The New South Wales Government will invest a record $2.1 billion in rail maintenance and reliability improvements aimed at strengthening the Sydney Trains network and improving incident response for passengers.

Announced as part of the 2026-27 New South Wales Budget, the Rail Reliability Plan includes an additional $200 million for network maintenance, funding for upgrades to the Rail Operations Centre and the recruitment of additional train drivers and guards for intercity services.

The package also includes investment in track, signalling and power infrastructure upgrades across the network.

The initiative is designed to improve reliability across Sydney’s heavy rail network, which carries more than one million passengers each weekday, while complementing ongoing investment in the Sydney Metro program.

The targeted maintenance and operational improvements are guided by recommendations from the Independent Rail Review into the overhead wire failure at Homebush in 2025, which disrupted services across the network.

The review recommended increased maintenance in critical sections of the rail corridor, including the Homebush-Strathfield section, prompting the Government to establish a four-year $425 million asset renewal program focused on upgrading track, signalling, overhead wiring and drainage infrastructure.

A further $35 million reliability program is accelerating repairs in areas where infrastructure failures have the greatest impact on passengers across multiple train lines.

The Budget also allocates $150 million over four years to improve operations at the Rail Operations Centre, including enhanced incident response capabilities and improved passenger communications.

The investment will support a new Passenger Care and Support team, which will provide face-to-face assistance, welfare support and travel information during major service disruptions.

New South Wales Minister for Transport, John Graham, said the investment reflects the importance of maintaining and improving the existing rail network.

“The vast Sydney Trains network of 14 lines, 288 stations and more than 1790 kilometres of track remains the backbone of the rail system and we are investing a record amount to ensure it delivers the reliable service that more than a million passengers a day rightly demand,” Graham said.

New South Wales Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison, said improved reliability on metropolitan and intercity routes would benefit passengers across the state.

“Passengers expect a rail system that is reliable, resilient and ready to meet demands of a growing population. This investment will deliver exactly that,” Aitchison said.

“Any issues on the metropolitan rail network can have flow-on impacts to reliability and travel times for regional services. Better maintenance on key intercity routes means better outcomes for regional passengers across New South Wales.”

Transport for New South Wales Secretary, Josh Murray, said the funding would support a more integrated operational approach across the network.

“We know reliability depends on more than just the recent investments to fleet and infrastructure; it depends on having a well-resourced, well-coordinated workforce supported by strong planning and decision-making,” Murray said.

“This funding enables a more integrated approach to operations – from workforce planning through to real-time service delivery – reducing risk and improving performance.”

Sydney Trains Chief Executive, Matt Longland, said the investment would improve both infrastructure reliability and customer support during disruptions.

“This investment strengthens reliability end-to-end – from upgrading critical infrastructure through to improving incident response, crewing and passenger support,” Longland said.

“Importantly, the Passenger Care and Support team will ensure we are looking after our customers during disruptions, providing clear information and practical support when it matters most.”