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SYDNEY
 New South Wales . Australia

Sydney Rail Transit

 System

City Rail is a frequent suburban train service which runs underground in the centre of Sydney. Mostly double-deck trains are used on all routes spreading out from the city centre as far as 60 km to Richmond or 56 km to MacArthur. Lines are bundled in the central area and offer a metro-like service with trains every few minutes. A new branch of the East Hills Line opened to the airport in time for the Olympic Games in 2000.

In 2009, the 12.5 km underground rail link between Epping and Chatswood in the northwest of the metropolitan area was added to the network. There are three intermediate stations. The new route will be fully integrated into the system from mid-2009.

CityRail © David Johnson CityRail © David Johnson CityRail © David Johnson Museum station

These pictures by kind permission (1-3) © David Johnson (4) Helen Brewin

Sydney Monorail © Jordi SerradellIn the city centre of Sydney, the Sydney Metro Monorail, an elevated circle line, links many points of interest in the central business district and the Darling Harbour area. Starting from Central Station, a modern tram line (Sydney Metro Light Rail) runs along the harbour to the western parts of the centre. Both the Monorail and the Light Rail Lines are operated by Veolia.

 

 

 History

21 May 2000 - Green Line via Airport

23 Feb 2009 - Epping - Chatswood

 

 Projects

North West Metro - in March 2008, a "European-style" metro line (~35 km, 17 stations) was proposed to run from the central business district via Epping and Castle Hill to Rouse Hill (2017), but later that same year the ambitious project was reduced to a CBD Metro: 7 km long with 5 stations at Central, Town Hall, Martin Place, Wynyard/Barangaroo, Pyrmont and terminating at Rozelle. Eventually in early 2010, the entire project was shelved!

Instead a new transport plan was published including a South West Rail Link from Glenfield to Leppington to be completed by 2016; a North West Rail Link from Epping to Rouse Hill to commence construction in 2017 and completed in 2024; an inner city relief line -a 5 km tunnel to be built through the city allowing more trains to enter the city from the western suburbs, and additional platforms will be constructed at Redfern, Central, Town hall and Wynyard to cater for this growth. Work will commence in 2015. An extension to the light rail network with new light rail services to be constructed from Central Station to Circular Quay via Barangaroo and an extension from Lilyfield to Dulwich Hill on an old freight line.

 

 Photos
Central © Jordi Serradell Circular Quay © Jordi Serradell
 Links

CityRail (Official Page) actually includes everything you might be searching for

Metro Monorail & Light Rail (Official Veolia Site)

NSW Public Transport Directory Online

Sydney Aiport Rail Link

CityRail at Wikipedia

City Circle Underground Railway & Sydney Monorail

Matthew Geier's Sydney Light Rail Page

NSW Rail Transport Museum

Complete rail network map for Sydney CityRail

 

 

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2007 © Robert Schwandl (UrbanRail.Net)