The NSW government is spending $2.8 billion to create a new intercity fleet, which will link areas like the South Coast, the Blue Mountains and Newcastle with Sydney.

There will be 65 trains and 520 carriages in all, with the first due to be delivered by 2019. Four groups have been invited to tender for the contract which also includes maintenance of the new fleet and fit-out and operation of a maintenance facility.

"The new fleet will deliver unprecedented levels of comfort, convenience and reliability for our intercity customers and consultation will be a key part of the design phase to make sure we understand what's important to our customers," Mr Constance said.

"As part of their tender, we will ask the four consortia to consider different options for seating configurations, bike storage, luggage racks and the possibility of Wi-Fi and a premium carriage for customers."

The four groups invited to tender are Australian-based Alstrom Transport, a consortium of Sydney's Downer EDI Rail and CNR Changchun Railway Vehicles from China, Swiss company Stadler Bussnang and a triple collaboration of multi-national UGL Rail Services, Mitsubishi Electric Australia and China's CSR Corporation.

"Each of these consortia brings significant experience working on similar scale projects, either here in Australia or elsewhere in the world," Mr Constance said.

ghumphries@fairfaxmedia.com.au