North West Rail Link
The North West Rail Link is a long standing proposal for a heavy rail link for the north west suburbs of Sydney. It is proposed to connect from Rouse Hill to Epping via Castle Hill.
As noted in the NSW government policy document Action for Transport 2010 released in 1998, "Sydney's north west is the only growth corridor throughout the metropolitan region without a heavy rail link. Despite significant development in recent decades the provision of adequate public transport has been neglected. The result is a high dependency on cars." (p. 20)
It went on to observe that "failure to address this lack of public transport would mean reduced access to employment and educational opportunities for residents and severe traffic congestion." This prediction has come to pass.
To address this challenge, Action for Transport 2010 proposed that "to keep pace with this growth the State Government will build a new line from Epping to Castle Hill by 2010. The line will serve growing residential and employment areas and provide fast connections to the Lower North Shore, the Sydney CBD, North Ryde and the Macquarie area. The 7 kilometre underground rail line will cost an estimated $350 million. More than 400 jobs will be created during construction. By 2020 it is estimated that the line will be used by 12 million passengers per year. To meet growth beyond 2010 a detailed study will be under- taken and a route reserved from Castle Hill to Rouse Hill.
The figure of significance in the above quote is the estimated cost for the 7 kilometre underground rail line: $350 million.
In the lead up to the 26 March 2011 NSW state election, EcoTransit Sydney organised a community forum that had as its focus the question: Who will build the North West Rail Link?
Improving Connectivity with the CityRail Network
In response to community consultations undertaken in September 2011, EcoTransit Sydney prepared a submission that examined deficiencies in the proposed route for the North West Rail Link. The submission is available here.
As proposed, the NWRL is being planned as isolated radial line targeted at the Sydney CBD. It will not yield the outcomes sought by the community, nor provide a good return on taxpayer funds. In particular it will fail to provide the kind of flexible network connections that passengers in the North West will require now and in the future.
In order to maximise the utility and community value of the NWRL, the amendments outlined in the submission seek to build on the existing CityRail network and enhance it by creating a Western Orbital Rail Route with interchanges allowing flexibility for commuters and rail operations.
It also presents an opportunity to resolve the stand-off between the state and federal governments over construction of the NWRL versus Parramatta-Epping rail line. In effect it completes part of the Parramatta-Epping link, enhances its effect and enables an early start on it.