Transport for NSW will separate the running of the T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra lines from the rest of Sydney’s rail system, government documents show, creating opportunities for private companies to run more of the city’s transport network.
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Handing the Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line to a private operator has long been a goal of transport bureaucrats, with the line already operating relatively independently from the rest of Sydney’s complicated rail system.
But Infrastructure NSW documents confirm that Transport for NSW has started work on a plan to further extricate the line, which runs from Bondi Junction to Waterfall and Cronulla, as part of a decade-long program of improvements called SmartRail.
The privatisation of other sections of Sydney’s rail system will begin within months. The Epping to Chatswood line, opened as part of Sydney’s regular rail system in 2009, will soon be closed so stations and systems can be retrofitted to run automated and driverless trains by the private operator of the metro rail extension to Rouse Hill.
Early next decade, the existing Bankstown Line will be under the control of a new operator when the metro line is extended from Chatswood under the harbour and central business district to Sydenham.
The State Infrastructure Strategy, released this month by the peak advisory body Infrastructure NSW, said the first three stages of the SmartRail program developed by Transport for NSW “should be delivered over the next 10 years”.
The first stage would involve capacity upgrades to the T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line and the T8 Airport line, and the second would involve more upgrades and the introduction of a new intercity fleet of trains.
The third would include “deploying automation and providing the transformative programs needed to separate inner urban and intercity services on the T1 Western and Northern line and the T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line.”
“SmartRail will allow the independent operation of rail lines across the system, improving the capacity, frequency and reliability of the network and permitting the conversion of lines to provide high-frequency all-day services in the future, with the T4 Illawarra Line as the top priority for transformation,” the strategy says.
Transport for NSW says the plans do not relate to privatisation.
“Upgrades to help parts of the network operate more independently are about improving capacity, frequency and reliability,” a spokesman said.
“There are no plans to privatise the existing heavy rail network,” the spokesman said.
The tenor of the Infrastructure NSW report recommends prioritising investment in public transport in inner Sydney, even at the expense of road space.
The highest priority new rail line for the city, the report says, is the so-called Sydney Metro West, planned to double capacity between Parramatta and central Sydney. But that line would not be running until at least 2027 and, in the meantime, traffic lanes should be prioritised for frequent bus routes.
“High quality on-road public transport will not be feasible if the government continues to insist on preserving existing levels of road space for general car traffic,” the report says.
“With record investment in projects like WestConnex putting large volumes of traffic into tunnels, higher priority should be given to public transport by converting existing traffic lanes to full-time public transport lanes, without the need for significant land acquisition.”
The report also suggests the so-called Beaches Link motorway to Sydney’s northern beaches, and F6 motorway extension through the Sutherland Shire should be deferred in favour of projects “which may have greater city-shaping impacts.”
“Infrastructure NSW supports an increased focus on public transport,” the report says.
The Berejiklian government has, however, committed to both projects.
At Redfern Station on Tuesday, commuters had mixed views on operational changes to the T4 Line.
“If it's privatised it's just going to get worse,” said Chris, citing over-crowded and infrequent services.
Another commuter, Sital, however, thought rail services would probably improve with a change.
With Dominic Lorrimer
