Northern Sydney Freight Corridor

The Northern Sydney Freight Corridor (NSFC) is a project to improve access between Sydney and Newcastle for freight trains. Frequent passenger services operate on the Main Northern Line between Strathfield and Broadmeadow. These passenger services take priority, meaning freight trains can be delayed and are subject to a curfew during peak hours. The Northern Sydney Freight Corridor aims to reduce delays and increase capacity by providing additional train paths. The delivery of the NSFC projects is being managed by Transport for New South Wales, with the exception of the Hexham freight loop which was delivered in June 2012 by the Australian Rail Track Corporation.^[1]

Previously existent infrastructure

Current track layout through Pennant Hills and Thornleigh, Up Loop 1000m, Down Loop 400m

In addition to the two main tracks, there is an extra Down (northbound) line from North Strathfield to Rhodes and a disused extra Up (southbound) track from Concord West to North Strathfield. Between West Ryde and Epping there is a quadruplicated section of track. Between Pennant Hills and Thornleigh there are two loops, but these are too short to accommodate 1,500 metre trains.

As part of the Rail Clearways Program in August 2006 an additional platform was opened at Berowra,^[2] and in March 2009 an additional platform and passing loop was opened at Hornsby.^[3] These allow overtaking of terminating suburban trains. There are also refuges at Cowan and Broadmeadow capable of accommodating 1,500m trains. There are shorter loops at Hawkesbury River, Gosford, Morisset and Awaba but these are not capable of accommodating the longer freight trains.

Projects

In December 2011 the New South Wales and Federal Governments signed an intergovernmental agreement to develop a series of NSFC projects.^[1] The Federal Government will contribute $840 million and the State Government $214 million.^[4] The projects are:^[5][6]

The upgrade is expected to take 200,000 trucks off NSW roads each year, which is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 100,000 tonnes annually, and increase the corridor's freight train capacity from 29 to 44 trains per day.^[4][7]

North Strathfield underpass

Dive tunnel from Rhodes to North Strathfield

The Main Northern Line commences at Strathfield where it diverges from the Main Suburban Line. The junction includes four tracks for services to or from the east and one track for services to or from the west. This westbound track is mainly used by freight trains and requires southbound trains using it to cross the northbound track via a flat junction.

This project removes the conflict by constructing an underpass beneath the Main Northern Line for southbound trains. In addition, the existing disused 850 metres of southbound track between Concord West and Strathfield will be brought back into use and extended 2.4 km northwards.^[8][9] Concord West received a new footbridge and a fourth platform face.^[10] The line will be electrified, although the only booked passenger journeys to work via the underpass will be special event trains to Olympic Park.^[11]

Epping to Thornleigh third track

At Cheltenham a new footbridge is being built with the new track to pass to the right

The line from Epping to Thornleigh features a steep gradient slowing heavy freight trains. A third 6 kilometre track will allow northbound freight trains to be passed by faster passenger trains. It will connect to the existing northbound passing loop from Pennant Hills to Thornleigh. The project will require station modifications at Cheltenham, Beecroft and Pennant Hills with Cheltenham to receive a new footbridge, and a bridge over the M2 Motorway.^[12][13][14] The line will be electrified, although as no platform faces will be built, only be used by through passenger trains.^[11]

Gosford refuge loops

This project involved the construction of two passing loops and six bridges on either side of the existing rail line between Gosford and Narara stations.^[15][16] The northbound line was electrified allowing NSW TrainLink services to use it.^[11] It opened on 23 February 2015.^[17]

Hexham refuge loop

This project completed in June 2012, involved construction of a 1,500 metre refuge loop on the northern side of the Sydney bound main line west of Hexham station.^[18]

See also

• Southern Sydney Freight Line

References