The federal budget and Illawarra transport

ROADS

The closest the Illawarra came to securing major funding was the continuation of funding for the Mt Ousley interchange. See HERE  Further details, including a pedestrian and cyclist bridge over the southbound access road, are provided HERE

RAIL

The closest the Illawarra appears to have come to federally funded rail improvements is the $50 million project jointly funded by the ACT and NSW governments, contributing $25 million each. See HERE

There was also last year’s announcement of $1 billion to better connect the new Western Sydney Airport to south-west Sydney. See HERE

Who knows — this could even lead to a Menangle-to-Yanderra rail deviation north of Mittagong.

Between Menangle, with its 1863 rail bridge, and the northern portal of the Aylmerton tunnel, there are 54.3 kilometres of track with “steam-age” alignment. This could be replaced with 36 kilometres of track built to modern engineering standards on the eastern side of the Hume Highway (Wentworth deviation). 

The main benefit would be an average saving of nearly 20 minutes in transit time for passenger and freight trains. It would also reduce diesel consumption.

                                                      Source: Rail Futures Institute Inc., May 2024

The new deviation on the NSW Main South Line would integrate well with the Maldon–Port Kembla Railway and share about two kilometres of common alignment near Wilton, where a new station could potentially be built.

Meanwhile, the northern section of Inland Rail from Parkes to near Brisbane has been shelved — albeit with a small offset.

At a time when Australia should be reducing dependence on imported diesel, scaling back Inland Rail means more trucks on the Newell Highway and an additional 750,000 tonnes of emissions annually, including the use of an extra 270 million litres of diesel each year. See HERE

Article in Pearls and Irritations-Fuel security needs a rethink-and rail is part of it

From Pearls and Irritations, 24 April 2026

https://johnmenadue.com/post/2026/04/australia-needs-to-address-fuel-use-and-security/?

Article in Illawarra Flame - 4 March 2026

Link to article: lets-be-bold-with-our-future-transport-plans-expert

Screenshots below are from the article and ©Illawarra Flame

WTC submission to TfNSW (February 2026)

On 24 February, the Albanese Government outlined a pathway for a  160 km Sydney Newcastle train journey on new track to take just 60 minutes by 2039.

At the  present rate of progress in speeding up Sydney Wollongong trains, it is expected that by 2039, our 80 km train journeys will continue to take 90 minutes.  

Our submission (click on link) to TfNSW calls for an outline of how the NSW Government is going to speed up our train services, and complete Maldon-Dombarton for passengers as well as freight, with an interchange station at Wilton.

Petition for better trains to the Southern Tablelands and Maldon Dombarton

Petition for better trains to the Southern Tablelands and Maldon Dombarton supported by NSW MP for Wollondilly, Judy Hannan

See:

https://www.judyhannan.com.au/artc_plans_for_rail

 

The petition asks the Legislative Assembly to call on the NSW Government to:

1. Acknowledge that Wollondilly State Electorate has the worst public transport service to Sydney bordering the Greater Sydney Basin region with services that are infrequent and unreliable.

2. Prioritise the Main South Rail Line for the rollout of the new regional fleet of trains replacing the ageing NSW regional rail fleet of XPT, XPLORER and Endeavour trains.

3. Upgrade the bus services in Wollondilly and Wingecarribee Local Government areas ensuring connection to all villages and districts.

4. Create a new Wollondilly Station at Wilton and continue electrifying the Main South Rail Line to Southern Highlands.

5. Complete the proposed Maldon Dombarton Freight Rail Line and include passenger services.

 

Source photo: Judy Hannan MP, petition

Illawarra Shoalhaven Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan

 

TfNSW has on exhibition a draft Illawarra Shoalhaven Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan with comments invited up to 9 February 2026:

https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/sritp/illawarra-shoalhaven

It would be good to see the final version include:

• Improved public transport between Wollongong and Sydney, and between the Southern Tablelands and Canberra.

• Completion of the Maldon–Dombarton rail link for both passengers and freight, including a new station at Wilton.

• More frequent local train services.

• Consideration of light rail from Wollongong Station to South Beach, potentially using a trackless tram, via the new development bounded by Crown, Keira, Burelli and Aitchison Streets and the Mall.

• Real measures to shift more freight to rail, particularly for movements to and from Port Kembla.

• Stronger support for active transport and traffic calming.

Goodbye to the V-Sets (or bring them back to the South Coast)

With the introduction of the new Mariyung trains, the double decker electric trains called V Sets are being retired from use.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1238588541523066

These  excellent trains were made by Comeng in Granville and were introduced in the 1970s to replace the U sets or "U-boats", and were known for comfortable riding​.

They were used for the first electric trains​ to Wollongong in 1986 - the electrification of this line (and to Newcastle) being the initiative of the Wran Labor NSW government.

By 1988, these trains  completed the 82 km journey from Wollongong to Central station each Saturday in just 75 minutes. Today the trains mostly take 90 minutes.

Rather than scrap these well made trains, why not send them to the South Coast?

The South Coast is still waiting for weekday off peak trains every 30 minutes like Newcastle has had for years. At present there is only one train an hour off peak.

If the motors no longer work, put a locomotive in front of the V Set and put them to work; more trains Kiama to Bomaderry, or Sydney to Canberra-which currently only has three return services each day.