Parramatta. No joy until 2036

An assessment by Transport NSW of Sydney's long-term rail strategy, Long Term Rail Strategy Phase 5 Assessment, marked ''cabinet in confidence'' and dated August 2011, obtained by the Sydney Morning Hetrald, reveals that rail planners expect that so much money and expertise will be tied up building the north-west rail link until about 2019 that another big project is not considered possible until then; the Epping to Parramatta line is being planned as a shuttle between the stations but is not expected to operate until 2036.

Region. O'Farrell's funding effort

The South West Rail Link or a second harbour crossing would be funded by the federal government and the NSW government would approve the Epping to Parramatta Rail Link under a compromise deal put forward by Premier Barry O'Farrell, according to the Daily Telegraph. The deal has been put on the table in an attempt to cut the impasse on rail infrastructure funding, senior state government sources confirmed. As negotiations continue over the state-backed $7 billion North West Rail Link and the Gillard-backed $3 billion Epping to Parramatta project, Mr O'Farrell suggested Ms Gillard fund the southwest link, which would serve Labor electorates, the paper said.

Region. Rail proposals welcomed

The University of Western Sydney welcomes proposals to develop both the Epping to Parramatta and the North West rail lines as both are essential to meeting the huge transport needs of Greater Western Sydney. UWS anticipates the Epping to Parramatta rail route will include a station at the Parramatta campus, at Rydalmere, which has over 13,000 students. Parramatta Lord Mayor. John Chedid, said Sydney commuters had been waiting for the Parramatta to Epping connection since it was first promised more than a decade ago “It is crucial that we have direct transport links to the business in Macquarie Park and North Sydney, and the workers on the North Shore to support our continued growth,” he said.

Parramatta. 'Complete rubbish'

"Infrastructure Australia has had a look at that project (the Parramatta to Epping Rail Link) and the North West (Rail Link) and said ... should the North West Rail Link run through Parramatta?" a senior government source said in the Daily Telegraph "The state government thinks that's complete rubbish, so there are different feelings about the route." Although the North West Rail Link project remains a priority, it will be "developed in parallel" with the federal government's $2.1 billion Parramatta to Epping line, according to new tender documents obtained by the paper. "We think the Parramatta to Epping Rail Link is a good project for the future and will continue to plan for its eventual completion," Premier Barry O'Farrell said. Sources said Infrastructure Australia had asked for all route possibilities to be examined.

Region. No joy for commuters

There was little joy for Sydney public transport users in the federal government’s Budget, according to The Daily Telegraph. The government stood by its $2.1 billion investment in the Epping to Parramatta Rail Link. The North West Rail Link did not rate a mention, suggesting Premier Barry O’Farrell is a long way off convincing Prime Minister Julia Gillard to authorize investment body, Infrastructure Australia, to help fund the project, the paper said.

Parramatta. Premier to meet Prime Minister

Premier Barry O’Farrell will meet Prime Minister Julia Gillard today. The most contentious part of the discussion will focus on the $2.6 billion rail link between Epping and Parramatta, Mr O'Farrell wants the commonwealth's $2.1 billion contribution to the project, and the $500 million committed by former NSW premier Kristina Keneally, to be diverted to the rail link to outer-northwest Sydney

Parramatta. New plans for Epping rail link

Parramatta City Council has endorsed plans for an amended Parramatta to Epping Rail Link, which will include the development of a new station, in the CBD, at Parramatta North, which would provide direct transport links to jobs in Macquarie Park, Chatswood and North Sydney. Crucial to the proposed plan is the underground Hills Rail Link from Castle Hill to Parramatta, aimed at alleviating traffic congestion along Windsor Road and Old Windsor Road and connecting professional staff in the Hills district with businesses in Parramatta.

Parramatta. Council to mount campaign

Parramatta City Council has resolved to establish a public campaign calling on the NSW and federal governments to deliver on the Parramatta Epping Rail Line and the council-proposed Hills Rail Link, from Castle Hill to Parramatta. Council aims to build on the momentum of the recent council-sponsored economic development forum where transport was a major issue

Parramatta. Railway station proposed for CBD

Parramatta City Council seeks an underground railway station, near the Church Street and Victoria Road intersection to cater for the growth in commuters to the city. The proposal is an amendment to the controversial Parramatta-Epping link and would join the Rydalmere station (as was proposed in the initial plan through the current Rosehill station). Council said the proposed Civic Place project, the expansion of the UWS campus at Rydalmere and the development of a “knowledge park” near the Rydalmere station, would mean over 30,000 more commuters coming to Parramatta than the 6000 planned in the original 1998 studies.

Parramatta. Rail link deal signed

The Keneally and Gillard governments have today signed the landmark Inter-Governmental Agreement for the Parramatta to Epping Rail Link. Key aspects include: The commonwealth will provide funding of up to 80 per cent of the estimated project cost – up to $2.1 billion commencing in 2014/15; NSW will provide funding of $520 million – funded under the Metropolitan Transport Plan. The $2.6 billion project will involve: The construction of a new 14-kilometre line between Parramatta and Epping, with services due to commence in 2017; and upgrading five stations at Parramatta, Telopea, Dundas, Rydalmere and Carlingford and a new station being built at Rosehill-Camellia. A project team has been established in Transport NSW, to get the Parramatta to Epping Rail Link ready to commence construction by the end of this year.

Parramatta. Council talks to Opposition on link.

Parramatta Lord Mayor, John Chedid, has called on the NSW Opposition to re-consider its plans to scrap the Parramatta to Epping rail link and will host talks with shadow transport minister, Gladys Berejiklian, this week to discuss transport solutions for Parramatta and Western Sydney. Cr Chedid said the rail link was the number one transport priority for council, which has stepped up its lobbying efforts over the past 12 months. This included hosting a Transport Forum last year, attended by Ms Berejiklian and Transport Minister, John Robertson, along with key industry experts “It is crucial that we have direct transport links to the business in Macquarie Park and North Sydney, and the workers on the North Shore, to support our continued growth,” Cr Chedid said.

Parramatta. Liberals will cancel rail link

New South Wales Shadow Treasurer, Mike Baird confirms that Liberal-National policy costings will be based on cancelling the Parramatta-Epping link, Western Express and Eveleigh Relief line.

Parramatta. Funding may be reconsidered

The federal government’s funding for Nation Building 2 infrastructure projects, including the $2.1 billion Parramatta to Epping Rail Link, may be reconsidered in favour of rebuilding road, rail, water and power utilities damaged or destroyed by floods. The chairman of Infrastructure Australia, Rod Eddington, said the size of the task and cost of rebuilding would be enormous, maybe “gargantuan”, according to The Australian Financial Review

Parramatta. SMH supports rail link

The Epping-Parramatta link is a fully developed project ready for immediate work, and will be an extremely useful short-cut in the metropolitan rail system, enabling workers from the west to get to jobs in the knowledge-industry belt north of the harbour and Parramatta River, The Sydney Morning Herald said in an editorial supporting the link over the north-west and south-west links. Coalition leader, Barry O'Farrell, has signalled his disagreement with the allocation of $2.1 billion of Canberra money to build the Epping to Parramatta rail link, a deal likely to be approved soon by the Premier, Kristina Keneally. Mr O'Farrell would do better by pledging to build the north-west (Epping to Rouse Hill) line and the south-west (Leppington to Glenfield) line as soon as possible, and demand that Canberra properly helps fund this essential infrastructure for Australia's main city, the editorial said.

Parramatta. Agreement on $2.1b rail link

The federal and state governments are expected to sign an agreement soon for the funding of the controversial $2.1 billion Epping to Parramatta rail link. The Liberals have stated their aim to renegotiate the agreement, should they win the March state election, to fund the north-west and south-west rail links. Prime Minister Julia Gillard said that’s not on. Pre-construction work is scheduled to begin some time this year

Region. Briefing on rail projects

The Transport Construction Authority will conduct a briefing on current and future transport infrastructure initiatives, including the Parramatta to Epping Rail Link, the Western Express and South West Rail Link, on December 1, at 8.30am, at the Zenith Theatre and Convention Centre, Chatswood.

Parramatta. Epping rail link has lower prioroty

Transport NSW ''Updated Transport Submission to Infrastructure Australia'', lists the north-west rail link as a higher priority than the Epping-Parramatta link, which was announced by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, during the federal election campaign, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

Parramatta. Epping rail link 'absolutely'

The Parramatta-Epping rail link is on “absolutely’ according to Premier Kristine Keneally, when appearing on the ABC TV’s Stateline NSW program. “We are very close” to signing an agreement with Canberra. She said any government which walked away from the construction of the link “would have to have its head examined”.

Parramatta. Epping rail link still on

The federal Transport Minister, Anthony Albanese, said yesterday the Parramatta-Epping rail link would be built. Work on the 14-kilometre line, which would take 25 minutes off the trip from Chatswood to Parramatta, is due to begin next year and be finished in 2017. Labor pledged to contribute $2.1 billion for the $2.6 billion link. Ultimately, the construction will depend on the outcome of the state election in March. The state government has pledged $520 million for the project but with Labor expected to lose the poll the incoming Liberals would have to match the pledge for the project to proceed, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.