The review was commissioned after the May 2025 overhead wiring failure at Homebush, Sydney. It examined the cause of the incident, the impact of recent repair and fleet investment, and whether passenger communications were adequate during major disruptions. It makes clear the performance of Sydney’s rail system is not where it needs to be.

In October 2022, the Australian Government announced the appointment of Dr Kerry Schott AO to undertake an independent review to assess the governance and delivery of the Inland Rail program. This report outlines the findings from the review.