Parramatta. Epping rail link still on

The federal Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, said yesterday the Parramatta-Epping rail link would be built. Work on the 14-kilometre line, which would take 25 minutes off the trip from Chatswood to Parramatta, is due to begin next year and be finished in 2017. Labor pledged to contribute $2.1 billion for the $2.6 billion link. Ultimately, the construction will depend on the outcome of the state election in March. The state government has pledged $520 million for the project but with Labor expected to lose the poll the incoming Liberals would have to match the pledge for the project to proceed, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.