Report on Western Sydney transport “hole” surfaces amid Hurlstone Park station closure fears

A REPORT revealing a “black hole” in Western Sydney transport has surfaced in the wake of a news report that Hurlstone Park train station could close.

There are fears Hurlstone Park train station could close. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

• Commuters could be without a train service for months while work is carried on the Sydenham to Bankstown line
• 36,000 new homes along Sydenham to Bankstown rail corridor as State Government releases urban renewal plans

JUST 20 per cent of Greater Western Sydney residents currently live within a walkable distance (800m) of a rail station creating a ‘black whole” for commuting a report by Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils has stated.

Concerns for the station were raised after a Channel Seven story aired last week, claiming that government planners were looking into whether Hurlstone Park station would be needed in the extension of Sydney Metro’s Bankstown line.

A spokesman for Transport NSW was quick to dismiss the closure.

“The NSW Government is delivering the fully-funded Sydney Metro project with 31 metro stations, including Hurlstone Park, and more than 65km of new metro rail — nothing has changed,” the spokesman said.

Hurlstone Park Railway Station. Just 20 per cent of Greater Western Sydney residents currently live within a walkable distance (800m) of a rail station and there was a report Hurlstone was to close. The State Government has said the station will not close.

However this reassurance has done little to allay community concerns and has prompted Labor candidate for Canterbury Sophie Cotsis to start a petition.

The petition, launched last week, calls for the Baird Government to rule out closing Hurlstone Park station as part of the Metro line upgrade. The closest stations are Canterbury, 1.5km away and Dulwich Hill, 1km away.

If the station does close, it would not help the shortage of train stations highlighted by Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils.

The report by WSROC has revealed that residential growth is rapidly outstripping the capacity and reach of rail networks in Sydney’s West.

“Just 20 per cent of Greater Western Sydney residents currently live within a walkable distance (800m) of a rail station,” WSROC president Tony Hadchiti said.

“Unless we start building railway stations in the west ... there will be little respite from the debilitating effects of traffic congestion on the economy, our people and our communities.”

This type of train will not alleviate Greater Western Sydney’s train woes. Picture: Steve Tanner

While Penrith and Liverpool have the lowest access to rail stations, Bankstown could see an additional 21,000 residents unserviced by major transport by 2036.

The report also revealed that the region can only expect a 2 per cent increase in rail access over the next 20 years.