One train every 2.5 minutes: Sydney services more regular under $880 million signal overhaul

SYDNEY trains will run every 2.5 minutes under the biggest upgrade of the century-old rail network to boost commuter capacity while allowing faster access to Sydney Airport.

SYDNEY trains will run every 2½ minutes under the biggest ­upgrade of the century-old signal network to dramatically boost commuter capacity while allowing faster access to Sydney ­airport.

Costing $880 million, the move to digital signalling paves the way for trains to become self-driving, although the state government is likely to follow the lead of London and Paris, which have kept drivers at the controls.

The funding has been set aside in the upcoming NSW Budget, with the congested T8 airport line and T4 Illawarra line from ­Cronulla to be the first two tracks where the technology will be ­applied.

Once implemented, train services will be trialled at one every four minutes.

With the city’s soaring population increasing passenger journeys from under a million per day to more than 1.3 million in just five years, Sydney Trains is desperate to boost capacity on the existing heavy rail network.

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Sydney Trains chief executive Howard Collins, who helped increase capacity on the London Underground by digitalising the signal system, said removing the reliance on trackside lights with in-cabin digital technology would allow for more trains to use the lines at a faster pace.

In London, capacity was ­increased by more than 30 per cent from 3.5 million journeys per day to more than 5 million after the overhaul, he told the Sunday Telegraph.

T4 Illawarra line and T8 airport line will be first beneficiaries of the signalling upgrades, the Premier said.

Once implemented, train services will be trialled at one every four minutes, although Mr Collins said they could be increased.

He said a call-out would be made to world leaders in signalling technology to take on the project.

“In the 1970s, we were in a similar position in London, which was growing so fast that we needed more capacity,” Mr Collins said.

Network complexity and old technologies were holding back progress on the train system, Gladys Berejiklian said.

“The technology means we can shorten the space needed ­between trains to be able to move more of them from 10 now to, if you turned the wick right up, to 36, or a train every 2½ minutes.

“It is effectively open-heart surgery while running a marathon — boosting capacity as the city’s population grows.”

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Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the trial will allow for five more trains an hour during the peak on the Illawarra line from Cronulla, and eight on the airport line.

To be delivered in stages with services coming online progressively from the early 2020s, the airport line capacity would be increased by up to 80 per cent, with the Illawarra line boosted by 30 per cent.

“At the moment our rail network is complex and reliant on old technologies which limits the number of services we can provide,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“The T4 Illawarra line and T8 airport line are the first beneficiaries of these signalling upgrades, which will be rolled out across the network — significantly boosting capacity and reliability for all train customers.”

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the investment in this technology was an important step in boosting capacity of existing transport assets.

“We have all had the experience of waiting on an overcrowded platform, so this technology investment will contribute to increasing services and making journeys more comfortable,” he said.