Planned major Clearway routes
• Clearway 1 increases capacity on the Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line.
• Bondi Junction turnback – complete and operational in 2006.
• Cronulla branch line duplication. |
• Clearway 2 upgrades capacity and operations on the Bankstown Line.
• Lidcombe turnback and platform.
• Liverpool turnback and platform.
• Two extra tracks, Sydenham-Erskineville, feasibility investigation under way. |
• Clearway 3 provides capacity to facilitate express services from the Campbelltown area to the City via East Hills.
• Extra tracks, Kingsgrove-Revesby.
• Extra platform at Macarthur.
• Clearway 3 will also benefit from the Sydenham-Erskineville upgrade.
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• Clearway 4 will provide greater seperation between express and local services to strengthen reliability and improve journey times on some express services from South West Sydney.
• Macdonaldtown turnback, complete and operational in 2005.
• Macdonaldtown stabling, complete and operational in 2007.
• Homebush turnback and platform.
• Revesby turnback and platforms.
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• Affecting the North Shore, Western and Northern Lines, these projects will improve reliability and increase capacity.
• Extra platform at Berowra, complete and operational in 2006.
• Quakers Hill to Vineyard duplication.
• Epping to Chatswood Rail Link (independently funded).
• Extra platform at Hornsby.
• Carlingford Line upgrade.
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Sources of congestion and planned Rail Clearways projects
Macdonaldtown turnback
Completed in 2005, this facility removes surplus empty trains from Macarthur/Campbelltown after these trains have delivered passengers to the CBD. This improves reliability by reducing empty train running to outer suburban locations and allows trains to be deployed to the busy CBD where demand for services is the highest.
Bondi Junction turnback
Completed in 2006, this project involved construction of a new rail crossover to increase the terminating capacity at Bondi Junction, allowing more frequent services to operate on this line. The introduction of the new timetable in May 2006 provides an extra Illawarra peak service, plus three additional peak services from Bondi Junction.
Extra platform at Berowra
Completed in 2006, this project will increase the reliability of North Shore Line trains which start from Richmond/Penrith by providing a dedicated turnaround platform separate to the platforms used by stopping trains to and from the Newcastle & Central Coast Line.
Macdonaldtown stabling
In addition to the Macdonaldtown turnback, the train-stabling yard was completed in 2007 to hold eight trains in close proximity to the Sydney CBD. This stabling facility provides increased stabling capacity to support the planned increase in suburban services to reduce crowding. The facility also allows trains to be best positioned so they can be efficiently brought into operation for the morning and afternoon peak periods when demand for trains is at the highest. The train-stabling yard will minimise empty train running and improve reliability for Campbelltown and East Hills line services.
Cronulla branch line duplication
Duplication of the Cronulla branch line allows for an increase in peak services from the current 4 trains per hour to 6 trains per hour. This will reduce crowding on Cronulla services and at stations such as Hurstville, Sydenham and Town Hall. Reliability will be strengthened as the single line sections are eliminated on the branch line.
Homebush turnback and platform
This project will allow local Inner West Line services to and from the City via Ashfield to start at Homebush in readiness to commence after the South Line services have passed through, thereby improving reliability. The project provides a dedicated turnback, allowing Inner West services to terminate at Homebush without affecting South Line services.
Hornsby platform 5 and stabling
This additional platform and track will increase train-terminating capacity at Hornsby to support Epping-Chatswood Rail Link (ECRL) services, which will start from Hornsby when the new rail line is completed. Additional stabling is also provided to support additional services for the ECRL.
Lidcombe turnback and platform
This will reduce congestion between Lidcombe and Strathfield by starting Bankstown Line trains from their own separate turnback and platform at Lidcombe. This will permit a reliable and more frequent service on the Bankstown Line, with connections at Lidcombe for Bankstown Line passengers travelling to destinations on the Western Line or to the City via Strathfield.
Revesby turnback and platforms
This facility provides an improved starting point for local services on the Airport & East Hills Line. It removes the need to cross in front of frequent Campbelltown limited stops services, as is currently the case on this route. This will improve reliability for Airport & East Hills Line services as well as services to Campbelltown.
Extra platform at Macarthur
This will improve the capability of Macarthur to act as the primary terminus for all Campbelltown trains, thereby improving frequency to this regional centre.
Liverpool turnback and platform
Liverpool is an important train terminus for the various line services which operate via this station. The existing three platforms at Liverpool can get congested with trains, particularly in peak periods. An additional platform will increase capacity to manage the various train services and support reliable starting and terminating of services on both the Bankstown and South lines.
Extra tracks, Kingsgrove – Revesby
Currently, trains from Campbelltown to the City via the Airport & East Hills Line experience congestion through sharing the existing double track with local services. Continuation of the existing four-track section from Kingsgrove to Revesby provides greater separation between limited stops and local services to strengthen reliability and improve journey times on some limited stops services from South Western Sydney. The service patterns on the Airport & East Hills Line can be simplified and more structured to provide passengers with a more predictable timetable.
Quakers Hill to Vineyard duplication
The existing single-track route on the Richmond branch line is congested and patronage is growing rapidly. The double track route will enable additional services to reduce crowding as well as strengthen reliability through the continuation of double tracks to Vineyard.
Carlingford Line upgrade
A new passing loop will be provided to allow trains to pass each other on the single track area. This will improve service frequency between Carlingford and Clyde to half hourly all day with improved connections at Clyde.
Two extra tracks, Sydenham – Erskineville
This will enable Bankstown Line trains to have their own dedicated track from Sydenham through to Central Station, allowing improved reliability and greater service frequency. Regular trains from Liverpool via Bankstown will run express to the City from Bankstown, with regular all-stations trains from Lidcombe servicing other stations.
Further information on the Rail Clearways projects is available at the Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation website and clicking on Rail Clearways program.
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