The Minns Labor Government is accelerating delivery of the Regional Rail Fleet after dismantling the failed Liberal-National Public Private Partnership model that stalled the project, drove up costs and left regional communities waiting.
The fleet project is forging ahead with more than a third of the fleet (11 trains) in NSW and around 1,650 hours of dynamic testing completed across the electrified suburban and regional rail networks and planning underway for the inaugural passenger service to run between Sydney and Dubbo.
Three trains are currently undertaking intensive testing and trialling of their bi-modal capability using both overhead electric and diesel power - an Australian first for passenger rail.
As part of testing on the Main Western Line, a new Regional Rail Fleet train has today stopped at Bathurst Railway Station, where it was inspected by Minister Aitchison, marking another step towards the delivery of the new fleet.
Beyond the first train's entry into service on the Sydney to Dubbo route, other trains in the new fleet will be deployed progressively onto different routes as they are ready to enter service and associated infrastructure modifications around the regional network are completed.
The full fleet of 29 trains will eventually replace the ageing XPT, Xplorer and Endeavour fleets and operate across NSW and into Victoria, Queensland and the ACT, delivering improved comfort, accessibility and reliability for regional passengers.
While the new fleet is being prepared for passenger service, the Government's $40.3 million XPT life extension program is continuing to ensure safe and reliable services remain in place while testing and accreditation are completed.
A service commencement timeline for the new Regional Rail Fleet will be confirmed once testing is complete and safety accreditation is granted by the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator.
Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison said:
"The Minns Labor Government is cleaning up the mess of the former Liberal-National Government's failed approach to Regional Rail.
"These trains should have been running by now, but the former government locked this project into a failed Public Private Partnership model that delayed delivery, drove up costs and left regional communities waiting.
"We dismantled that failed model, put Transport for NSW back in charge and got on with the job of fast-tracking delivery.
"The hard work of the Minns Labor Government is now paying off, and the Central West is set to be among the first regions in NSW to benefit from these next generation trains.
"At a time of increased uncertainty, this Government is focused on what matters - delivering safe, reliable regional transport and prioritising the communities that depend on it.
"It is fitting that Bathurst and the Central West are part of this milestone, as we mark 150 years of passenger rail at Bathurst Railway Station and look ahead to the next generation of regional rail."
