Not only will we have the
convenience of a new rail line in 2019, we’ll be the first region in Australia
to experience a fully-automated rapid transit rail network. While you might
still end up running late for work of a morning and rushing out the door, you
won’t have to worry so much about ‘missing the train’ – there’ll be another one
within minutes.
NSW Premier Mike Baird and
Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian announced this week that Sydney’s new
rapid transit trains will run every four minutes during peak hours on the North
West Rail Link. It will be the first stage of a new Sydney Rapid Transit
Network likely to be implemented in the coming years.
Included in the first stage of the
network will be the 8 new stations on the North West Rail Link, along with 5
existing stations that will be upgraded to handle the modern trains. The trains
will be built by Alstom, an international supplier that makes trains for cities
including Singapore, Hong Kong, Milan and Amsterdam.
Who’s ‘driving’ the trains?
The Northwest Rapid Transit
consortium have the contract to deliver the North West Rail Link by the first
half of 2019 and operate it for 15 years. The consortium is made up of MTR
Corporation (Australia), John Holland, Leighton Contractors, UGL Rail Services
and Plenary Group.
Other construction
contractors
The tunnelling contract for the North West Rail Link was
awarded to Thiess John Holland Dragados in mid-2013,
and the first tunnel boring machine, named ‘Elizabeth’ has already started work,
a month ahead of schedule.
If you’re keen to keep up with infrastructure developments
in the Northwest and Western Sydney, consider coming along to the Small Business Summit Greater Western Sydney
on 8 October 2014. Tickets for the 7.00am – 12.30pm event are just $132, less
if you’re a Sydney Hills Business Chamber member. Much of the event will be
focussed on how the region will change in the next 5 years, in terms of social
trends, use of technology, and infrastructure improvements. One of the Summit panellists
will be Tom Gellibrand, Deputy Project Director, Rapid Transit Integration on
the North West Rail Project. As former Deputy Director General of the
Department of Planning, he has great insight into infrastructure developments
in our region.
