Sydney Metro

Sydney Metro
Overview
Owner Transport for NSW
Locale Sydney
Transit type Rapid transit
Website Sydney Metro
Operation
Operation will start 2019
Operator(s) Northwest Rapid Transit
Number of vehicles 22
Headway 4 minutes during peak hours
Technical
System length 75 km
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
System map

Sydney Metro (known during early planning and construction as Sydney Rapid Transit) is an automated rapid transit system under construction in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The first dedicated rapid transit line to be constructed is a link from Rouse Hill to Epping. The new line will connect to the existing Epping to Chatswood railway line, which will be converted to rapid transit standards; the project is called Sydney Metro Northwest and is expected to open in 2019.

Planning work has commenced for Sydney Metro City & Southwest, an extension across Sydney Harbour and through the Central Business District, which will then take the trains to Bankstown. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2017, with the line to open in 2024. Following this, the Illawarra local tracks between Sydenham and Hurstville are planned to be linked to the metro network.[1]

Sydney will be the first Australian city to build a full-fledged rapid transit system.[2][3] Plans and projects involving a high speed, rapid transit underground railway in Sydney date at least back to 2008,[4] although an initial proposal was raised as early as 2001.[5] Despite extensive plans for an underground network in the past, disputes over privatisation and funding had hampered government approval, delaying its inception. In spite of difficulties getting the project off the ground, government approval for what was initially known as the North West Rail Link, Sydney's first underground metro, was given in 2013. Route extensions and a name change to the Sydney Metro soon followed.[6]

History

Earlier proposals

The first proposals for a metro system in Sydney were put forward in 2001, when Co-ordinator-General of Rail Ron Christie released his "Long-term Strategic Plan for Rail" report, outlining long-term goals for the expansion of the rail network.[7] He suggested that a number of "metro" lines–operationally independent from the existing network–should be constructed past 2020 due to capacity constraints.[8] This was later dismissed by the New South Wales Government as only a "shopping list" of potential projects.[9]

The idea for a metro resurfaced in late 2007, when discussions about an underground 'Anzac Line' took place within the NSW Government. The line would have run from West Ryde in Sydney's north-west to Malabar in the south-east, but did not come to fruition.[10] In early 2008, following the shelving of various heavy rail expansion projects from the 2005 Metropolitan Rail Expansion Programme, the Government officially announced the 37 km (23 mi) North West Metro.[11] Expected to cost $12 billion, it would have linked Rouse Hill in Sydney's north-west with the CBD, with construction starting in 2010 and finishing in 2017.[12]

The construction of the North West Metro was however dependent on the privatisation of the electricity network,[13] and after a change of Premier in late 2008 it was cancelled due to budgetary concerns. Its replacement was the 9 km (5.6 mi), $4 billion CBD Metro, a shortened route running from Rozelle in the inner-west and into the CBD through to Central.[14] Construction was scheduled to start in 2010, like its predecessor, but finish earlier in 2015. The CBD Metro was to have formed the "central spine" of a future metro network, with an planned West Metro extension to Westmead and Parramatta to be constructed soon after, subject to Federal funding.[15] Reception to the plans was mixed, with Opposition leader Barry O'Farrell accusing the Premier of "making it up as he goes along" after costings weren't released until after the press conference,[16] and criticism came from the Greens on the grounds that the route seemed designed to pass through marginal electoral seats.[17] The Government's initial submission to Infrastructure Australia for funding was rejected to due "a lack of integrated planning".[18] It was later revealed that the cost had jumped from $4 billion to $5.3 billion in six months,[19] and internal estimates showed that that the metro would run at only 15% of its maximum capacity.[20]

The CBD Metro was cancelled in early 2010, after the Premier was deposed a few months before in 2009.[21][22] The Government had spent almost $410 million on the project.[23] The new Premier Kristina Keneally chose instead to focus on expansion of the existing heavy rail network, including the North West Rail Link and South West Rail Link.[24]

Revival

In mid-2012 the newly elected Coalition government announced Sydney's Rail Future and the NSW Transport Masterplan.[25] Under this proposal, the North West Rail Link would be built as a single-deck, privately operated metro connecting to a future second harbour crossing[26] These plans received criticism on the basis that they might not have the capacity of existing double-deck trains,[27] and concerns over the inability of trains on the existing network to use the new crossing.[28]

In 2014 the Government announced the second harbour crossing under the name Sydney Rapid Transit, as part of the 'Rebuilding NSW' infrastructure plan funded through the sale of electricity infrastructure.[29][30] The new railway would cross Sydney Harbour, tunnel beneath the CBD, and join the Bankstown line which would be converted to metro standards.[31]

The system was officially renamed 'Sydney Metro' in June 2015 following the passage of power privatisation bills.[32] Opposing parties warned the government that the sale of the power infrastructure may not provide the capital needed.[33]

Stages

Sydney Metro Northwest

The first stage will connect Sydney's north-western suburbs to Chatswood. 23 km (14 mi) of new track is planned between Rouse Hill and Epping, including eight new stations. The 13 km (8.1 mi) Epping to Chatswood rail link will then be converted to rapid transit standards and segregated from the existing Sydney Trains network.[34] Construction on Sydney Metro Northwest began in late 2013 and the first services are scheduled to start in 2019.[35]

Sydney Metro City & Southwest

Sydney Metro City & Southwest is a proposed 30-kilometre (19 mi) rapid transit railway line servicing Sydney's CBD and southwest. The project would extend Sydney Metro Northwest, currently under construction, from Chatswood on the North Shore, to Bankstown in the city's south-west via the Sydney central business district. The centrepiece of the project would be a new twin-tunnel rail crossing under Sydney Harbour. Together with planned improvements to the Main Western line, the project is expected to increase capacity on the Sydney rail network by up to 60%. The line would allow for the movement of over 100,000 extra commuters across the network every hour.[36] City & Southwest represents the first phase of the "southern sector conversion" envisaged in Sydney's Rail Future.[1]

Southern sector conversion

The second phase of the southern sector conversion would see two of the four tracks between Sydenham and Hurstville, known as the Illawarra locals, converted to rapid transit and added to the Sydney Metro network. This would increase rail capacity between Hurstville and the city by 10 trains per hour. Though a precise construction timeframe was not provided, the plan envisages all work being completed by 2031. The Hurstville conversion would add eight stations and 9 km (5.6 mi) to the metro network.[1]

Rolling stock

Twenty-two 6-car Alstom Metropolis electric multiple units have been ordered for the network. Each single deck train will feature two dedicated areas for prams, luggage and bicycles. There will be three doors per side per carriage and no internal doors between the carriages.[37] In a 6-car configuration the trains will sit 380 people, with a total capacity of 1,100.[38]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Transport for New South Wales (June 2012). Sydney's rail future: modernising Sydney's trains (PDF).
  2. ↑ "Sydney Metro: Info". sydneymetro.info. 13 July 2015.
  3. ↑ "Sydney Metro an Australian first". mondaq.com. 8 December 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "Don't worry about debt, Sydney needs this metro". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 September 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  5. ↑ "Long Term Strategic Plan for Rail" (PDF). catalyst.com.au. June 2001. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "NSW tests the market over Sydney Metro construction". The Australian. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  7. ↑ Ron, Christie (June 2001). "1. Introduction". Long-Term Strategic Plan for Rail (Report).
  8. ↑ Ron, Christie (June 2001). "5. Beyond 2010: Overcoming the critical inner city constraint and implementing a longer term vision". Long-Term Strategic Plan for Rail (Report).
  9. ↑ "Christie Report". Action for Public Transport. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  10. ↑ Besser, Linton (14 September 2007). "New east-west line may cut congestion". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  11. ↑ Besser, Linton (26 February 2008). "Bye heavy rail, now for a north-west metro". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  12. ↑ Iemma, Morris. "Premier Iemma unveils Sydney’s first Euro-style metro rail project" (PDF). NSW Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 July 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  13. ↑ Gittins, Ross (17 March 2008). "Iemma's reasons for privatising electricity". Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  14. ↑ Benson, Simon (31 October 2008). "Northwest Metro rail link officially shelved". The Daily Telegraph (News Corp). Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  15. ↑ "Metro: The future of Sydney's transport" (PDF). NSW Government. 30 June 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2009.
  16. ↑ "Metro-sexual Rees flags new rail link". The Daily Telegraph (News Corp). 24 October 2008.
  17. ↑ Clennel, Andrew; Besser, Linton (21 April 2009). "CBD Metro cost jumps $1.3b in six months". Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  18. ↑ Smith, Alexandra (6 February 2009). "'Inadequate' submission puts NSW down the list". Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media).
  19. ↑ Ralston, Nick (24 October 2008). "Rees reveals new Sydney Metro plan". Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  20. ↑ Besser, Linton (4 May 2009). "CBD Metro will run almost empty". Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media).
  21. ↑ "Keneally rolls Rees and takes top job". ABC News. AAP. 4 December 2009.
  22. ↑ "Keneally scraps CBD Metro plans". ABC News. ABC/AAP. 22 February 2010.
  23. ↑ Haynes, Rhys (3 December 2010). "Metro rail plan was 'wasteful'". The Daily Telegraph (News Corp).
  24. ↑ Newman, Peter (23 February 2010). "An end to Sydney's transport lost years?". Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media).
  25. ↑ "Sydney's Rail Future" (PDF). Transport for NSW. June 2012.
  26. ↑ Saulwick, Jacob (20 June 2012). "Sydney transport shake-up: plan for single deck metro-style trains and second harbour crossing". Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media).
  27. ↑ Saulwick, Jacob (23 September 2013). "Secret report casts doubt on train plan". Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media).
  28. ↑ Saulwick, Jacob (4 July 2012). "Tunnel too small could make rail link a bridge too far". Drive (Fairfax Media).
  29. ↑ "Transforming Sydney: Sydney Rapid Transit" (PDF). Transport for NSW. November 2014.
  30. ↑ "Rebuilding NSW". NSW Government. November 2014. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  31. ↑ Geralthy, Sarah; Liz, Foschia (11 Jun 2014). "Sydney rapid transit rail build could begin in three years, NSW Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian says". ABC News.
  32. ↑ "Funding secured: Sydney Metro to be a reality". Transport for NSW. 4 June 2015.
  33. ↑ Gerathy, Sarah (4 June 2015). "Power vote means Sydney Harbour rail crossing is less than a decade away: NSW Premier Mike Baird". ABC News.
  34. ↑ "Green light for the North West Rail Link" (PDF). Transport for NSW. June 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  35. ↑ "Construction ramps up as Showground Station site is cleared". Transport for NSW. 23 October 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  36. ↑ Walker, Ian. "Construction begins on second Sydney Harbour rail crossing". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  37. ↑ "Case study: North West Rail Link, Sydney, Australia". Alstom. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  38. ↑ O'Rourke, Jim (5 November 2015). "Sydney Metro Northwest: Transport minister unveils life-size model of Metropolis carriage". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
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