AN end to the long delays at the Adamstown and Islington rail gates is in sight, with the Hexham to Fassifern rail by-pass receiving initial funding in this year's state budget.
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Although the $14 million allocated for the coming financial year is a modest amount compared to the overall cost of the project, it is a sign the state government is closer than ever to committing to the project.
In a budget where virtually all of the Hunter's infrastructure announcements are continuations of existing projects, the money being put towards "planning and pre-construction" for the Lower Hunter Freight Corridor may end up being the region's most important announcement.
A NSW Treasury spokesman told the Newcastle Herald that some of the money would go toward land acquisition to help "get the corridor reserved".
Other money would go towards planning.
The $14 million is confirmed on page 5-46 of Budget Paper No 2 - the Infrastructure Statement.
It is listed as one of three "major new works" being undertaken by Transport NSW.
Although it listed to start in 2016, no information is given for a finish date or an estimated overall cost.
The Treasury spokesman said that while a final business case had not been worked through by the government, the land purchases were "more than speculative".
A rail by-pass between Hexham and Fassifern has been close to the top of the Hunter's infrastructure wish lists for many years, with a range of studies being undertaken since the 1980s at least.
At present, freight trains of more than a kilometre in length trundle through the suburbs of Lake Macquarie and Newcastle in both directions, causing substantial delays at the Adamstown and Clyde Street gates, especially.
The by-pass could also take coal trains from the Central Coast, which presently take the same route to and from the Port of Newcastle.
The by-pass would also relieve rail noise for residents living along the rail line, which would become mainly, if not entirely, a passenger line.
A spokeswoman for Roads, Freight and Maritime Services Minister, Duncan Gay, said the proposed Lower Hunter Freight Corridor had received strong local support for years, including from local councils and the Hunter Business Chamber.
“If built, the line could increase efficiency of the rail network by separating most freight and passenger rail movements between Fassifern and Newcastle,” the spokeswoman said.
“It would also remove most of the freight trains from Newcastle urban area, and Newcastle residents would benefit from fewer freight movements, including at level crossings.
“The corridor could benefit local vehicle traffic by reducing freight rail operations at the Adamstown and Clyde Street, Islington level crossings.”
She said Transport for NSW was working on preliminary corridor investigations in preparation for public consultation, which would commence in 2016/17 following cabinet approval.
“Following public consultation, a preferred corridor would be identified and an application for corridor protection would be submitted to the Department of Planning and Environment,” the spokesperson said.
“The 2016/17 budget allocation is for continuing investigations, public consultation, and activities such as identifying and acquiring suitable environmental offset lands.”
