Trains on the South Coast line could be set to go faster.
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As long as commuters are willing to wait around two more years when the intercity fleet starts rolling out.
The 512 new double-decker trains and carriages, costing the state government $2.3 billion, will service the South Coast line as well as Newcastle and the Blue Mountains.
Transport for NSW said the organisation has considered the speed of the trains when placing the order.
The new intercity trains were being designed with a higher top speed than the Oscars that are now running on the South Coast line.
Also, it is understood changes to the South Coast line which would allow the new trains to travel at a higher speed are being investigated.
However, it is unclear what the top speed would be.
Also, it is unclear at this stage what improvements are being investigated, but University of Wollongong transport expert Philip Laird has said upgrading turnouts could help improve speeds.
Turnouts – also known as points – are where a single track splits into two, or vice versa.
“We’ve got the older style ones which are slow speed,” Prof Laird said.
“A train would have to slow down to around 20km/h to go from the straight track to the off track.
“It’s no more than a minute time-saving but the way you get your transit times down is you have a minute here, a minute there.”
The slow pace of trains on the South Coast line was highlighted by Infrastructure Australia.
Its priority list stated trains on the South Coast line average 56km/h, leading to a 90-minute travel time from Wollongong to Sydney.
The line was listed because of the need for improvements to reduce travel times and increase speeds.