New XPT passenger trains will be on the Dubbo line sooner than expected after the NSW government made $50 million available to speed up their delivery.
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The extra money will see the purchase of new XPT trains begin in the first half of 2017, two years ahead of schedule.
“We’ve already committed to starting planning for a faster, modern, comfortable country train fleet by 2019, but we’re not going to wait,” Member for Dubbo and Deputy Premier Troy Grant said.
“We’re getting the ball rolling now so we can get contracts signed in this term of government and new trains on our tracks earlier.
“This is a real commitment to rail passengers in the bush and we expect it to also generate regional maintenance jobs.”
The new fleet will replace the 60 XPT passenger cars currently operating on the NSW TrainLink network, taking customers between Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Dubbo, and going through regional towns including Bathurst, Orange, Taree, Coffs Harbour, Grafton, Casino, Goulburn and Albury.
“Country travellers deserve modern trains, and the very real dividends resulting from the sound financial management of this Government will make it happen,’’ Mr Grant said.
“A new fleet of trains will ultimately require less work to maintain, are more reliable and can be used more often.”
Each year about one million customer journeys are taken on the XPT fleet, which travels 3.5 million kilometres a year. The trains are up to 35 years old.