ABSTRACT: The post-war era saw major suburban expansion in most Australian cities. Unfortunately this was coupled with substantial under-investment in infrastructure, especially public transport. In most cities this pattern of under-investment has been reversed over the last two decades, with Brisbane and Perth investing in rail infrastructure to deal with continued population growth. However, Sydney has failed to follow this trend, with plans for lines in Western Sydney being continuously announced and withdrawn. At the same time several rail lines serving the eastern Sydney have been constructed, a pattern set to continue with the current CBD Metro proposal. Investment in transport infrastructure in Western Sydney has largely been limited to motorways – predominantly funded by tolls – and to bus transitways. A number of factors causing this pattern are common to many Australian cities, but several are unique to Sydney. These include the pattern of development of Sydney’s infrastructure prior to the 1950s, its post-war pattern of growth, the recent and current political and economic environment and continuing resistance in some quarters to investment in public transport, especially rail infrastructure. This paper will also discuss the consequences of this disparity and the implications for the region of further inaction.