Western Sydney Rail

While thinking about the second harbour crossing blog, I was conscious of how the changes within the Sydney CBD would affect rail alignments...

While thinking about the second harbour crossing blog, I was conscious of how the changes within the Sydney CBD would affect rail alignments in western Sydney. The current government proposal has no consideration for express services to the CBD, and obviously building the NWRL as a metro line with a smaller diameter tunnel will significantly limit the flexibility of future rail projects.

To design the best solution for the harbour crossing, I have also considered how the existing network could be reconfigured to improve rail transportation in western Sydney. The premise for this design is connecting the existing city centres to crate a networked typology, that is a rail network that allows passengers the flexibility of traveling within and between urban centres throughout the metropolitan area, without the need to travel through the Sydney CBD. Connecting city centres will increase peak and off-peak rail usage as people living in higher density centres will be able to travel throughout Sydney without the need for a car. It will also provide residents in the west and south west easier access to jobs in the north and northwest.

The first diagram below shows the existing disjointed rail alignments in western Sydney. With the exception of the poorly serviced Cumberland line, all these alignments are focused on transporting passengers to the Sydney CBD.


 
The second diagram below shows how a few small infrastructure projects could significantly change the configuration of the rail network in western Sydney. These projects include; a short railway tunnel through the Parramatta CBD between Merrylands and Rydalmere, a short tunnel from Carlingford to Epping, duplicating the Carlingford line, and upgrading a small freight line near Lidcombe. This configuration would provide rail passengers in western Sydney the ability to travel easily between Blacktown, Liverpool, Bankstown, Epping and Parramatta.
 


 

Making Parramatta the centre of the rail network in western Sydney will promote Parramatta as the second Sydney CBD. The improved accessibility to jobs and workers will significantly increase private investment and deliver more jobs and better paying jobs to western Sydney.

The map below shows the possible rail alignments through the Parramatta CBD.
 
 

 
Reconfiguring the rail network in Western Sydney will significantly change the way we move around Sydney. More people will be able to commute by rail saving them time and money. Increasing rail usage will also reduce congestion on our roads, reduce air pollution, and increasing physical exercise which improves health outcomes and pressure on State budgets. This configuration will make Parramatta and the other urban centres in western Sydney more accessible and attract significant new investment and urban renewal.
 

Urban Strategist

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3 comments

  1. UnknownTuesday, May 20, 2014

    I think this is a fantastic proposal. Western Sydney seems to have a significant number of rail lines that just don't really go anywhere which your proposal solves quite simply.

    My only question is, what is the benefit of having the redesigned Carlingford line trains loop round and connect to the Northern line and head south? Would it not be better to have the line use the upper Northern line connecting Parramatta to Hornsby? Or to terminate services at Epping and reunite the Upper and Lower portions of the Northern line?

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownFriday, May 23, 2014

    I agree, there is no benefit in looping the Carlingford line back down the Northern line, it would be better to terminate the PERL at Epping.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownFriday, May 23, 2014

    This idea for the PERL is dependant on the Moorebank intermodal terminal being built and closing down the intermodal terminal at Fairfield. Freight can then be moved to the south west freight line.

    ReplyDelete

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