Metro cost blow out an insult to commuters and taxpayers

Media release, 5 December 2025: Revelations that the cost of building Sydney’s three metro rail projects has blown out by more than $6 billion – adding to an estimated cost far surpassing the cost of developing fast rail between Newcastle and Sydney – are an insult to the state’s commuters and taxpayers, the Rail, Tram and Bus Union says.

RTBU NSW Secretary, Toby Warnes, said the exorbitant cost of the metro systems could be much better spent on improving existing rail connections and in expanding rail – including fast rail – into regional areas currently under-serviced by public transport.

“Another multibillion-dollar blowout is a slap in the face to every commuter standing on an overcrowded platform wondering where their train is and every person across NSW forced to live without access to public transport at all,” Mr Warnes said.

“Imagine what $6 billion could do for transport options in the Hunter, the Illawarra or the Central Coast. Instead, it’s been funnelled into a metro money pit.”

Mr Warnes said the funding could be transformational if redirected to projects the state desperately needs – including fast rail between Newcastle and Sydney.

“You could build fast rail between Sydney and Newcastle twice over with the money that’s been wasted here. It’s a joke, and commuters are the punchline. We have a housing crisis and the solution lies in the regions and getting them access to job centres.

“Every extra dollar thrown at these metros is a dollar stolen from the rest of the state’s transport system.

Mr Warnes said NSW urgently needs smarter investment, not more glamour megaprojects that run over budget and underdeliver.

“No one doubts NSW desperately needs better transport. Our growing population and housing needs demand it. But right now, we’re going about it the wrong way.

“For the kind of money being tipped into metro cost overruns, we could be doing something truly transformative.

“A fast rail link would change how people live and work across the state. Cutting the Sydney to Newcastle trip to under an hour would open up new opportunities for jobs, housing, education, tourism and freight.

“The people of NSW deserve transport planning that’s thoughtful, strategic and genuinely focused on public need – not another round of billion-dollar budget blowouts.”