North West railway line, Sydney
Encyclopedia
North West Metro was a proposal for a rail link from the north west suburbs of Sydney
, Australia
to the Sydney CBD
. It would have connected Rouse Hill
with Epping
and the Sydney CBD
. The line was cancelled on 31 October 2008 by then NSW Premier Nathan Rees due to budgetary constraints.
The North West Rail Link, was originally announced in 1998 as a heavy rail line for completion in 2010. This line connected to the Epping to Chatswood railway line, to service the Macquarie Park and Chatswood employment areas, and provide a connection to the city via the lower North Shore.
In 2007, the NSW Government floated its first metro
line, the Anzac Line. This was a semi-official proposal and was described as an option being "actively explored by the government". It aimed to connect the City of Ryde
and Inner West with the Eastern Suburbs.
In March 2008 the Government announced the North West Metro. This changed the NWRL from suburban heavy rail to metro, and extended the line to run all the way to the Sydney CBD using the Anzac Line plans as the basis for the section between Epping
and St James. The metro took a more northerly route from Top Ryde to Epping
so that it could join the North West Rail Link alignment, instead of terminating at West Ryde as in the original Anzac Line proposal. The section of the Anzac Line between St James and Malabar was proposed as the North West Metro's future extension project, the South East Metro.
, a shortened and modified version of the North West Metro which was to run from Rozelle to Central station. It was also announced that CBD Metro may be extended to link from Rozelle Station to Epping
& Macquarie Park in the future. On 31 October 2008, the Premier revealed that the North West Metro will be postponed indefinitely due to budgetary constraints, and attention shifted to the West Metro
as the first extension of the CBD Metro.
Following a change of Premier, on 21 February 2010 the NSW Government revealed the cancellation of the entire Sydney Metro initiative (including CBD Metro, West Metro and North West Metro) with the return to the original North West Rail Link proposal.
The North West Metro was to have been 37 km (23 mi) in length, with 32 km (19.9 mi) underground and 5 km (3.1 mi) above ground. The line was likely to have been operated without drivers. It was to run on conventional standard gauge track, similar to the existing CityRail network, but would have used single deck rolling stock in contrast to CityRail's double deck stock.
There were 17 new metro stations proposed at:
In addition to the stations, a surface facility for ventilation and emergency egress, storage and/or amenities was to have been constructed "at the midpoint
of the tunnel between Epping and" Cherrybrook, to service the unusually long (6 km) tunnel between the two stations.
The metro was supposed to offer a service of one train every four to five minutes during the off peak, increasing to every three minutes during peak hours. A journey from St James to Rouse Hill was estimated to take 44 minutes, however there was debate as to whether advertised point-to-point transit times were too optimistic.
Construction was to begin in 2010 with the first section from Hills Centre to Epping to open in 2015. By 2017 all stations from Rouse Hill to St. James were due to be open.
The North West Metro has been the subject of sustained criticism by planning groups and urban transport experts. The project’s announcement meant the junking of the previously proposed Metropolitan Rail Expansion Program (MREP) that would have linked the northwest and southwest areas of Sydney, which have long been delegated for absorbing future population growth, with a direct rail line to the commercial and employment corridor encompassing Macquarie Park, Chatswood, St Leonards, North Sydney, CBD and Sydney Airport. The now defunct CBD Rail Link, which would have provided for a second crossing of Sydney Harbour and up to four new City Rail stations within the city, would also have brought faster, more reliable services to every reach of the existing network by easing capacity on the severely congested City Circle, in particular Town Hall and Wynyard stations.
The government estimated that up to 38% of north-west commuters would need to interchange at Epping to travel to the employment arc via the Epping to Chatswood line. Alternatively, commuters would have had to interchange to the north-shore line, having reached already congested Wynyard Station, in order to reach their final destination on the north shore. The Planning Institute of Australia called for the project to be reconsidered in light of these structural flaws, saying "The Epping to Rouse Hill leg should be retained as a heavy rail corridor that is part of the City Rail network," the institute says. "This [would] provide a strong direct rail link between the north-western parts of Sydney and major employment locations on the northern side of Sydney Harbour."
Questions were raised regarding the deadlines for completion of the North West Metro. Documents tabled in the NSW parliament indicate that in order to meet the 2017 commencement date, land acquisitions for the project would have to be completed no later than 2009, even though the route of the project would not be finalised until 2010. Accordingly, a senior Treasury official, Dr David Thorp, labelled the 2010 date for construction to begin as 'a push to achieve'.
The Property Council of Australia called for the project to be reconsidered in light of its implications for the trouble-prone CityRail network, particularly the need to service the Macquarie Park corridor, which was catered for under the Metropolitan Rail Expansion Program by city-bound services from the North West Rail Link. Moreover, it criticises the prospect of forced interchange by commuters at already congested Wynyard and Town Hall stations given that the original plan included a second rail link through the city centre and up to four new stations that would have relieved pressure on the existing city circle.
near Vineyard
. Additionally, under the original Anzac Line proposal, considerations are taken to extend the North West Metro with the South East Metro from St James to Malabar
via UNSW
and Maroubra
. According to Sydney Metro Authority's publications in 2009, the North West Metro was proposed to connect with the CBD Metro
and West Metro
at Rozelle station. The entire metro line would have formed part of the proposed City West Line (Metro Line 1).
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to the Sydney CBD
Sydney central business district
The Sydney central business district is the main commercial centre of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It extends southwards for about 3 kilometres from Sydney Cove, the point of first European settlement. Its north–south axis runs from Circular Quay in the north to Central railway station in...
. It would have connected Rouse Hill
Rouse Hill, New South Wales
Rouse Hill is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Rouse Hill is located 42 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of The Hills Shire...
with Epping
Epping, New South Wales
Epping is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Epping is located 18 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government areas of the City of Ryde, the City of Parramatta and Hornsby Shire and is located in the Northern...
and the Sydney CBD
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. The line was cancelled on 31 October 2008 by then NSW Premier Nathan Rees due to budgetary constraints.
History
The North West Metro was a merger of two separate proposals, the North West Rail Link and the Anzac Line.Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
line, the Anzac Line. This was a semi-official proposal and was described as an option being "actively explored by the government". It aimed to connect the City of Ryde
City of Ryde
The City of Ryde is a Local Government Area in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on the Lower North Shore and Greater Western Sydney over West Ryde and Eastwood District....
and Inner West with the Eastern Suburbs.
In March 2008 the Government announced the North West Metro. This changed the NWRL from suburban heavy rail to metro, and extended the line to run all the way to the Sydney CBD using the Anzac Line plans as the basis for the section between Epping
Epping railway station, Sydney
Epping railway station is on the Northern Line of the CityRail network in Sydney, Australia. It serves the suburb of Epping, a significant commercial and residential area. Epping is a significant interchange station and is the western terminus of the Epping to Chatswood Line...
and St James. The metro took a more northerly route from Top Ryde to Epping
Epping railway station, Sydney
Epping railway station is on the Northern Line of the CityRail network in Sydney, Australia. It serves the suburb of Epping, a significant commercial and residential area. Epping is a significant interchange station and is the western terminus of the Epping to Chatswood Line...
so that it could join the North West Rail Link alignment, instead of terminating at West Ryde as in the original Anzac Line proposal. The section of the Anzac Line between St James and Malabar was proposed as the North West Metro's future extension project, the South East Metro.
Follow-up proposals
On 23 October 2008, Premier Nathan Rees announced the CBD MetroCBD Metro
CBD Metro was a proposed metro line running in Sydney, Australia announced on 23 October 2008. It was to be undertaken by the NSW State Government and was placed on a short-list of projects to be funded by Infrastructure Australia's Building Australia Fund in December 2008...
, a shortened and modified version of the North West Metro which was to run from Rozelle to Central station. It was also announced that CBD Metro may be extended to link from Rozelle Station to Epping
Epping railway station, Sydney
Epping railway station is on the Northern Line of the CityRail network in Sydney, Australia. It serves the suburb of Epping, a significant commercial and residential area. Epping is a significant interchange station and is the western terminus of the Epping to Chatswood Line...
& Macquarie Park in the future. On 31 October 2008, the Premier revealed that the North West Metro will be postponed indefinitely due to budgetary constraints, and attention shifted to the West Metro
West Metro
West Metro was a proposed metro line running from the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, Australia to the Sydney CBD. It was to be undertaken by the NSW State Government. The concept was for the metro line to link Parramatta with the Sydney CBD within 25 minutes of travel time...
as the first extension of the CBD Metro.
Following a change of Premier, on 21 February 2010 the NSW Government revealed the cancellation of the entire Sydney Metro initiative (including CBD Metro, West Metro and North West Metro) with the return to the original North West Rail Link proposal.
Proposed route
There were 17 new metro stations proposed at:
- St James - with interchange for train services for the City CircleCity CircleThe City Circle is a system of largely underground passenger railway lines located in the central business district of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, that make up the heart of the Sydney passenger railway network. The lines are owned by RailCorp, a New South Wales government agency, and...
- Martin Place - with interchange for train services for Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line
- WynyardWynyard railway station, SydneyWynyard is a major underground CityRail station in the central business district of Sydney, Australia, 2.05 km from Central. Wynyard averages 108000 passenger movements per day Monday to Friday.-History:The station opened on 28 February 1932...
- with interchange with train services for the City CircleCity CircleThe City Circle is a system of largely underground passenger railway lines located in the central business district of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, that make up the heart of the Sydney passenger railway network. The lines are owned by RailCorp, a New South Wales government agency, and...
, North Shore, NorthernNorthern railway line, SydneyThe Northern Line is part of the metropolitan rail network in Sydney known as CityRail. It serves the northern suburbs of Sydney and the Lower North Shore, along with parts of the Inner West and the Hills District. The line utilises the Epping to Chatswood Line and parts of the Main Northern Line,...
& WesternWestern railway line, SydneyThe Western Line is part of the CityRail metropolitan rail network in Sydney, and is the suburban section of the Main West line which connects Sydney with the west of New South Wales. It connects the Sydney CBD to the employment centre of Parramatta and the outer western suburbs, terminating at Emu...
Lines - PyrmontPyrmont, New South WalesPyrmont is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Pyrmont is located 2 kilometres south-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Sydney...
- with interchange with Metro Light RailMetro Light RailThe Metro Light Rail is the only currently operating light rail line in Sydney. The line opened on 31 August 1997, mostly along the route of an unused goods railway line, to serve the redeveloped inner-city areas of Darling Harbour, Ultimo and Pyrmont, and was extended in 2000 to serve some of...
services - RozelleRozelle, New South WalesRozelle is a suburb in the inner west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 4 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt....
- DrummoyneDrummoyne, New South WalesDrummoyne is a suburb in the inner west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located 6 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Canada Bay....
- HenleyHenley, New South WalesHenley is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Henley is located 9 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the Municipality of Hunter's Hill...
- GladesvilleGladesville, New South WalesGladesville is a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Gladesville is located 9 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of the City of Ryde and the Municipality of Hunter's Hill and is part of the Northern Suburbs area.Gladesville prides...
- Top Ryde
- Denistone EastDenistone, New South WalesDenistone is a suburb in the Northern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Denistone is located 16 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Ryde...
- EppingEpping railway station, SydneyEpping railway station is on the Northern Line of the CityRail network in Sydney, Australia. It serves the suburb of Epping, a significant commercial and residential area. Epping is a significant interchange station and is the western terminus of the Epping to Chatswood Line...
- an interchange with train services to Hornsby, Chatswood and Strathfield - CherrybrookCherrybrook, New South WalesCherrybrook is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Cherrybrook is located 27 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Hornsby Shire...
- on the corner of Franklin Road and Castle Hill Road with a car park for 960 car spaces, a bus interchange, taxi stands, and kiss and ride stands - Castle HillCastle Hill, New South WalesCastle Hill is a suburb in the north-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Castle Hill is located 31 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the Hills District of the Greater Western Sydney region...
- between Old Castle Hill Road and Old Northern Road with a bus interchange and taxi stands on Old Castle Hill Road, and interchange with North-West T-way servicesNorth-West T-wayThe North-West T-way is a bus rapid transit line in the north-western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. T-way is short for rapid bus transitway.The T-way consists of two sections, one linking Parramatta railway station and Rouse Hill, the other linking Blacktown and Parklea. The lines intersect at... - Hills CentreHills CentreThe Hills Centre is an entertainment complex in Castle Hill, in the Hills District, North-West of Sydney....
- between Carrington Road and Castle Hill Showground near the Hills CentreHills CentreThe Hills Centre is an entertainment complex in Castle Hill, in the Hills District, North-West of Sydney....
, with a car park for 640 car spaces, a bus interchange, taxi stands, and kiss and ride stands - NorwestBella Vista, New South WalesBella Vista is a suburb of north-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bella Vista is located 33 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the The Hills Shire. Bella Vista is part of the Greater Western Sydney region and the Hills...
- in the suburb of Bella VistaBella Vista, New South WalesBella Vista is a suburb of north-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bella Vista is located 33 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the The Hills Shire. Bella Vista is part of the Greater Western Sydney region and the Hills...
, SydneySydneySydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
between Norwest Boulevard and Norwest Marketown, with a car park for 640 car spaces, a bus interchange, taxi stands, and kiss and ride stands - KellyvilleKellyville, New South WalesKellyville is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Kellyville is located 36 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of The Hills Shire, part of the Hills District region.-History:...
- between Burns Interchange and Balmoral Road, with a car park for 1200 car spaces, a bus interchange, taxi stands, and kiss and ride stands, and connections to the Burns Interchange North West T-wayNorth-West T-wayThe North-West T-way is a bus rapid transit line in the north-western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. T-way is short for rapid bus transitway.The T-way consists of two sections, one linking Parramatta railway station and Rouse Hill, the other linking Blacktown and Parklea. The lines intersect at...
station - Rouse HillRouse Hill, New South WalesRouse Hill is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Rouse Hill is located 42 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of The Hills Shire...
- an interchange for North-West T-way servicesNorth-West T-wayThe North-West T-way is a bus rapid transit line in the north-western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. T-way is short for rapid bus transitway.The T-way consists of two sections, one linking Parramatta railway station and Rouse Hill, the other linking Blacktown and Parklea. The lines intersect at...
In addition to the stations, a surface facility for ventilation and emergency egress, storage and/or amenities was to have been constructed "at the midpoint
Midpoint
The midpoint is the middle point of a line segment. It is equidistant from both endpoints.-Formulas:...
of the tunnel between Epping and" Cherrybrook, to service the unusually long (6 km) tunnel between the two stations.
The metro was supposed to offer a service of one train every four to five minutes during the off peak, increasing to every three minutes during peak hours. A journey from St James to Rouse Hill was estimated to take 44 minutes, however there was debate as to whether advertised point-to-point transit times were too optimistic.
Construction was to begin in 2010 with the first section from Hills Centre to Epping to open in 2015. By 2017 all stations from Rouse Hill to St. James were due to be open.
Criticisms
The government estimated that up to 38% of north-west commuters would need to interchange at Epping to travel to the employment arc via the Epping to Chatswood line. Alternatively, commuters would have had to interchange to the north-shore line, having reached already congested Wynyard Station, in order to reach their final destination on the north shore. The Planning Institute of Australia called for the project to be reconsidered in light of these structural flaws, saying "The Epping to Rouse Hill leg should be retained as a heavy rail corridor that is part of the City Rail network," the institute says. "This [would] provide a strong direct rail link between the north-western parts of Sydney and major employment locations on the northern side of Sydney Harbour."
Questions were raised regarding the deadlines for completion of the North West Metro. Documents tabled in the NSW parliament indicate that in order to meet the 2017 commencement date, land acquisitions for the project would have to be completed no later than 2009, even though the route of the project would not be finalised until 2010. Accordingly, a senior Treasury official, Dr David Thorp, labelled the 2010 date for construction to begin as 'a push to achieve'.
The Property Council of Australia called for the project to be reconsidered in light of its implications for the trouble-prone CityRail network, particularly the need to service the Macquarie Park corridor, which was catered for under the Metropolitan Rail Expansion Program by city-bound services from the North West Rail Link. Moreover, it criticises the prospect of forced interchange by commuters at already congested Wynyard and Town Hall stations given that the original plan included a second rail link through the city centre and up to four new stations that would have relieved pressure on the existing city circle.
Other proposed extensions
Previously there were long term plans to extend the proposed North West Metro to meet the existing Richmond branch of the Western LineWestern railway line, Sydney
The Western Line is part of the CityRail metropolitan rail network in Sydney, and is the suburban section of the Main West line which connects Sydney with the west of New South Wales. It connects the Sydney CBD to the employment centre of Parramatta and the outer western suburbs, terminating at Emu...
near Vineyard
Vineyard, New South Wales
Vineyard is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Vineyard is located 50 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Blacktown...
. Additionally, under the original Anzac Line proposal, considerations are taken to extend the North West Metro with the South East Metro from St James to Malabar
Malabar, New South Wales
Malabar is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Malabar is located 12 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Randwick.-Location:...
via UNSW
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
and Maroubra
Maroubra, New South Wales
Maroubra is a beachside suburb in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Maroubra is located 10 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Randwick. Maroubra is the largest suburb in the area governed...
. According to Sydney Metro Authority's publications in 2009, the North West Metro was proposed to connect with the CBD Metro
CBD Metro
CBD Metro was a proposed metro line running in Sydney, Australia announced on 23 October 2008. It was to be undertaken by the NSW State Government and was placed on a short-list of projects to be funded by Infrastructure Australia's Building Australia Fund in December 2008...
and West Metro
West Metro
West Metro was a proposed metro line running from the inner-western suburbs of Sydney, Australia to the Sydney CBD. It was to be undertaken by the NSW State Government. The concept was for the metro line to link Parramatta with the Sydney CBD within 25 minutes of travel time...
at Rozelle station. The entire metro line would have formed part of the proposed City West Line (Metro Line 1).
See also
- North West Rail Link, the new proposed railway to the Hills District
- Rogans Hill railway line, the original railway to the Hills District
- Proposed railways in SydneyProposed railways in SydneyVarious railway lines have been proposed for Sydney, Australia, including both heavy rail extensions to the existing network, and more recently proposals for metro style lines.-Bradfield railway scheme, 1920s:...