The Sydney Trains report,obtained by theHerald using freedom of information laws,reveals a backlog in deferred maintenance across the rail network is forecast to surge to $1.3 billion by the end of the decade,from $419 million last year,without a funding boost.
Despite recently retiring old trains dubbed "sweat sets",almost one-quarter of the state's passenger trains are still more than 30 years old,and nearly half of the fleet is more than two decades in age.
"Escalating maintenance costs,increasing levels of technical and component obsolescence and the ability to integrate into future network systems platforms ... are prohibitive and present short and medium-term challenges,"the report states.
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Sydney Trains is being forced to squeeze more out of its trains by running them for longer periods of the day to cope with asurge in demand from commuters.
The report shows the"compounding impact"of putting on more services leads to trains,tracks and other rail assets"wearing out faster". In turn,the rail network needs"more regular maintenance".
However,running trains for longer periods of the day leaves less time for maintenance.