Region. Freight line above estimate

The Southern Sydney Freight Line, considered crucial for reducing the amount of freight carried by trucks in Sydney and throughout the state, is expected to be finished by the end of next year. It will have cost $350 million, well above the most recent estimate of $309 million. Work was suspended on the project in October 2009 and only resumed in September. Brian Dale, a spokesman for the Australian Rail Track Corporation, which is building the line, said the delay was caused by ''design and construction issues and working through signalling with Railcorp'', to allow work on the line without disrupting CityRail services.