$3.7 billion North West rail link operations contract signed
The largest Public Private Partnership ever awarded in NSW was agreed to last week, with the Northwest Rapid Transit consortium $3.7 billion contract to deliver the North West Rail Link by the first half of 2019 and operate it for 15 years.
The North West Rail Link will be Australia’s first fully-automated rapid transit rail network, transforming public transport in Sydney in terms of customer service and safety levels. It will run at 15 trains an hour during the peak and be 98 per cent on-time.
There will be eight new railway stations, 4,000 commuter car parking spaces and an upgrade of five existing railway stations to rapid transit status – Epping, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, North Ryde and Chatswood.
Community consultation will begin regarding a six to seven month closure of the Epping to Chatswood rail line in 2018-19 to deliver the rapid transit service. Major upgrades will include overhauling the stations, installing 26km of cabling, power and signalling systems and platform screen doors.
During the six to seven month closure more than 300 buses along five bus routes each day will replace the trains between Epping and Chatswood.
The Property Council and Transport for NSW have discussed a special briefing for asset owners and members, which will be scheduled in coming months.
The Property Council welcomes the NSW Government’s investment into transport infrastructure, as this will be pivotal to planning for the expected growth in Sydney’s population.