With over 8 700 kilometres of track, the NSW rail network includes the busiest corridors in the nation. Most track is shared by passenger and goods trains although some is set aside for the exclusive movement of goods. The network is owned by the NSW State Government and managed by the national Australian Rail Transport Corporation (ARTC) and NSW RailCorp.
The NSW rail network is a vital part of the state’s supply chain, enabling us grow and make products and mine resources, transport them across the country and ship them overseas to earn valuable export dollars. The importance of rail to NSW exports is critical in the case of minerals. NSW exports to China, Japan and other destinations of coal, copper, zinc and other mineral products have grown considerably over the past two years. Getting these products quickly and reliably to the state’s commodity exporting ports at Newcastle and Port Kembla is vital if NSW is to remain competitive.
Nearly all the mineral resources in NSW are found away from the coast within and beyond the Great Dividing Range. The opportunity to realise the market value of these minerals is made possible through advanced forms of prospecting, mining and extraction. Investment and maintenance in the regional rail network to ensure it is safe, efficient and reliable is equally important, making it feasible for companies to invest in new ventures and create work and wealth for the state’s rural and remote communities.