Parramatta. $8.3 billion to save three minutes

A preliminary environmental assessment report for the planned West Metro underground line, lodged with the Planning Department, states it will cost $8.3 billion, take five years to build and will improve travel times from Sydney's west by just three minutes. The 24km twin-tunnel metro will run from the CBD to Westmead. The project is in its infancy with $91 million in Federal Government money for pre-construction, engineering and design work. If the Government receives more funding or private investment, construction is due to start in 2011 with trains running by 2017. “With the State Government's track record - $13 billion worth of rail projects in the northwest and southwest scrapped in the past year - sceptics say this will be another project not to see the light of day,” The Daily Telegraph said. The Parramatta Advertiser headlined an editorial: Dont get too exicted about link.