North West. Acquisition of properties

About 60 homes, 30 businesses and two other properties will be compulsorily acquired to allow for construction of the north west rail link. Two-thirds of the $9 billion, 23-kilometre line will be built underground between Bella Vista and Epping. Most of the remainder of the line will be ground level with a four-kilometre elevated ''skytrain'' between Bella Vista and Rouse Hill. Tunnelling is expected to start in 2014, and trains are due to run by 2019.