Outer Sydney Orbital, Western Sydney Freight Line: no corridors rezoned for M9 motorway
New electric locomotives will traverse tunnels under southwest Sydney to carry freight to and from the Western Sydney Aerotropolis Line in a move that will drastically cut emissions. SEE THE PLANS
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The western Sydney freight line — which will hug the Outer Sydney Orbital road going to and from the Western Sydney Aerotropolis — will be tunnelled under several southwest Sydney suburbs, relying on electric technology that hasn’t been developed yet.
Transport for NSW confirmed the freight line would be tunnelled alongside the M9 Motorway under Cobbity, and use “new-technology electric locomotives” to traverse freight through the underground corridors in order to meet safety and environmental legislation.
Electric freight locomotives were phased out of widespread use across the state in the early 2000s, being replaced by diesel trains.
However, diesel trains currently in use wouldn’t meet stringent environmental and safety guidelines as there would not be adequate ventilation shafts.
It means the multibillion-dollar project is relying on the completion of new technology to become a reality.
Transport expert and University of Sydney Civil Engineering Professor David Levinson said electric locomotives for freight transport had been used in NSW previously, and was used “much more widespread in Europe”.
“There are no technical reasons freight trains can’t be electrified, and if they have renewable power — which over the next decade will be increasingly common — electrified freight would be much cleaner than diesel overall, and due to lack of emissions, better for operations in tunnels,” Prof. Levinson said.
The use of electric freight trains along the Western Freight Line comes as a Transport for NSW spokeswoman revealed no gazettals or rezonings have occurred to secure the Outer Sydney Orbital transport corridor.
Instead, the department has relied on publishing the proposed corridors in planning documents to “show there are plans for a corridor, without rezoning the land”.
“Maps have been published, but no rezoning (have taken place),” the spokeswoman said.
“This is because there are still some opportunities to refine the corridor alongside land use planning that is taking place across western Sydney.”
The spokeswoman said investigations and consultation for the exact route was ongoing, failing to answer questions around when completed plans would be gazetted.
“While there have been some meeting restrictions because of coronavirus, Transport for NSW has met with a number of stakeholders including landholders and council planners over the past 12 months,” she said.
“To give the community certainty, the recently announced corridors for a future Rail Line between St Marys and Macarthur, Bringelly and Leppington and a dedicated freight rail line between Luddenham and The M7 have been gazetted.”
Shadow Western Sydney spokesman Greg Warren said freight lines and the Outer Sydney Orbital should be available from day one of the Western Sydney Airport opening.
“Rail extensions to Macarthur and Leppington could still be decades away,” he said.
“Transport links for Western Sydney can’t come fast enough, but it looks like the people of Western Sydney won’t be able to access their own airport for years.
“Connectivity to Western Sydney Airport from all parts of the metropolitan area – particularly Western Sydney – is vital to ensuring economic prosperity and jobs growth as well as ensuring the airport can reach its full potential.”