South West Rail Link facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South West Rail Link |
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New South Wales Metropolitan Rail Area with South West Rail Link shuttle highlighted in pink
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| Overview | |
| Owner | Transport Asset Holding Entity |
| Termini | Glenfield Leppington |
| Stations | 3 |
| Service | |
| Services | T2 Inner West & Leppington T5 Cumberland |
| Operator(s) | Sydney Trains |
| History | |
| Opened | 8 February 2015 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 11.4 km (7.1 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
| Electrification | Overhead 1500 V DC |
The South West Rail Link is a train line in Sydney, Australia. It connects the suburbs of Glenfield and Leppington in the south-west. This line is part of the Sydney Trains network, which helps people travel around the city. It started running trains on February 8, 2015.
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What is the South West Rail Link?
This train line is about 11.4 kilometers long. It has two tracks, allowing trains to travel in both directions. There are two main stations on the new part of the line: Leppington and Edmondson Park.
The South West Rail Link is a very important part of public transport for the growing areas of south-western Sydney. It connects to the rest of Sydney's train network at Glenfield. From Glenfield, trains can go north on the Main South line or east on the East Hills line.
Leppington station has four platforms. This means many trains can stop there, even if the line is extended later. There is also a place near the station where trains can be stored when they are not in use.
How was the train line planned and built?
Planning the South West Rail Link
The idea for the South West Rail Link started in 2005. It was part of a bigger plan to expand train lines in Sydney. This plan also included lines to the north-west and through the city center.
While the other two projects were changed or cancelled, the South West Rail Link remained a priority. In 2008, the government said construction would start in 2009 and finish by 2012.
Later, the project was split into two stages. Stage one involved early work around Glenfield station. Stage two was building the new line itself. Stage two was delayed for a short time. In 2009, it was announced that stage two would begin in mid-2010 and finish in 2016.
Building the train line: Stage One
Stage one of the project focused on improvements around Glenfield station. This work helped prepare the area for the new train line.
- A car park was built at Seddon Park. It was finished in October 2009.
- A multi-story car park was built on the other side of the station. This was completed in September 2010.
- A new rail flyover was built in the north. This helps trains switch tracks without crossing other train paths, making travel smoother. It was finished in June 2014.
- Glenfield station was upgraded. This included a new overhead walkway, a fourth platform, and a bus area. This work was completed in mid-2014.
Building the train line: Stage Two
Stage two involved building the actual train line from Glenfield towards Leppington.
- A rail flyover was built south of Glenfield station. This helps the new line cross over other train tracks.
- 11.4 kilometers of double track were laid from Glenfield to Leppington.
- New stations with car parks were built at Edmondson Park and Leppington.
- A new train stabling facility was built west of Leppington. It can hold up to 20 trains.
The plan for stage two was approved in November 2010. A company called John Holland Group was chosen to design and build this stage.
On September 13, 2014, the government announced that construction was finished. The project was completed a year early and cost less than expected. The line officially opened on February 8, 2015.
Other projects that helped
Two other projects also helped the South West Rail Link work better:
- The East Hills Line was upgraded. This allowed more trains to run and helped separate fast trains from local trains.
- The Auburn stabling project provided more places to store trains.
How does the South West Rail Link operate?
Train testing on the new line began in November 2014. Passenger services started on February 8, 2015. At first, it was a shuttle service running every 30 minutes between Leppington and Liverpool.
In December 2015, the South West Rail Link became part of the T2 Airport, Inner West & South Line. Some trains went to the city, while others continued to Liverpool.
In November 2017, the T2 line was changed. All T2 and T5 Cumberland Line services now use the South West Rail Link. They start or end at Leppington.
Future plans for the train line
There have been ideas to extend the South West Rail Link. One idea is to extend it from Leppington to the new Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek.
However, the government has said there are no immediate plans to build this extension. They have made sure that space is kept for a future train line, like tunnels under the airport runway.
In 2015, the New South Wales government announced plans to protect land for future extensions. They want to make sure the path for the train line is kept clear, even if they don't build it right away.
From Leppington, the line could extend to Rossmore. Then, it might split into two branches: one to Bringelly and another to Narellan. Possible new stations could be at Rossmore, Bringelly, Maryland, Oran Park, and Narellan.
A study looked into train connections for Western Sydney and the new airport. This study suggested building a "North-South Link" from Schofields to Macarthur, passing through the airport. It also suggested extending the South West Rail Link from Leppington to the "Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis," which is an area near the airport. This means passengers might need to change trains to get to the airport itself. Because of these new ideas, the plans for extending the South West Rail Link are currently on hold.
