A plan to reduce train travel time between Newcastle and Sydney has been floated by the federal government.
The journey, which currently takes close to three hours, would be reduced by an hour as part of the Turnbull government's $20 million Faster Rail initiative, which allows the state government to draft a business case to secure funding.
The NSW Property Council has welcomed the plans, but wishes more concrete actions would be made to ensure it goes ahead.
Executive Director Jane Fitzgerald said the fast trains could benefit the Hunter enormously.
"The Hunter is very much a stand-alone region, it's a great city with a thriving local economy, great residential lifestyle and beaches," she said.
"Everything you could possibly want is in the Hunter.
"But it's also true that an increasing number of people are escaping Sydney because of the un-affordability of housing here.
"So if it was viable to have a very fast train link between Sydney and Newcastle," Ms Fitzgerald continued, "then I think the Hunter would only benefit from the residential influx that might bring."
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| Dated: a train currently servicing Newcastle to Sydney commuters. |
