NSW; $3 billion, better rail management urgently needed- Greens

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NSW; $3 billion, better rail management urgently needed- Greens

Greens MP LEE RHIANNON says restructuring rail safety organisations will not solvethe problems within the New South Wales rail network.

Transport Services Minister MICHAEL COSTA has flagged a major overhaul of the state'srail bodies that's unlikely to include any additional funding.

The announcement follows a leaked report claiming more than $1.5 billion in urgentfunding is needed to reduce the track repair backlog.

Ms RHIANNON says the state government has an obligation to increase the budget allocationfor safety, but must also let the community know what parts of the network are unsafe.

She says the public can't wait ten years for rail safety to be fixed and next month'sbudget should have enough money to bring forward the repair timetable.

Ms RHIANNON says the Greens will use parliament's budget session, beginning tomorrow,to push for greater rail safety spending.

AAP RTV hn/rsm/rp

KEYWORD: RAIL GREENS (SYDNEY)