Examine individual changes

'{{Short description|none}} {{about|railways in Sydney in general|the organisation responsible for maintaining the day to day running of suburban and intercity services|Sydney Trains}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} [[File:A set and M set at Liverpool railway station 20171231.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Sydney Trains A set|A set]] and [[Sydney Trains M set|M set]] at [[Liverpool railway station, Sydney|Liverpool station]], on the [[Sydney Trains]] [[Inner West & Leppington Line|T2]], [[Bankstown Line|T3]] and [[Cumberland Line|T5]] lines]] [[File:Arlington light rail stop 2013-08-10.jpg|thumb|Arlington station on the L1 [[Dulwich Hill Line]], 1 of 3 lines on the [[Light rail in Sydney|Sydney Light Rail]] network]] [[File:Sydney Metro Kellyville Sunset1.jpg|alt=|thumb|[[Sydney Metro]] Northwest Line near [[Kellyville railway station|Kellyville station]]]] [[Sydney]], the largest city in [[Australia]], has an extensive network of passenger and freight railways. The passenger system includes an extensive [[suburban railway]] network, operated by [[Sydney Trains]], a [[Sydney Metro|metro]] network and a [[Light rail in Sydney|light rail]] network. A dedicated [[Metropolitan Goods railway line|freight network]] also exists. Future expansion of the light rail network includes the [[Parramatta Light Rail]]. Existing light rail services are the [[Inner West Light Rail]] and the [[CBD & South East Light Rail]]. [[Central railway station, Sydney|Central station]] is the major terminus for [[Sydney Trains]] suburban services, while Sydney Terminal (now also known as Central Station) serves [[NSW TrainLink]] regional and intercity services. Sydney's [[Light rail in Sydney|light rail network]] also passes through Central. [[Journey Beyond]]'s ''[[Indian Pacific]]'' train service to [[East Perth railway station|Perth]] also departs from here.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/fares-and-timetables/stations-and-terminals|title=Stations and Terminals|website=greatsouthernrail.com.au|access-date=2017-09-28|archive-date=9 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009063613/http://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/fares-and-timetables/stations-and-terminals|url-status=live}}</ref> Sydney's suburban rail network is the busiest in Australia, with over 359 million journeys made in the 2017–18 financial year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/system/files/media/documents/2018/Sydney%20Trains%20Annual%20Report%202017-18.pdf|title=Sydney Trains Annual Report 2017–18|publisher=Sydney Trains|page=4|access-date=16 February 2019|archive-date=2 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202024713/https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/system/files/media/documents/2018/Sydney%20Trains%20Annual%20Report%202017-18.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> ==Passenger service== {{main|Sydney Trains}} [[File:Australian Census 2011 demographic map - Inner Sydney by SA1 - BCP field 7837 One method Train Persons.svg|thumb|right|400px|Distribution map showing the percentage of the employed population who travel to work by train only, according to the [[Census in Australia#2011|2011 census]]]] [[File:Sydney Trains Network Map.svg|alt=|thumb|330x330px|The Sydney Trains passenger rail network.]] [[Commuter rail|Suburban rail]] services in Sydney have been operated since 2013 by [[Sydney Trains]]. Over 1 million weekday passenger journeys are made on 2,365 daily services over {{Cvt|2080|km}} of track and through 306 stations (including interurban lines).<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.arhs.com.au/ | title=CityRail timetabling – a look inside the covers. | publisher=Railway Digest, October 2006. ARHS NSW Division | access-date=15 February 2007 | archive-date=16 September 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060916014028/http://www.arhs.com.au/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Most trains do not operate between midnight and 4.30am.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://transportnsw.info/travel-info/using-public-transport/late-night-services|title=Late Night Services|website=Transport for NSW|language=en|access-date=8 June 2018|archive-date=13 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413190501/https://transportnsw.info/travel-info/using-public-transport/late-night-services|url-status=live}}</ref> Suburban services operate along the portions of the main lines from Sydney to the north, west, south and south-west, and also along several dedicated suburban lines. All of these lines are electrified at overhead 1500 V DC, starting in 1926. Some of the suburban stations are also served by the intercity and regional trains operated by NSW TrainLink. Most suburban services operate through central Sydney via the underground City Circle (not a true circle line but a two-way loop extending under the CBD from Central station), the [[Eastern Suburbs railway line|Eastern Suburbs line]], or over the [[Sydney Harbour Bridge|Harbour Bridge]]. There have been long-term plans for a further underground line passing beneath [[Pitt Street]] to a new harbour crossing. This is currently under construction as part of the [[Sydney Metro City & Southwest]] and expected to be completed in 2024. Timetables are published for all lines, and most lines run on minimum frequencies of every 15 minutes from early morning to midnight, 7 days a week. Frequencies are higher during peak periods and over shared routes. Although frequencies match [[rapid transit|metro]] style operation in the city core, few Sydneysiders use the underground network as a metro, most journeys being commuter trips from suburbs into the central city area. An exception to this is the [[Eastern Suburbs railway line|Eastern Suburbs line]] which serves the high density inner eastern suburbs and opened in 1979. ===Rolling stock=== {{main|Rail rolling stock in New South Wales}} All suburban passenger trains in Sydney are [[Electric Multiple Unit|electric multiple unit]]s. Upon electrification in the 1920s Sydney operated single-deck multiple units, but these were progressively withdrawn from the 1960s until their demise in 1993. Single-deck automatic trains were reintroduced to Sydney in May 2019, with the completion of the [[Sydney Metro Northwest]]. Double-deck trailer carriages were delivered to the NSW Government Railways in the 1960s, and incorporated into sets with single-deck power cars. When coupled with the double decker trailer carriages, they formed the world's first fully double decker electric multiple unit trains.<ref>{{Cite web|last=transportnsw|date=2018-08-17|title=Sydney's Transport History – Double Decker Trains|url=https://transportnswblog.com/2018/08/18/sydneys-transport-history-double-deckers/|access-date=2022-02-08|website=Transport NSW Blog|language=en|archive-date=29 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211229151258/https://transportnswblog.com/2018/08/18/sydneys-transport-history-double-deckers/|url-status=live}}</ref> The majority of suburban passenger trains in Sydney today are double-deck multiple units. ===Depots=== Electric cars are maintained at depots at [[Hornsby Maintenance Depot|Hornsby]] in the northern suburbs, [[Mortdale Maintenance Depot|Mortdale]] in the southern suburbs, and [[Flemington Maintenance Depot|Flemington]] in the western suburbs. A depot at [[Punchbowl Maintenance Depot|Punchbowl]] in the southwest closed in 1994 and has since been demolished. These four depots were all built and opened with the opening of electrified services in the 1920s. Heavy maintenance of passenger cars was carried out at the [[Electric Carriage Workshops]], [[Chullora]] and [[Eveleigh Carriage Workshops|Suburban Car Workshops]], [[Redfern railway station|Redfern]]. Heavy maintenance is now contracted out to Maintrain, a [[UGL Rail]] subsidiary, with workshops at [[Clyde, New South Wales|Clyde]]. ==Freight services== Freight services operate over most of the suburban railway lines in Sydney, however due to the high frequency of passenger services and the lack of freight only tracks, there is a curfew on freight movements during peak hours.<ref name="gaz">{{cite web |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/sharing-tracks-in-sydney.html |title=Sharing tracks in Sydney |work=Railway Gazette |date=29 July 2008 |author=Ian Imrie |publisher=railwaygazette.com |access-date=2008-08-16 |archive-date=21 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521083619/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/sharing-tracks-in-sydney.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The major interstate freight routes are the [[Main Southern railway line, New South Wales|Main Southern]] and [[Main North railway line, New South Wales|Main North]] lines, with the [[South Coast railway line, New South Wales|Illawarra]] and [[Main Western railway line, New South Wales|Main Western]] lines serving lineside industries and as alternate interstate routes. In the inner city area the [[Metropolitan Goods railway line|Metropolitan Goods lines]] connects major freight terminals to the main passenger lines and the [[Southern Sydney Freight Line]] which runs parallel to the Main South line from the western end of the Metropolitan Goods lines to a point beyond the end of suburban services.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.ssfl.artc.com.au/ |title = Southern Sydney Freight Line Project |publisher = ssfl.artc.com.au |access-date = 2008-08-16 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130411120539/http://www.ssfl.artc.com.au/ |archive-date = 11 April 2013 }}</ref> The [[Northern Sydney Freight Corridor]] is a series of projects along the Main Northern line between Sydney and Newcastle aimed at increasing the number of freight trains operating along the route, by separating passenger and freight traffic. The main traffic is [[Containerization|containerised freight]]. The main intermodal terminal are at [[Leightonfield, New South Wales|Leightonfield]], [[Yennora, New South Wales|Yennora]] and [[Minto, New South Wales|Minto]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20070531017 |title=Port Botany Rail Freight Strategy – |date=31 May 2007 |work=NSW Parliament: Questions Without Notice |publisher=parliament.nsw.gov.au |access-date=2008-08-16 |archive-date=20 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920053505/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V3Key/LA20070531017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Interstate trains to Sydney terminals are up to {{Convert|1500|m}} long, while short-haul container trains from the terminals to the [[Port Botany (seaport)|Port Botany seaport]] are around {{Convert|600|m}} long.<ref name="gaz" /> Coal services to [[Port Kembla, New South Wales|Port Kembla]] are another major traffic. Freight operators include [[Crawfords Freightlines]], [[Independent Rail of Australia|Independent Rail]], [[Pacific National]], [[Qube Holdings]] and [[SCT Logistics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneyports.com.au/trade_services/logistics/rail_operations |title=Sydney Ports – Rail Operations |publisher=sydneyports.com.au |access-date=2008-08-16 |archive-date=22 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080722071436/http://www.sydneyports.com.au/trade_services/logistics/rail_operations |url-status=live }}</ref> ==History== [[Image:Sydney rail 1894.png|thumb|300px|right|Sydney's rail system in 1894.]] [[File:Central Station, 1924 (4010230424).jpg|thumb|[[Central railway station, Sydney|Central railway station]] in 1924.]] [[File:Sydney railway map.jpg|thumb|1939 network map]] [[File:Red Rattler set F1 at Sydney Central.jpg|thumb|Set F1, a preserved pre-war [[New South Wales Standard suburban carriage stock|Standard stock]] "Red Rattler".]] The first railway in Sydney was opened in 1855 between Sydney and [[Granville railway station|Granville]], now a suburb of Sydney but then a major agricultural centre. The railway formed the basis of the [[New South Wales Government Railways]]. Passenger and freight services were operated from the beginning.<ref>''The Centenary of the Sydney–Parramatta Railway'' Singleton, C.C. [[Australian Railway History|Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]], September, 1955 pp109-131</ref> By 1880, there was half hourly service to [[Homebush railway station|Homebush]]. In 1884, the railway opened from Strathfield to Hornsby. The North Shore line opened in 1893 to a harbour side station at Milson's Point, and was originally built because parliament thought it would be a shorter route for country produce from the north to Sydney Harbour (a role it has never fulfilled).{{Citation needed|date=September 2008}} Sydney's first deliberately suburban railway was a line to Belmore which opened in 1896 and was soon extended to [[Bankstown, New South Wales|Bankstown]]. Sydney's suburban passenger service was severely hampered by the inconvenient location of its city terminus, at a site south of Devonshire Street. Most of Sydney's population was well served by [[Trams in Sydney|trams]], and the suburban railways had a relatively small initial role to play. This was to change in the 1920s. The railway system as it exists today is really the result of the vision and foresight of [[John Bradfield (engineer)|John Bradfield]], one of Australia's most respected and famous civil engineers. He was involved in the design and construction of [[Sydney underground railways]] in the 1920s and 1930s, but he is more famous for the associated design and construction of the [[Sydney Harbour Bridge]].<ref>Spearritt, P. [https://books.google.com/books?id=8Vt49nQqVkYC&pg=PA135&lpg=PA135&dq=bradfield+plan+train#PPA135,M1 ''Sydney's Century: A History'']. Retrieved 9 September 2011</ref> Bradfield's vision for metro-style subways in Sydney was inspired by the subways he observed in [[Paris]], [[London]] and [[New York City]]. ===Electrification=== [[File:Bradfield Scheme Sydney CBD Railways alt.png|thumb|The original railway network for Sydney CBD planned by [[John Bradfield (engineer)|John Bradfield]].]] New South Wales uses an overhead electrification system at 1,500 [[volt]]s [[direct current]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://extranet.artc.com.au/docs/eng/comms/procedures/CDS03.pdf|title=Modification to Specs|publisher=ARTC|access-date=9 September 2011|archive-date=18 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318193813/http://extranet.artc.com.au/docs/eng/comms/procedures/CDS03.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Whilst inferior to and more expensive than modern single phase alternating current equipment, it was in vogue during the 1920s, having been used in Melbourne since 1919 and is generally sufficient for the operation of electric multiple unit trains. However, the introduction of powerful electric locomotives in the 1950s, followed by the [[Sydney Trains M set|Millennium train]] in 2002, revealed drawbacks in this antiquated system of electrification. As the voltage is relatively low, high currents are required to supply a given amount of power, which necessitates the use of very heavy duty cabling and substation equipment. Until the retirement of electric locomotives from freight service in the 1990s, it was often necessary to observe a "power margin" to ensure that substations were not overloaded. This situation was similar to that which applied to [[The Milwaukee Road]]'s 3,000 VDC electrification. Plans to electrify the Hunter Valley at 25 kV alternating current were abandoned in the 1990s. Electrification came to Sydney's suburbs on 9 December 1926 with the first suburban electric service running between Central station and [[Oatley railway station|Oatley]] on the [[Illawarra railway line|Illawarra line]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Churchman |first=Geoffrey B. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/38320988 |title=Railway electrification in Australia and New Zealand |date=1995 |publisher=[[IPL Books]] |isbn=0-908876-79-3 |location=Sydney, N.S.W. |oclc=38320988}}</ref>{{rp|79f}} In the same year, the first underground railway was constructed north from Central station to [[St James railway station, Sydney|St James]] in Sydney's central business district. Electric trains that had previously terminated at Central station continued north, diving underground at the [[Goulburn Street]] tunnel portal, stopping at [[Museum railway station, Sydney|Museum station]] and then terminating at St James.<ref>''Jubilee of Sydney's Electric Trains'' Brady, I.A. [[Australian Railway History|Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin]], March 1976 pp41-66</ref> Other lines were soon electrified. Also, in conjunction with the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge which opened in 1932, an additional four-track underground line was constructed from Central station to [[Town Hall railway station, Sydney|Town Hall]] and [[Wynyard railway station, Sydney|Wynyard]]. Two of the tracks continued over the Harbour Bridge connecting to the [[North Shore railway line|North Shore line]]. It was only in 1956 that the two tracks terminating at Wynyard were linked to the line terminating at St James via the Circular Quay viaduct. This new arrangement, dubbed the [[City Circle]], allowed services to make a continuous run through the city and return to the suburbs without having to terminate. ===Electrification timeline=== * '''1926''' – [[Illawarra railway line|Illawarra line]] to [[Royal National Park railway station|Royal National Park]], [[Bankstown railway line|Bankstown line]], [[Central, St James and Museum|City Circle]] * '''1927''' – [[North Shore railway line|North Shore line]] * '''1929''' – [[Main Western railway line|Western line]] to [[Parramatta railway station|Parramatta]] * '''1929''' – [[Main Northern railway line|Northern line]] ([[Strathfield railway station|Strathfield]] to [[Hornsby railway station|Hornsby]]) * '''1929''' – [[Main Southern railway line|South line]] to [[Liverpool railway station, Sydney|Liverpool]] * '''1936''' – [[Carlingford railway line|Carlingford line]] from [[Clyde railway station, Sydney|Clyde]] to [[Rosehill railway station|Rosehill]] * '''1955''' – Parramatta to [[Penrith railway station, Sydney|Penrith]] * '''1957''' – Penrith to [[Lithgow railway station|Lithgow]] * '''1959''' – Rosehill to [[Carlingford railway station|Carlingford]] * '''1959''' – Hornsby to [[Cowan railway station|Cowan]] * '''1960''' – Cowan to [[Gosford railway station|Gosford]] * '''1968''' – Liverpool to [[Campbelltown railway station|Campbelltown]] * '''1975''' – [[Blacktown railway station|Blacktown]] to [[Riverstone railway station|Riverstone]] * '''1980''' – [[Loftus railway station, Sydney|Loftus]] to [[Waterfall railway station, Sydney|Waterfall]] * '''1982''' – Gosford to [[Wyong railway station|Wyong]] * '''1984''' – Wyong to [[Newcastle railway station, New South Wales|Newcastle]] * '''1985''' – Waterfall to [[Port Kembla railway station|Port Kembla]]. * '''1985''' – [[Macarthur railway station|Macarthur station]] opened * '''1991''' – Riverstone to [[Richmond railway station, Sydney|Richmond]] * '''1996''' – [[Coniston railway station, New South Wales|Coniston]] to [[Dapto railway station|Dapto]] * '''2002''' – Dapto to [[Kiama railway station|Kiama]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=4801141 | title=Kiama Railway Station Group and Turntable | publisher=NSW Environment & Heritage www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ | date=February 2010 | access-date=21 May 2014 | archive-date=21 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521065918/http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/heritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=4801141 | url-status=live }}</ref> New electrified lines were built: * '''1926''' – line from [[Central railway station, Sydney|Central]] to [[St James railway station, Sydney|St James station]] and [[Museum railway station|Museum]] opened * '''1931''' – line opened to [[East Hills railway station|East Hills]] * '''1932''' – line from Central to [[Town Hall railway station, Sydney|Town Hall]], [[Wynyard railway station, Sydney|Wynyard]], the [[Sydney Harbour Bridge]], [[Milsons Point railway station|Milsons Point station]] and [[North Sydney railway station|North Sydney station]] opened * '''1939''' – Line to [[Cronulla railway station|Cronulla]] built and connected with the Illawarra line at [[Sutherland railway station|Sutherland]] * '''1956''' – [[Circular Quay railway station|Circular Quay station]] opened completing the [[City Circle]] * '''1979''' – [[Eastern Suburbs railway line|Eastern Suburbs railway]] completed to [[Bondi Junction railway station|Bondi Junction]] * '''1987''' – East Hills – [[Glenfield railway station, Sydney|Glenfield]] line opened * '''1996''' – Y-link built between Harris Park and Merrylands allowing the introduction of [[Cumberland railway line|Cumberland line]] services from Campbelltown to Blacktown * '''1998''' – line from [[Flemington railway station, Sydney|Flemington]] and [[Lidcombe railway station|Lidcombe]] to [[Olympic Park railway line|Olympic Park]]. * '''2000''' – line to [[Airport railway line, Sydney|Sydney Airport]] and [[Wolli Creek railway station|Wolli Creek]] built as a [[public-private partnership]] by the [[Airport Link Company]] * '''2009''' – [[Epping to Chatswood railway line]] opened * '''2015''' – [[South West Rail Link]] opened * '''2019''' – [[Sydney Metro Northwest]] opened ==Organisation== [[File:NSW Transport (Sydney, Australia) Rail Inspection Train 01.jpg|thumb|A track inspection train]] The rail network in the metropolitan area of Sydney is owned, maintained and operated by [[Transport Asset Holding Entity]], a NSW State Government owned corporation. Third party access to their tracks by other freight operators is allowed under an open-access arrangement. Track outside the Sydney metropolitan area is operated and maintained by the [[Australian Rail Track Corporation]]. Suburban passenger trains within Sydney are operated by [[Sydney Trains]] and long-distance trains that run through Sydney are operated by [[NSW TrainLink]]. RailCorp was formed on 1 January 2004 by the merger of the [[State Rail Authority]] (SRA) and the metropolitan functions of the [[Rail Infrastructure Corporation]] (RIC). Until 1972, railways in NSW were operated by the [[Department of Railways New South Wales]] until this department was replaced by the [[Public Transport Commission]] (PTC), which was also responsible for bus and ferry services. In 1980 the PTC was broken up into the SRA, responsible for rail services, and the [[Urban Transit Authority]] (UTA), responsible for bus and ferry services. The UTA later became the [[State Transit Authority]] in 1989. In 2001, the SRA had its 'above track' operations separated from its track ownership and maintenance operations. The track maintenance operations and track ownership were moved to the new RIC. However this separation into a horizontally operated rail system was criticised for the passing of blame for rail delays and accidents between authorities, and in 2004 railways in Sydney became a vertically operated system again with the creation of RailCorp, a fusion of the SRA and the urban sections of the RIC. In July 2013, RailCorp was reduced to become the owner of the infrastructure and rolling stock, with the service provision that it operated under the [[CityRail]] and [[CountryLink]] brands transferred to [[Sydney Trains]] and [[NSW TrainLink]].<ref>[http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/railcorp-job-cuts-first-of-many-unions-20120515-1yo93.html#ixzz1uwKcuUpH "RailCorp job cuts first of many: unions"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227163802/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/railcorp-job-cuts-first-of-many-unions-20120515-1yo93.html#ixzz1uwKcuUpH |date=27 February 2014 }} ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'' 15 May 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-news/ruthless-railcorp-reforms-planned-as-middle-management-axed/story-fnb5f12x-1226355250747 "Ruthless RailCorp reforms planned as middle management axed"] ''[[Daily Telegraph (Australia)|Daily Telegraph]]'' 15 May 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.railcorp.info/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/7021/RailCorp_Corporate_Plan.pdf Corporate Plan 2012/13] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325052252/http://www.railcorp.info/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/7021/RailCorp_Corporate_Plan.pdf |date=25 March 2013 }} RailCorp</ref><ref>[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/jobs-to-go-as-railcorp-gets-the-axe/story-e6freuy9-1226517985059 700 jobs to go as RailCorp gets the axe] ''Daily Telegraph'' 16 November 2012</ref> ==Gauge== All trains in Sydney use [[standard gauge]], with a [[Rail gauge|distance]] of {{RailGauge|1435mm}} between the rails. ==Terminology== The railways in Sydney generally use British-derived terminology. * '''Points''' refers to what in American English are known as [[railroad switch]]es, or crossovers. * '''Up''' refers to the direction "towards Sydney", where 'Sydney' is generally defined as Central Station. * '''Down''' refers to the direction "away from Sydney", or "towards the country". * '''Signal box''' refers to the signal control installation ('''tower''' in American terminology). ==Railway lines== ===Mainlines=== Four main 'trunk' lines radiate from Sydney to the north, south, west, and southwest: * The '''[[Main Western railway line, New South Wales|Main Western railway line]]''' from Central through Strathfield and west to Penrith and western NSW. * The '''[[Main North railway line, New South Wales|Main North railway line]]''' from Strathfield north to Hornsby and on to northern NSW * The '''[[Main Southern railway line, New South Wales|Main Southern railway line]]''' from Lidcombe through Regents Park and Cabramatta and southern NSW * The '''[[South Coast railway line, New South Wales|South Coast railway line]]''' (also known as Illawarra railway line) from Redfern south to Sutherland and on to Wollongong and the South Coast. ===Other suburban lines=== Other passenger lines branch from or interconnect with the four main lines: * The '''[[Airport Link, Sydney|Airport Link]]''', an underground line linking the airport to the city. * The '''[[Bankstown railway line]]''', from Sydenham to Lidcombe via Bankstown * The '''[[City Circle]]''', a mostly underground loop in central Sydney * The '''[[Cronulla railway line]]''', from Sutherland to Cronulla * The '''[[East Hills railway line]]''', from Tempe to Glenfield via East Hills. * The '''[[Eastern Suburbs railway line]]''', a mostly underground line from Central to Bondi Junction * The '''[[North Shore railway line]]''', from Central to Hornsby via the Harbour Bridge * The '''[[Main Southern railway line, New South Wales|Old Main South railway line]]''', from Granville to Cabramatta via Fairfield * The '''[[Olympic Park railway line]]''', a balloon loop line between Lidcombe and Olympic Park * The '''[[Richmond railway line]]''', from Blacktown to Richmond * The '''[[South West Rail Link]]''', from Glenfield to Leppington. ===Rapid transit lines=== * The '''[[Sydney Metro Northwest]]''', from Tallawong to Chatswood ** Includes the converted '''[[Epping to Chatswood rail link]]''', an underground line connecting the North Shore and Main Northern lines, and serving the Macquarie Park employment area. === Light rail lines === [[File:Historical tram - panoramio (1).jpg|thumb|A former Brisbane tram departing [[Royal National Park railway station|Royal National Park station]] for the [[Sydney Tramway Museum]] in Loftus]] Lines with [[light rail]] specifications: * The '''[[Dulwich Hill Line]]''' (otherwise known as the '''Inner West Light Rail'''), from Central to Dulwich Hill. Mostly runs along a former section of the Metropolitan Goods Railway. *'''[[CBD and South East Light Rail]]''' (abbreviated to CSELR) from [[Circular Quay]] to [[Randwick, New South Wales|Randwick]] and [[Kingsford, New South Wales|Kingsford]]. The Randwick branch opened in December 2019, whilst the Kingsford branch opened in April 2020. * The '''Royal National Park line''', operated by the [[Sydney Tramway Museum]], terminating at [[Royal National Park railway station]]. Previously operated as part of the [[Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra railway line]]. ===Goods lines=== [[File:Goods train - panoramio.jpg|thumb|An [[New South Wales 82 class locomotive|82 class]] locomotive leads a goods train]] Several railway lines carry goods only: * The '''[[Metropolitan Goods railway line|Metropolitan Goods Railway]]''' from Flemington/Sefton to Port Botany, with former branches from Dulwich Hill to Rozelle Yard and from Lilyfield to Sydney Yard via Darling Harbour. * The '''[[Southern Sydney Freight Line]]''' between Macarthur and Sefton, where it connects with the Metropolitan Goods Line. * Northern Freight Pass between Thornleigh and Epping turning onto Strathfield line. ===Closed lines=== There are several closed lines in Sydney: * The '''[[Camden railway line|Camden Line]]''', from Campbelltown to Camden * The '''[[Carlingford Line]]''', from Clyde to Carlingford * The '''[[Potts Hill railway line|Potts Hill Line]]''' in Potts Hill * The '''[[Richmond-Kurrajong railway line|Richmond-Kurrajong Line]]''' from Richmond to Kurrajong * The '''[[Rogans Hill railway line|Rogans Hill Line]]''' from Westmead to Rogans Hill * The '''[[Rookwood Cemetery railway line|Rookwood Cemetery Line]]''' serving Rookwood Cemetery * The '''[[Ropes Creek railway line|Ropes Creek Line]]''' from St Marys to Ropes Creek * The [[Sandown railway line|'''Sandown Line''']] from Rosehill to Sandown. * The '''[[Warwick Farm Racecourse#Transport|Warwick Farm Racecourse Line]]''' from Warwick Farm to Warwick Farm Racecourse Parts of the Carlingford and Sandown lines will be converted to become a dedicated corridor for the [[Parramatta Light Rail]], most of the Carlingford Line as part of the light rail service, and Sandown Line being used in part to connect it to a light rail depot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Assess-and-Regulate/Projects/Parramatta-Light-Rail/Key-features-and-FAQs|title=Parramatta Light Rail – Key features and FAQs|website=Department of Planning and Environment|language=en|access-date=2018-03-23|archive-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323220049/http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Assess-and-Regulate/Projects/Parramatta-Light-Rail/Key-features-and-FAQs|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://data.parramattalightrail.nsw.gov.au/s3fs-public/PLR_alignment_map.pdf|title=Preferred route – stage 1|publisher=Transport for NSW|access-date=23 March 2018|archive-date=28 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228051101/http://data.parramattalightrail.nsw.gov.au/s3fs-public/PLR_alignment_map.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> ===Proposed and under construction=== {{Main|Proposed railways in Sydney}} The following lines are under construction: *[[Parramatta Light Rail]] between [[Westmead railway station|Westmead station]] and [[Sydney Olympic Park]] scheduled to open in stages from 2023 *[[Sydney Metro City & Southwest]], the second stage of Sydney Metro network, between [[Chatswood railway station|Chatswood]] and [[Bankstown railway station|Bankstown]] scheduled to open in 2024. *[[Western Sydney Airport line]], between [[St Marys, New South Wales|St Marys]] and [[Western Sydney Airport]]. * [[Sydney Metro West]], between the Sydney CBD and Westmead via Inner West suburbs. ===Underground sections=== [[File:St James Station Sydney.jpg|thumb|right|Platform 2 at [[St James railway station, Sydney|St James Station]] on the City Circle]] [[File:Bondi Junction railway station 20180603.jpg|thumb|[[Bondi Junction railway station|Bondi Junction Station]] on the Eastern Suburbs line.]] [[File:SydneyMetroHillsShowgroundStation2.jpg|thumb|[[Hills Showground railway station|Hills Showground station]] on the [[Sydney Metro Northwest]] line.]] Sydney has four underground lines. These sections of railway are extensions of suburban main line commuter services and are not a completely segregated true [[rapid transit|metro]] system. The underground sections, especially the [[City Circle]], typically have frequent services. [[Sydney Metro]] forms the largest part of Sydney's underground railways and the first subway system in an Australian city.<ref>{{cite web|title=Funding secured: Sydney Metro to be a reality|url=http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/funding-secured-sydney-metro-be-reality|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623191517/http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/funding-secured-sydney-metro-be-reality|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 June 2015|publisher=Transport for NSW|date=4 June 2015}}</ref> *The oldest is the main city loop, the [[City Circle]], which runs between [[Central railway station, Sydney|Central]], [[Town Hall railway station, Sydney|Town Hall]], [[Wynyard railway station, Sydney|Wynyard]], [[Circular Quay railway station|Circular Quay]], [[St James railway station, Sydney|St James station]] and [[Museum railway station|Museum]] stations. Central and Circular Quay are above-ground stations (Circular Quay is elevated, directly underneath the Cahill Expressway), while the remainder are below ground. The line to St. James station and Museum was opened in 1926, but Circular Quay was a "missing link" until 1956. The "western limb" of the City Circle through Town Hall and Wynyard to [[Sydney Harbour Bridge]] opened in 1932, in conjunction with the opening of the [[Sydney Harbour Bridge]]. *The second, the [[Eastern Suburbs railway line|Eastern Suburbs line]], opened in 1979. It runs between [[Redfern railway station|Redfern]], Central, Town Hall, [[Martin Place railway station|Martin Place]], [[Kings Cross railway station, Sydney|Kings Cross]], [[Edgecliff railway station|Edgecliff]], Woollahra (Unused Platforms) and [[Bondi Junction railway station|Bondi Junction]] stations. All these are underground, but there are three above-ground sections, two on viaduct and one in cutting. Most of the [[railway platform|platforms]] at Redfern and Central stations are above ground, including the platforms for the City Circle, but the Eastern Suburbs line is underground. At the time of its construction, the line had been intended to finish at [[Kingsford, New South Wales|Kingsford]] but it was curtailed at Bondi Junction for political and financial reasons. In the late 1990s, there were plans to extend the line to [[Bondi Beach]], but these have since fallen through. *The third underground line is the [[Airport railway line, Sydney|Airport Line]], which opened in 2000, prior to the [[2000 Summer Olympics|Sydney Olympics]]. This serves Central, Green Square, [[Mascot railway station|Mascot]], [[Domestic Airport railway station, Sydney|Domestic Airport]] (underneath the Domestic terminals), [[International Airport railway station, Sydney|International Airport]] (underneath International terminal at Sydney Airport), and [[Wolli Creek railway station|Wolli Creek]]. After Wolli Creek it joins the above-ground East Hills line at [[Turrella railway station|Turrella]]. *The fourth underground line is the [[Epping to Chatswood railway line|Epping to Chatswood rail link]], opened in 2009. It links [[Chatswood railway station|Chatswood]] to [[Epping railway station, Sydney|Epping]], with new underground platforms at Epping and new underground stations at [[Macquarie University railway station|Macquarie University]], [[Macquarie Park railway station|Macquarie Park]] and [[North Ryde railway station|North Ryde]]. The line was intended to continue from Epping to [[Parramatta railway station|Parramatta]], incorporating the existing Carlingford line, but this section was postponed during the railway's construction because of financial reasons. A stub tunnel was constructed at the northern end of Epping station in the event that work on the remainder of the line ever resumed. In 2019, the Epping to Chatswood railway was incorporated into the new [[Sydney Metro|Northwest Metro]], which involved converting the line's commuter rail configuration to a rapid transit system. This ended the possibility of extending the railway to Parramatta as a commuter rail line. ==== Disused tunnels ==== Sydney has several disused tunnels. The best known of these are those leading out of [[St James railway station, Sydney|St James station]]. There are also several disused tunnels and platforms on the Eastern Suburbs line, which like St James station provided for the possibility of four tunnels even though only two are in use. There is a stub tunnel at North Sydney railway station, north of platform 2, for a never constructed Manly to Mona Vale line.<ref>Besser, Linton, ''[http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/ghost-trains-the-forgotten-rail-network/2007/07/20/1184560040257.html "Ghost trains: the rail network that never was"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503025249/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/ghost-trains-the-forgotten-rail-network/2007/07/20/1184560040257.html |date=3 May 2008 }}'', [[Sydney Morning Herald]], 21 July 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.railpage.org.au/ausrail/98nov/msg00490.html|title=Aus Rail|access-date=29 December 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000929172836/http://www.railpage.org.au/ausrail/98nov/msg00490.html|archive-date=29 September 2000}}</ref> From the top of the northern stairs to platform 10 at Redfern station it is possible to view the unfinished structure for the low-level "up" (toward Central) Southern Suburbs platforms. The associated never-used tunnels are quite complex. Immediately to the left is the (surface level) stub tunnel for the "down" Southern Suburbs track. This short tunnel exits on the northern side of Lawson Street road bridge. There are at least nine railway tunnels under the suburb of Redfern: some in use, some never used. Platforms 26 and 27 at Central lie above the Eastern Suburbs Railway platforms and have never been used for trains.<ref>Besser, Linton, ''[http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/on-the-rails-to-nowhere/2007/07/20/1184560040323.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 "On the rails to nowhere"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804124055/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/on-the-rails-to-nowhere/2007/07/20/1184560040323.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 |date=4 August 2009 }}'', 21 July 2007. Retrieved 21 July 2007.</ref> Like St James station, these stations have stub tunnels, although they are much shorter. There are three tunnels for the old Pyrmont goods line, not part of the passenger railway system. One runs underneath [[Railway Square]], near the Central station railway yards. For a time, the line was used to service the [[Powerhouse Museum]]. The corridor adjacent to the tunnel is now a pedestrian pathway, the tunnel itself is disused. The second tunnel runs underneath [[Glebe, New South Wales|Glebe]] and is now part of the [[Dulwich Hill Line|Dulwich Hill light rail line]] from Central station (see [[Metropolitan Goods railway line]]). The third tunnel was created in 2000 when an extension to the [[City West Link Road]] through [[Leichhardt, New South Wales|Leichhardt]] was built on top of a cutting. This is also now used by the light rail. == See also == {{Portal|Railways}} * [[RailCorp]] * [[Sydney Trains]] * [[Rail transport in New South Wales]] ** [[Rail rollingstock in New South Wales]] ** [[Proposed railways in Sydney]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==Further reading== *{{Cite book |last=Churchman |first=Geoffrey B. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/38320988 |title=Railway electrification in Australia and New Zealand |date=1995 |publisher=[[IPL Books]] |isbn=0-908876-79-3 |location=Sydney, N.S.W. |oclc=38320988}} ==External links== *[http://www.nswrail.net NSWRail.net] * [http://www.trainsandtrams.com/sydney-train-map/ Diagrammatic history of passenger railways in Sydney] {{Sydney public transport}} {{Australian rail}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Railways in Sydney}} [[Category:Rail transport in Sydney| ]]'