Northern Sydney Freight Corridor

The Northern Sydney Freight Corridor is a proposal to improve access between Sydney and Newcastle for freight trains. Frequent passenger services operate on the Main Northern Line between North Strathfield and Broadmeadow. These passenger services take priority, meaning freight trains can be delayed and are subject to a curfew during peak passenger train hours. The Northern Sydney Freight Corridor aims to reduce delays, reduce the length of the curfew and increase capacity by providing additional train paths. The development of the NSFC will be managed by Transport for New South Wales on behalf of the Australian Government.^[1]

Existing infrastructure

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 used by express passenger trains to overtake all stations passenger trains in addition to its use by freight trains. Between Pennant Hills and Thornleigh there are two extra tracks, but these are too short for 1500m trains. The Main Northern line has seen two upgrades as part of the CityRail Clearways Project. An additional platform was opened at Berowra in 2006, and in 2009 an additional platform and passing loop was opened at Hornsby for the recent opening of the Epping to Chatswood Railway Line. These allow overtaking of terminating suburban trains. There are also several refuges for freight trains between Hornsby and Broadmeadow.

See also

• Southern Sydney Freight Line - a similar scheme in the south.

References

1. ^ NSFC project profile - Transport for NSW