Greens Call for Double Decker Trains for North West Rail Link The Greens MLC, Dr Mehreen Faruqi, has recently distributed a brochure questioning the NSW Government proposal to construct a single deck NWRL that is not capable of integrating with the rest of the network the content of the Green brochure is reproduced below. The NSW government is finally building the long-awaited North West Rail Link. This is an overdue public transport project, and the Greens are supportive of building a rail connection to the north west. However, there is an enormous 'catch' that could make the whole $8.3 billion project redundant: The government is proposing to spend the money constructing a single-deck, driverless ‘metro-style’ train system, instead of stand-ard double-deck Sydney Trains that have the capacity to integrate with the rest of the network.
chaotic, crowded, and potentially inopera-ble without increasing peak-hour double-deck services coming down the North Shore Line. The government has not yet released plans for how Chatswood will handle thousands more commuters changing trains every day before the mythi-cal second harbour crossing is built. • The line is being constructed as a public-private partnership: a business model that over the past decade has resulted in such overpriced, underutilised infrastructure fiascoes such as the Cross City Tunnel, the Lane Cove Tunnel, and the Airport Rail Link.
North West Rail Link with existing Epping-Chatswood line Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian has tried to justify the single-deck decision as a way of cutting “dwell times” and increasing ca-pacity. But what’s the whole story? • Metro-style trains’ inability to integrate with the existing network will mean that this line will operate separately and isolated until more single-deckcompatible lines are built, for which no strategy, program or budget has been announced by the government. • The new Epping-Chatswood line, only opened in 2009, will have to be retrofit-ted for the metro-style services. The government has not yet announced how the existing Epping-Chatswood services will be replaced while the line is being ‘converted’, which could take up to 12 months. • Travellers from stations north of Epping will no longer be able to go directly into the city via Chatswood, instead having to change at either Epping or Chatswood. • Single-deck trains have less space for seating, meaning commuters will have an uncomfortable journey over long distances. This also disincentivises people from using rail, which will only be an attractive transport option so long as it is reliable, frequent, and pleasant. • Independent Fairfax Media analysis has shown that the City-bound change-over at Chatswood will be
RAIL & ROAD March 2014
The government has the option of avoiding a complete disaster simply by building tunnels big enough for doubledeck trains to be installed in the future. But currently, the plans are to drill tunnels 40 cm too small for standard Sydney Trains rolling stock. Larger tunnels must be built in order to accommodate double-deck trains. It’s not too late to change the Transport Minister’s mind. ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE Check out the Double-Deck Trains For North West Rail campaign website at www.mehreenfaruqi.org.au/NWRL. You can: • Email Gladys Berejiklian and tell the Transport Minister we need larger tunnels to accommodate double-deck • Download and share our campaign material • Sign the petition initiated by Beecroft-Cheltenham Civic Trust • Read and watch more articles and videos about the new rail link • Sign up to volunteer in Mehreen’s office and help us build the campaign!
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