23 March 2008

No going back says NSW Premier with $12b metro plan

SYDNEY Mar 21: The NSW Government has promised to build a state-of-the-art underground metro to the city's north-west in just nine years, ushering in a long-awaited new era of commuter travel to Sydney.
Yesterday the Premier, Morris Iemma, finally unveiled the $12 billion North West Metro, with high-frequency trains to Rouse Hill via Drummoyne, Gladesville and Ryde.
The metro would run for 38 kilometres between St James and Rouse Hill, via Pyrmont, Rozelle, Gladesville and Ryde, including 32 kilometres underground - one of the longest tunnels in the world.
So frequently would trains run on the all-stops service that commuters would not need a timetable. Instead, they could expect a train within three minutes of arriving at any of the 17 stations along the line. Travel time to the city from Rouse Hill would be 42 minutes; 20 minutes from Epping; and five minutes from Rozelle.
"It is bigger and better," Mr Iemma said yesterday. "After today there is no going back."

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