South West Rail Link

[ozbob]

From the Sydney Morning Herald click here!

South-west line a railway in search of a community

South-west line a railway in search of a community
April 6, 2013 Jacob Saulwick

It is a very un-Sydney problem. Barry O'Farrell and Gladys Berejiklian were beaming when they took reporters to Leppington in the city's far south-west to inspect progress on a new rail line.

The Premier and Transport Minister, visiting the site last month, were proud to talk about how construction of the south-west rail link was running months ahead of schedule and how commuters in the area could look forward to using the new line in just three years.

But what they did not detail was how on either side of the $2.1 billion line there was not a lot happening.

The town centres, business parks and medium density housing that were meant to be served by the Leppington line will in all likelihood remain figments on a town planner's computer monitor when the south-west rail link opens in 2016.

Because of a failure to direct development near the rail line, when the south-west rail link opens at Leppington it will be surrounded by pig farms, creeks and a fair bit of bush.

The result will be the reverse of the common Sydney complaint of development racing ahead of transport.

''From the briefings that council and councillors have had so far from the state government, development in this area - around the Leppington town centre - is not going to happen for another 20 to 25 years,'' said David Bligh, a second-generation pig farmer and butcher who also sits on Camden Council.

Mr Bligh's farm and his Bringelly Bacon and Smallgoods store lie about 500 metres from the site of Leppington Station, the furthest west of two new stations to be built for the line.

While new houses and shops remain years away at Leppington, development has been pacing ahead at Narellan and the adjacent Oran Park.

These suburbs are 10 kilometres from the existing train line at Campbelltown and 10 kilometres from the new line.

At last month's council meeting, Mr Bligh said, Camden Council approved a $200 million retail development at Narellan.

''The population is down around Narellan and that centre; there is no major population around here,'' he said.

''There's this railway line, worth billions of dollars, and it's surrounded by farmland.''

Sally Lewis, who has worked in the town planning and development industry for Walker Corporation, Meriton and the State Rail Authority, offered an explanation.

She said the land around the new south-west rail link stations at Leppington and Edmondson Park had largely remained unchanged because it was held in small lots that were too expensive for the property industry to consolidate into big projects.

''When you look at Leppington, there are a lot of different owners - pig farmers, tomato farmers and so on - and amalgamating all those sites and getting committed developers in there is very difficult,'' Ms Lewis said.

This is in contrast to the situation in Oran Park and Narellan, where property for new town centres and retail strips was long ago consolidated by the one developer - the Perich family.

Another more basic problem at Leppington is the lack of a sewerage system. The nearby houses still run on septic systems. The justification for the $2.1 billion train line was also to provide new stabling facilities for trains, which will allow extra services to be operated on the East Hills line, already overcrowded in the morning.

Frances and Frank Vumbaca's two-hectare block was carved in half two years ago for the construction of the train line, and last week their property was zoned as the exact spot for the commercial development of Leppington town centre.

They are not sure what that will mean; whether it will mean high council rate increases that will force them out or whether the ''town centre'' will even happen any time soon.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Jai Rowell MP ‏@JaiRowell

Announcing south west rail link completed 1 year and $300 million ahead of schedule. @mikebairdMP @BryanDoyleMP

[ozbob]

Transport for NSW South West Rail Link --> http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects-southwestraillink

[ozbob]

NSW - First test trains hit the tracks on South West Rail Link

--> http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/b2b/sydneytrains/releases/141106-Media-Release-South-West-Rail-Link.pdf

[ozbob]

NSW South West Rail Link opens on 8 February 2015 --> http://www.transportnsw.info/en/transport-status/news/2015/swrl-launch.page

The South West Rail Link will open on Sunday 8 February 2015 – one year ahead of schedule.

You will be able to catch regular air-conditioned trains from two new stations at Leppington and Edmondson Park and have access to 1,250 free, untimed commuter car parking spaces.

Trains will run approximately every 30 minutes between Liverpool to Leppington, stopping at Edmondson Park and Glenfield, with the journey taking around 15 minutes in each direction.

Trains will run from 5am to midnight and you will be able to change trains at Glenfield or Liverpool to connect with services across Sydney, including the CBD, Parramatta and the airport.

A total of 897 weekly bus services will operate to the new stations at Leppington and Edmonsdon Park, including services from two new bus routes.

New Route 858 will run from Oran Park to Leppington via Catherine Field, and new Route 869 from Ingleburn to Liverpool via Edmondson Park.

Two existing routes, 855 from Rossmore to Liverpool and 856 from Bringelly to Liverpool, will be extended to Leppington Station.

More >> http://www.transportnsw.info/en/transport-status/news/2015/swrl-launch.page

[ozbob]

Twitter

Aust Railway Assoc ‏@AustRail now

http://tinyurl.com/mq25ah4  Rail industry applauds opening of South West Rail Link

[SurfRail]

Unsure of why they do not stop at Casula.  It's not like it has amazing service.

[ozbob]

Twitter

IRJ ‏@railjournal 4 hours ago

Sydney opens South West Rail Link http://bit.ly/1z42AEa 

[colinw]

Oh joy and happiness, another concrete-fest with a half hourly service. 

[SurfRail]

And talk about concrete.  4 platforms?  I can't understand how this makes any sense whatsoever, even accounting for the plans which see extensions to places like Narellan and Bringelly / Badgerys / St Marys.

[dancingmongoose]

^ Better than building CAMCOS single track

[colinw]

^ Better than building CAMCOS single track

Granted, but 4 platforms for the terminus of a spur line with a half hourly shuttle service?!!!!

I applaud building capacity ahead of requirements for once, but am somewhat at a loss for words comprehending the opening of this in a cow paddock, mere weeks after the closure of Newcastle station.

I can only figure that outer suburban sprawl swinging voters are more important than the good folks of NSW's 2nd city.

What next?  A MagLev Hover Bus to Wondabyne while simultaneously closing Wollongong station?

[BrizCommuter]

Crikey, Japan can turn back 30tph in 2 platforms, Sydney needs 4 platforms for 2tph. 

[SurfRail]

^ Better than building CAMCOS single track

Seeing it doesn't even exist I'm not seeing the parallel.  Railways aren't going to be built single track in this state any more, they've learned their lesson.

NSW seems to plagued with overengineering on the other hand.

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Sydney's South West Rail Link wins over commuters

[pandmaster]

Earlier in the month I went out to Leppington. The line itself is pretty fantastic in terms of construction. On the way there the train was timed to connect with an East Hills train from the city. Since Bankstown Line trains terminate at Liverpool, I am at a loss as to why SWRL trains do not continue to the city along that line. The physical track layout does not appear to prevent that.

I found the houses in the surrounding developments ghastly. They were all at least very similar or in many cases identical. I do not know how anyone could choose to live there. With Sydney's exorbitant house prices, hopefully most people live there out of necessity. The density around the line is extremely low and it appears even when everything is built it will remain that way. There were no signs of anything other than freestanding single dwellings from what I saw. If any apartment blocks are built it will be token effort: the area will predominantly be low-density. The government have been praised for building the line before the development, however I can not see how a railway was justified. A little bit of bus-specific infrastructure feeding into Glenfield station is all that I think would be necessary. If Badgery's Creek airport is ever built the line may be justifiable in some way, however the trip to most parts of Sydney will take an absolute age from the airport.

TL;DR: The choice of heavy rail and low-density housing is bizarre, the line is of dubious requirement. There was perhaps some vested property developer interests involved.


It is interesting that fare gates were not installed. I thought it was standard practice to install them on any new/renovated station.




Towards the end of the line.

[#Metro]

I found the houses in the surrounding developments ghastly. They were all at least very similar or in many cases identical. I do not know how anyone could choose to live there. With Sydney's exorbitant house prices, hopefully most people live there out of necessity

Sydney does appear to have land (a bit further out) and also there is no excuse for Melbourne, which has developed Eastern suburbs but empty plains in the West.

When you get people campaigning for low density, that's what you get.  This is what happened out at Cedar Woods, limiting the density to 7.5 dwellings / ha which is totally unviable for even a coverage bus service!

They cannot buy anything in the inner part of the city because the property prices have gone through the roof. NIMBY and planning restrictions plus using one's home as a tax avoidance vehicle, then you are going to get growth at the edges.

There may be one concession, and that is a general Land Tax, which is extraordinarily efficient and non-distortionary (i.e you cannot move your land to an overseas tax haven like Cayman Islands etc). And the more NIMBY restrictions in an area, the higher the prices go, the more tax they have to pay. Because only land is taxed it also favours efficient use of land - which should encourage building apartments etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_value_tax

[pandmaster]

The density right across Sydney is so low. There are a few bright spots (e.g. Rhodes, Chatswood, Wolli Creek) however overall Sydney gets a failing grade from me. I think that the land value tax is a fantastic idea. Something needs to be done in Sydney when people are forced to live so far out and yet the density closer to the city is so low. I feel so sorry for people who can only afford to live in places like Leppington and Richmond.

[#Metro]

Land value tax is very interesting. Consider a theoretical NIMBY suburb which raises its own suburb property values by restricting development. These residents would be raising their land value tax assessment at the same time. Individuals living in an apartment block on a parcel of land would each be exposed far less tax than a single house on the same parcel.

It is also a proportionate compensation mechanism. Suppose someone builds a light rail line or a new bus route at high frequency. Land values closest to the line would rise, making the people who benefit pay more. Or if some development nearby really did reduce house prices, it would also reduce the tax paid - proportionate compensation.

There are a number of investors who have a 'buy and hold' strategy which involves (a) buying a place, (b)  rent the place out and do basic maintenance, (c) wait for property prices to go up and then sell. You have to ask what improvements to the land did they do to justify that capital growth?

[Old Northern Road]

The density right across Sydney is so low. There are a few bright spots (e.g. Rhodes, Chatswood, Wolli Creek) however overall Sydney gets a failing grade from me. I think that the land value tax is a fantastic idea. Something needs to be done in Sydney when people are forced to live so far out and yet the density closer to the city is so low. I feel so sorry for people who can only afford to live in places like Leppington and Richmond.

Density is a lot higher in Sydney than it is in other Australian cities though. I think Sydney is actually pretty good when it comes to having higher density around train stations. I would be surprised if they don't have plans for higher density around the SWRL stations although who knows how far off that is.

[pandmaster]

I think land value tax is a fantastic idea. Let us get a government will balls to bring it in. Politically it could be very damaging.

Density is a lot higher in Sydney than it is in other Australian cities though. I think Sydney is actually pretty good when it comes to having higher density around train stations. I would be surprised if they don't have plans for higher density around the SWRL stations although who knows how far off that is.

According to Wikipedia:
Adelaide: 396.4/km^2
Brisbane: 140/km^2
Canberra: 428.6/km^2
Melbourne: 430/km^2
Perth: 310/km^2
Sydney: 380/km^2

Sydney is not too bad, though I think a break down of density in inner versus outer areas would be helpful and definitely the density around railway lines. Those figures would be affected by the area considered for the density calculation. From my experiences travelling around Sydney a few times a year, the density around railway lines is very low (e.g. South Line, most of the Northern Line) and yet there is a massive housing undersupply. There is massive scope to increase the density of Sydney, no matter what it is today. People should not have to go out to Leppington just so they can afford a house.

[#Metro]

The problem with Land Value Tax is that it is working in reverse at the moment. If you develop a land parcel and are an investor, you get charged land value tax. If you live on the same land in a single house, you pay nothing.

https://www.osr.qld.gov.au/land-tax/

Individuals
If you own land in Queensland and use the land as your home (that is, you live mainly at that address), you may be eligible to claim a home exemption.

In addition to this, most 'middle Australia' homes are exempt by setting the bar just above what average land values would be. Your land would have to be valued at over $600,000 or more—for individuals.


Land Tax would likely reduce home prices, and make buying a home more affordable. The higher the tax, the cheaper the upfront cost to buy. The tax cannot be passed on to renters because doing so would mean the renters would leave to live somewhere cheaper - the burden thus falls on the owner.

[SurfRail]

I think land value tax is a fantastic idea. Let us get a government will balls to bring it in. Politically it could be very damaging.

Density is a lot higher in Sydney than it is in other Australian cities though. I think Sydney is actually pretty good when it comes to having higher density around train stations. I would be surprised if they don't have plans for higher density around the SWRL stations although who knows how far off that is.

According to Wikipedia:
Adelaide: 396.4/km^2
Brisbane: 140/km^2
Canberra: 428.6/km^2
Melbourne: 430/km^2
Perth: 310/km^2
Sydney: 380/km^2

Sydney is not too bad, though I think a break down of density in inner versus outer areas would be helpful and definitely the density around railway lines. Those figures would be affected by the area considered for the density calculation. From my experiences travelling around Sydney a few times a year, the density around railway lines is very low (e.g. South Line, most of the Northern Line) and yet there is a massive housing undersupply. There is massive scope to increase the density of Sydney, no matter what it is today. People should not have to go out to Leppington just so they can afford a house.

If you look at the ABS figures, Sydney's density is significantly higher than other cities in built up areas all the way out to as far as Blacktown and beyond.  Everywhere else tapers off significantly outside the immediate CBD area.

[#Metro]

Canberra more dense than Sydney??

These densities are problematic. Firstly the definition of city is subjective. Is it the urbanised area, the local government area, the regional government are etc. Government boundaries can be drawn quite arbitrarily, for example Albany Ck is not officially part of the BCC area. I think Moreton and North Stradbroke Island are also part of BCC.

There are also geographic problems. The low density of Brisbane is simply due to high levels of bushland: Mt Coo-tha, Griffith University, Rocklea floodplains, large hills that have parks on top of them, Brisbane Airport and Port of Brisbane. This high level of bushland reduces density but since almost nobody lives there anyway, should not count.

Basics: conceptual triangles
http://www.humantransit.org/2011/01/basics-conceptual-triangles.html

[colinw]

Google street view has captured a 4 car train on the SWRL.

link 

[ozbob]

http://www.sydneytrains.info/news/2015/151015-swrl

South West Rail Link: Soon to head North and East, with more services

Peak services will be doubled on the South West Rail Link by the end of the year, and customers would have direct access to more destinations across Sydney.

The $2.1 billion South West Rail Link opened in February this year, ahead of schedule and $300 million under budget.

The rail line was proving popular with locals in Sydney's fastest growing region, with more than 1,500 train journeys every weekday from new stations at Leppington and Edmondson Park.

On Sunday December 13 Sydney Trains will connect the rail line with the rest of the train network and services will become part of the T2 South Line travelling via Liverpool and Granville meaning more services and more options for customers.

Peak hour frequency from the South West will double, from a train every 30 minutes to one every 15 minutes – a great outcome for locals.

For the first time customers will be able to get a direct service to the city and improved access to key employment hubs including Parramatta and Liverpool. Travel data tells us this is where our customers are choosing to travel.

Some customers travelling to the Sydney CBD may still find it faster to interchange at Glenfield to travel via the airport, and for them more services means less time waiting to change trains.

Transport for NSW explored integrating the South West Rail Link via the Airport Line, however adding extra trains would have slowed down services, not only for South West customers, but for customers who travel from Campbelltown and Macarthur each day.

The new timetable for the South West Rail Link is still being finalised, but it is anticipated the peak 15 minute frequency will remain in place for most of the day. Some low-demand services in the off-peak will continue to run every 30 minutes to Glenfield and Liverpool.

The South West is expected to house 300,000 new residents in the next decade. As the population grows Transport for NSW will continue to monitor patronage to determine the best service patterns.

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald -->Leppington Sydney's newest suburb to be home for 30,000

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> Train platforms closed after staff suffer electric shocks on new rail link

[kram0]

It's amazing what is possible with a state government willing to spend on infrastructure. NSW should be the benchmark for railway spending at this time. Sydney Metro will be a game changer. ANNA2 please take note!!

[#Metro]

Sydney is building a metro.
Melbourne is converting the existing network to a metro by upgrading service frequencies to 10 minutes all day.
Perth almost has one with its existing network (punches well above its weight)