, contracting and delivery” of vital infrastructure.
 
The new overseas built trains that are meant to replace the ageing XPT fleet are already three years late and a billion dollars over budget. Now passengers may have to wait even longer until $300 million of enabling works take place because these overseas built trains do not fit the existing transport infrastructure.
 
These works include replacing the refuelling points at stations in NSW and Victoria – including Southern Cross Station – because the points on the new trains are in different positions to the existing XPT fleet they will replace.
 
The Liberal and National government’s failure to buy trains that fit the existing infrastructure can be compared to the troubled New Intercity Fleet (NIF) trains, which the government built in Korea and which did not fit the tracks and the tunnels they were meant to travel on.
 
The report also raises serious concerns about the maintenance facility being built at Dubbo for the new trains. It warns that the facility risks becoming a “white elephant” if the delays to the delivery of the new trains from Spain drag on for years.
 
It also says no detailed design review for the maintenance facility raises the risk that it “may not be fit for purpose”.
 
Quotes attributable to Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader:
 
“The Liberals just don’t learn from their mistakes. They haven’t learnt from when they bought trains that didn’t fit the tracks.
 
“Instead they have bought trains from overseas that don’t fit the existing infrastructure.
 
“Passengers will already be waiting an extra three years for new regional trains. Now they face the prospect of further delays because they have bungled the rollout of the infrastructure these trains need if they are going to carry passengers.”
 
Quotes attributable to Jo Haylen, NSW Shadow Minister for Transport:
 
“This is ridiculous. Taxpayers are now on the hook for $300 million because this government bought off the shelf overseas built trains that don’t match up with our rail infrastructure. They’ve learnt nothing from all the issues with the New Intercity Fleet.”
 
Quotes attributable to Jenny Aitchison, NSW Shadow Minister for Regional Transport:
 
“Passengers in the regions and passengers travelling interstate are going to be stuck on ageing XPT trains for years because the Liberals and Nationals have bungled this project.
 
“These trains are already three years late, now passengers will have to wait longer, and the maintenance centre at Dubbo which the government has promised again and again, could be in mothballs for years.”

CHRIS MINNS MP
NSW LABOR LEADER

JO HAYLEN MP
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT
 
JENNY AITCHISON MP
NSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORT