- NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro says new train fleet will offer new regional train schedule options
- Rail maintenance facility will bring massive benefits to Dubbo and region: Troy Grant
- NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro will announce new regional train fleet, Dubbo preferred location for new rail maintenance facility
The rollout of an entire regional NSW train fleet is key to increasing rail passenger numbers, Deputy Premier John Barilaro says.
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The NSW government has announced it will move ahead to replace the state’s XPTs, Xplorers and Endeavours.
Mr Barilaro said there hadn’t been such significant investment since the 1980s.
The project will include the use of private financing to facilitate the delivery of the new trains, as well as a maintenance facility earmarked for Dubbo.
NSW Greens MLC and spokesperson for transport Dr Mehreen Faruqi called it a tactic to covertly privatise regional train services.
“We know as soon as the private sector gets involved in public transport, profit is the main motive, often at the expense of routes and services,” she said.
Mr Barilaro dismissed the accusation outright.
“These [trains] will remain government owned, these will remain government run and let me make this absolutely clear,” he said.
“There is no privatisation agenda of rail here in NSW.”