Metro rail networks
The growing cost of congestion
The cost of doing nothing about congestion for Australia's capital cities is estimated to rise to around $20 billion per year by 2020.
Congestion costs are real and substantial — they include traffic delays, increased greenhouse gases, higher vehicle running costs and more road accidents.
Through its investment in Australia's metropolitan rail networks, the Government is acting to ease the growing congestion on our roads.
Creating world‑class public transport
The Government is committing more than $4.6 billion to the planning, development and construction of nine metropolitan rail projects in Adelaide, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
The Government is taking action to improve the liveability and sustainability of our cities through investment in metropolitan rail networks across six Australian cities. The avoidable cost of congestion in our capital cities is already $10 billion per year. This cost is expected to double by 2020, if no action is taken. Investment in our metropolitan rail networks will ease congestion and lower greenhouse gas emissions by improving the quality, reliability, safety and efficiency of our metropolitan rail systems.
These projects will modernise existing rail systems, enhance capacity and support fast, reliable public transport solutions in Australia's major cities — making it easier and faster to move around.
Metropolitan rail networks provide impetus for urban revitalisation and growth. Targeted investment in these networks will help transform our cities by providing real support for sustainable urban development along major transport corridors as our cities continue to grow.
Continuing the Government's nation building agenda, this investment supports sustainable economic growth and increased productivity and is a cornerstone for urban renewal and transformation into the future.
Projected social cost of congestion in Australia's cities
