West Metro
Encyclopedia
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. The proposed Euro-style metro, had it been built, would have offered a rail service of one train every four to five minutes (three minutes during peak hours). It would have run on conventional standard gauge track, similar to the existing CityRail
network, but was likely to be operated without drivers. It was proposed to run single deck rolling stock along the route of the proposed West Metro.
The West Metro was cancelled on February 21, 2010, by NSW Premier Kristina Kenneally as part of the Metropolitan Transport Plan: Connecting the City of Cities, 2010.
, connecting with the proposed CBD Metro
at Central station
. The new metro stations would have provided connections with existing CityRail network at Central, Strathfield, Olympic Park, Camellia, Parramatta, and Westmead stations.
The route of the now-defunct Metro proposal included 11 new metro stations in addition to the CBD Metro
:
as a business centre, higher petrol prices, public opposition to tolled roads and environmental concerns. An unreleased government document leaked to The Daily Telegraph
suggests that such a train would have eliminated the need of around 18 million car trips per year, reducing between 34,000 and 45,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions
being injected into the atmosphere.
In 2004, the NSW State Government proposed a $2 billion privately funded underground and above-ground train line Western FastRail that would link central Sydney
with Western Sydney. The concept was re-proposed in December 2006 by then federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd
during a visit to Penrith
should the Australian Labor Party
win the 2007 Federal Election. The plan has received approving comments by the NSW State Government. The line was also backed by a consortium led by union leader Michael Easson
, which includes Dutch bank ABN AMRO
and Australian construction company Leighton Holdings
.
The proposed Western FastRail consisted of two 26 km underground tunnels that will link the Sydney CBD
with Parramatta, with high-speed trains transversing across the distance in eleven minutes at speeds of up to 160 km/h. The line would continue above-ground to Blacktown in six minutes, and onwards to Penrith
in a further eleven minutes. However, with the introduction of Sydney Metro initiative, the role of linking Western Sydney with the Sydney CBD may have been replaced with the proposed West Metro instead.
On 8 March 2008, the then Premier Morris Iemma announced the West Metro as part of the larger SydneyLink initiative which also included the now-defunct North West Metro
. This SydneyLink concept had a northern alignment along Parramatta Road costing around $6–8 billion or a southern alignment following CityRail's Main Suburban railway line costing $8–10 billion, either alignment taking 8 to 10 years to complete. However, SydneyLink was subsequently cancelled by Premier Nathan Rees on 11 November 2008. The Australian Federal Government then allocated $20 million to conduct a West Metro feasibility study in the 2008/09 Federal Budget, in conjunction with the NSW State Government. Two new alignments were proposed for the West Metro on 6 January 2009: a northern alignment through North Leichhardt
and Five Dock
; and a southern alignment following Parramatta Road
. Both routes would run via Strathfield station and Olympic Park station.,
The northern alignment would connect with the CBD Metro
through:
The southern alignment would have connected with the CBD Metro
through:
On 12 May 2009, in the Australian Federal Budget 2009/10 delivered by Treasurer Wayne Swan, a funding of $91 million was allocated to planning, design and land acquisitions for the West Metro.
to Rozelle, then extending to Epping via Macquarie Park following a North West metro extension, forming part of the proposed City West Line (Metro Line 1). However, as the current West Metro is now cancelled, further investigation and studies are required to be undertaken for the extensions.
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 was to be undertaken by the NSW State Government
Government of New South Wales
The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
. The concept was for the metro line to link Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
with 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...
within 25 minutes of travel time. The proposed Euro-style metro, had it been built, would have offered a rail service of one train every four to five minutes (three minutes during peak hours). It would have run on conventional standard gauge track, similar to the existing CityRail
CityRail
CityRail is an operating brand of RailCorp, a corporation owned by the state government of New South Wales, Australia. It is responsible for providing commuter rail services, and some coach services, in and around Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, the three largest cities of New South Wales. It is...
network, but was likely to be operated without drivers. It was proposed to run single deck rolling stock along the route of the proposed West Metro.
The West Metro was cancelled on February 21, 2010, by NSW Premier Kristina Kenneally as part of the Metropolitan Transport Plan: Connecting the City of Cities, 2010.
Proposed route
The final proposal revealed had the West Metro running from Westmead to Central stationCentral railway station, Sydney
Central Railway Station, the largest railway station in Australia, is at the southern end of the Sydney CBD. It services almost all the lines on the CityRail network, and is the major terminus for interurban and interstate rail services...
, connecting with the proposed 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...
at Central station
Central railway station, Sydney
Central Railway Station, the largest railway station in Australia, is at the southern end of the Sydney CBD. It services almost all the lines on the CityRail network, and is the major terminus for interurban and interstate rail services...
. The new metro stations would have provided connections with existing CityRail network at Central, Strathfield, Olympic Park, Camellia, Parramatta, and Westmead stations.
The route of the now-defunct Metro proposal included 11 new metro stations in addition to 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...
:
- CentralCentral railway station, SydneyCentral Railway Station, the largest railway station in Australia, is at the southern end of the Sydney CBD. It services almost all the lines on the CityRail network, and is the major terminus for interurban and interstate rail services...
- Broadway-University of Sydney
- Camperdown
- Leichhardt
- Five Dock
- Burwood
- Strathfield
- Sydney Olympic Park
- Silverwater
- Camellia
- Parramatta
- Westmead
Benefits
The project, although now cancelled, was prompted by congestion on Sydney's westbound trains and roads, the growing importance of ParramattaParramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
as a business centre, higher petrol prices, public opposition to tolled roads and environmental concerns. An unreleased government document leaked to The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
The Daily Telegraph is an Australian tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, by Nationwide News, part of News Corporation.The Tele, as it is also known, was founded in 1879. From 1936 to 1972, it was owned by Frank Packer's Australian Consolidated Press. That year it was sold to...
suggests that such a train would have eliminated the need of around 18 million car trips per year, reducing between 34,000 and 45,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions
Greenhouse gas
A greenhouse gas is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone...
being injected into the atmosphere.
History
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...
with Western Sydney. The concept was re-proposed in December 2006 by then federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd
Kevin Rudd
Kevin Michael Rudd is an Australian politician who was the 26th Prime Minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010. He has been Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2010...
during a visit to Penrith
Penrith, New South Wales
Penrith is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Penrith is located west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Penrith...
should the Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
win the 2007 Federal Election. The plan has received approving comments by the NSW State Government. The line was also backed by a consortium led by union leader Michael Easson
Michael Easson
Michael Bernard Easson AM , is an Australian businessman and former union leader.Easson graduated with First Class Honours in Politics from the University of New South Wales in 1976 and completed management and finance programmes at Harvard and Stanford Business School University Business Schools...
, which includes Dutch bank ABN AMRO
ABN AMRO
ABN AMRO Bank N.V. is a Dutch state-owned bank with headquarters in Amsterdam. It was re-established, in its current form, in 2009 following the acquisition and break up of ABN AMRO Group by a banking consortium consisting of Royal Bank of Scotland Group, Santander and Fortis...
and Australian construction company Leighton Holdings
Leighton Holdings
Leighton Holdings is Australia's largest project development and contracting group. It is active in the telecommunications, engineering and infrastructure, building and property, mining and resources, and environmental services industries...
.
The proposed Western FastRail consisted of two 26 km underground tunnels that will link 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...
with Parramatta, with high-speed trains transversing across the distance in eleven minutes at speeds of up to 160 km/h. The line would continue above-ground to Blacktown in six minutes, and onwards to Penrith
Penrith, New South Wales
Penrith is a suburb in western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Penrith is located west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Penrith...
in a further eleven minutes. However, with the introduction of Sydney Metro initiative, the role of linking Western Sydney with the Sydney CBD may have been replaced with the proposed West Metro instead.
On 8 March 2008, the then Premier Morris Iemma announced the West Metro as part of the larger SydneyLink initiative which also included the now-defunct North West Metro
North West Metro
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...
. This SydneyLink concept had a northern alignment along Parramatta Road costing around $6–8 billion or a southern alignment following CityRail's Main Suburban railway line costing $8–10 billion, either alignment taking 8 to 10 years to complete. However, SydneyLink was subsequently cancelled by Premier Nathan Rees on 11 November 2008. The Australian Federal Government then allocated $20 million to conduct a West Metro feasibility study in the 2008/09 Federal Budget, in conjunction with the NSW State Government. Two new alignments were proposed for the West Metro on 6 January 2009: a northern alignment through North Leichhardt
Leichhardt, New South Wales
Leichhardt is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney in New South Wales, Australia. Leichhardt is located 5 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Leichhardt...
and Five Dock
Five Dock, New South Wales
Five Dock is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Five Dock is located 10 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the Local Government Area of the City of Canada Bay.-Location:...
; and a southern alignment following Parramatta Road
Parramatta Road
.Parramatta Road is the major historical east-west artery of metropolitan Sydney, Australia, connecting the Sydney with Parramatta. It is the eastern-most part of the Great Western Highway. Much of its traffic has been diverted to modern expressways such as the M4 and the City West Link...
. Both routes would run via Strathfield station and Olympic Park station.,
The northern alignment would 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...
through:
- CentralCentral railway station, SydneyCentral Railway Station, the largest railway station in Australia, is at the southern end of the Sydney CBD. It services almost all the lines on the CityRail network, and is the major terminus for interurban and interstate rail services...
- University of Sydney
- Camperdown
- North Leichhardt
- Five Dock
- North Burwood
- Strathfield
- Olympic Park
- West Homebush Bay
- Camellia
- Parramatta
The southern alignment would have connected 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...
through:
- CentralCentral railway station, SydneyCentral Railway Station, the largest railway station in Australia, is at the southern end of the Sydney CBD. It services almost all the lines on the CityRail network, and is the major terminus for interurban and interstate rail services...
- University of Sydney
- Camperdown
- South Leichhardt
- South Five Dock
- North Burwood
- Strathfield
- Olympic Park
- North Auburn
- Parramatta
On 12 May 2009, in the Australian Federal Budget 2009/10 delivered by Treasurer Wayne Swan, a funding of $91 million was allocated to planning, design and land acquisitions for the West Metro.
Other proposed extensions
According to Sydney Metro Authority's publications, the West Metro was intended, when still viable as a project, to connect with 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...
to Rozelle, then extending to Epping via Macquarie Park following a North West metro extension, forming part of the proposed City West Line (Metro Line 1). However, as the current West Metro is now cancelled, further investigation and studies are required to be undertaken for the extensions.