Around one-third of the almost $300 million promised funding for fast rail will be spent in the next 12 months.
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It is likely only a fraction of that will be spent in the Illawarra, despite budget papers promising duplication of the South Coast rail line and track work on the Southern Highlands.
The detail in the budget papers suggest the lion's share of 2019-20 funding will be spent on Sydney rail lines.
Tuesday's state budget promised "an initial investment" of $295 million in the faster rail network.
However, that $295 million will be spread out over the next four years.
Part of that funding would include "improved alignment north of Mittagong [and] duplication between Berry and Gerringong".
However, it seems unlikely that work will start this financial year.
The budget papers allocated just $10 million in fast rail planning for "regional and freight rail".
At the same time NSW Rail Corporation was given $93 million for fast rail "planning and pre-construction".
RailCorp is a government agency that runs rail infrastructure in the Sydney metropolitan area.
A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said the state government was working on preparing the Fast Rail Strategy.
"This high-level vision will make possible planning and delivery over the next four years," she said.
"Work will commence on the first stage of the fast rail network in this term of government."
In December last year NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said her government would look at four "faster rail" routes if re-elected.
Faster rail is distinct from high-speed rail in that it would see track improvements - such as curve easing and passing loops - on existing routes rather than laying down a purpose-built line.
One of those routes was the "Southern Coastal Corridor", which included Wollongong and Nowra.
Transport for NSW has estimated the faster rail option could reduce the Wollongong-Sydney commute from 85 minutes down to one hour.
"In the immediate future, faster rail would see upgrades along existing rail alignments and provide services of at least 200km/h, slashing travel times by one third," Transport Minister Andrew Constance said late last year.
Transport for NSW was contacted for comment.