Prediction: announcement soon on St Leonards Quadruplication

I am making a prediction that TfNSW will soon be making an announcement regarding extension of the Northwest Rail-link to St Leonards, by quadruplicating tracks between Chatswood and St Leonards.

This prediction comes from digging into the NWRL OTS (Operations, Trains, Systems) contract documents.  The project deed, on page 210-212 outlines the process by which modification to the NWRL project can proceed, namely:
1. TfNSW requests a modification.
2. "OpCo" (the winner of the OTS contract) must provide a modification impact proposal "as soon as practicable" after receiving the request.  This impact proposal must include details such as costs, timing, approvals required and operational impact.
3. TfNSW then has "(blank) business days" to decide whether to accept/reject the proposal.



So has TfNSW requested any modification?  It appears to they have requested a modification to allow extension of the NWRL to St Leonards, as seen in the NWRL OTS Appendices/Exhibits List.  This is in line with their stated policy to construct a second harbour crossing with the proceeds from privatisation of electricity networks.  But will the St Leonards extension need to wait for electricity privatisation or go-ahead before then?

I believe it will go ahead before privatisation is completed.  As Gladys B. has predicted, the NWRL is under-budget by several hundred million, as we see on a TEN News video clip.  Putting these different clues together, I predict the cost savings from the NWRL running under budget will be used to fund the Chatswood to St Leonards quadruplication (if it indeed hasn't already been funded in the overall NWRL project), and that it will be announced as the next rail project before electricity privatisation.  The numbers seem to match nicely, as the $500-$600 million cost estimate of the St Leonards quadruplication seems to be roughly in line with the estimated cost savings on the NWRL coming under budget.

What could derail this?  I could be wrong if:
1.  St Leonards quadruplication proves to be more expensive than expected, requiring more funds than TfNSW has to spare without electricity privatisation.
2.  TfNSW decide to use the NWRL cost savings elsewhere.  In particular, upgrading of the Western Line could prove to be a more pressing political priority, especially now that Labor have de-emphasised the second harbour crossing and in my opinion, are likely to focus instead on increasing Western line express services.
3.  Funds budgeted for the NWRL were inadequate to begin with.
4.  NSW Treasury wants funds used to pay off debt ... unlikely, would leave funds available for Labor to pursue it's transport policy without needing electricity privatisation.

Whatever the outcome, the upcoming NSW election will be very interesting to watch...