Cronulla railway line

Cronulla line

View of the duplicated Cronulla line as it runs through Woolooware, heading towards Cronulla.
Overview
Other name Illawarra Line
Termini Sutherland
Cronulla
Stations 7
Services T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line
Operation
Opening 16 December 1939
Owner RailCorp
Operator(s) Sydney Trains
Depot(s) Mortdale
Rolling stock T set
Technical
Track length 10.17km
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Route map
Legend
24.5 km from South Coast railway line
26.64 km Kirrawee
27.94 km Gymea
29.51 km Miranda
31.51 km Caringbah
33.60 km Woolooware
34.81 km Cronulla

The Cronulla railway line is a suburban branch line serving the southern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The line is owned by RailCorp. Sydney Trains operates electric passenger train services over the line as part of its Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line.

Description of route

The line branches off the Illawarra railway line immediately south of Sutherland station. It is double track throughout, with all stations having island platforms, except Cronulla. Cronulla station has a long platform (which is numbered as two platforms) capable of holding two eight-car trains, and three stabling sidings.

History

A single-track steam tramway was constructed between Sutherland and Cronulla in 1911, following the Kingsway road. The tramway closed to passengers in 1931 due to a competing bus service, which provided a faster service and through service to Hurstville. The line closed to goods traffic in 1932.

Construction of the present heavy rail line commenced in 1936, and it opened on 16 December 1939. The line was single track, with crossing loops at Gymea and Caringbah. The line was duplicated between these two stations, this opened on 15 July 1985.[1] The line was electrified from its opening date.[2] As part of the Rail Clearways Program, the remaining single track sections were duplicated. Woolooware and Kirrawee stations were upgraded, Cronulla yard reconfigured and the branch line resignaled. The new track opened on 19 April 2010.[3]

A proposed railway station near Sutherland Hospital has been discussed in the community. A 2002 joint study between Sutherland Shire Council and the then named State Rail was rejected, and was said to cost about $35 million. In 2014, a proposal for the station costing $20 million was designed which included two side platforms, street access and a direct ramp to the hospital, and involve an additional minute travel time.[4]In December 2014 Sutherland Shire Council has again asked the Government of New South Wales to consider building such a station.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Forsyth, J.H. (ed.) (1988–93), Stations & Tracks; Vol. 1: "Main Suburban & Branches -- Illawarra & Branches". State Rail Authority of New South Wales: Sydney, p. 206.
  2. ↑ Sutherland Local Library, Railways and Tramways in the Sutherland Shire. Retrieved 11 January 2007.
  3. ↑ First passenger trains run on newly duplicated track on the Cronulla Line Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation.
  4. ↑ "Poll: Sutherland Hospital rail plan aims to ease traffic". The Leader. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  5. ↑ Rail plan to ease parking at Sutherland Hospital St George Leader 10 December 2014

External links