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Proposed Light Rail Extensions
Light Rail to Summer Hill
click here to view map of proposed Light Rail route
Why Light Rail to Summer Hill?
The Light Rail could be extended from Lilyfield to Summer Hill relatively cheaply and quickly by converting the Rozelle freight line to Light Rail. The extension would be 3.7kms long and have four or five stations, with a journey time of less than 10 minutes.
Will Light Rail replace other public transport?
The Summer Hill extension would fill a gap in the public transport network which current does not serve this area very well. The primary market would be journeys within the inner west, connecting Darling Harbour, mid-CBD and Pyrmont to an extended inner west population including Leichhardt and Haberfield.
There would be numerous interchange possibilities onto Sydney Buses and Cityrail for longer journeys.
How long will it take to build the extension?
The route has been maintained as a freight line, which has much higher requirements than that needed for light rail. The basic infrastructure is of high quality, and only the light rail specific equipment and structures would be needed (such as stations, signalling, power supply). This means that the project could be delivered within 12 months from agreement and consent. Note that the extension of the light rail from Wentworth Park to Lilyfield in year 2000 took 9 months to complete.
How much will it cost?
Capital costs would be approximately $17m.
How often will the trams run?
Metro Light Rail would extend the current service onto the extension, which is a vehicle every 10-15 minutes from 06:00 to 23:00 or midnight. Further capacity could be added as demand grows.
The Summer Hill Light Rail route
Going west from the Light Rail stop at Lilyfield, the proposed extension route goes into a cutting as the surface elevation rises near Balmain Road, and then enters a tunnel which passes under City West link road.
The line generally runs southwards parallel to the Hawthorne Canal, with major bridges over Marion Street and Parramatta Road. It passes under the main west rail line near Lewisham station and runs at grade past the flour mills site.
Total length from Lilyfield to the flour mills is 3.7 km. This compares to the current Light Rail line which is 7.2km long. Light Rail stops will be approximately every 800m. This suggests that four or five stations should be built on the 3.7km extension.
The freight line continues further south beyond the flour mill, joining the Botany Goods Line at the Wardell Road Junction (Dulwich Hill) after a further 1.9 kms. This section of line could be used to extend Light Rail further south beyond the flour mill to Dulwich Hill.
