Corridor preservation for Western Sydney Airport rail connections
By 2036, Greater Western Sydney is expected to grow to 3 million people, up 20% from 2.5 million in 2020. This is the equivalent of Adelaide (c.1.35 million people) by 2041, and by the equivalent of Perth (c.2.2 million people) by around 2060. Around half of all Sydney Basin residents are expected to be living in the region within 25 years. Preliminary analysis indicates that passenger demand at Western Sydney Airport could reach 10 million per year within five years of opening in the mid-2020s.
Provision of efficient transport options connecting Western Sydney Airport with other key hubs – such as the Sydney CBD, Parramatta, Western Sydney Employment Area, and North West and South West priority growth areas – is critical to avoid unnecessary travel delays and enable sustained economic growth.
Identify and preserve rail corridors connecting the Western Sydney Airport with the Sydney rail network.
The Australian Government and NSW Government jointly released a scoping study that considered six options for rail services to the Western Sydney Airport and the Western Parkland City.
Three options have subsequently been shortlisted as part of a longer-term rail network for Western Sydney:
- a north–south line between Schofields and Macarthur via the airport
- an extension of the South West Rail Link
- an east–west line between the Western Sydney Airport and Parramatta.
The Australian Government and NSW Government are jointly funding the planning and delivery of Stage 1 of the north–south line to service Western Sydney Airport and the Western Parkland City, between St Marys and Bringelly.
In June 2020, the NSW Government gazetted the protection of corridors from St Marys through to Leppington and Oran Park via the Western Sydney Airport and the Aerotropolis. These corridors will support growth in Western Sydney, including the new airport, by providing a transport link that can shape growth while providing fast and efficient transport accessibility. A medium-term Early-Stage Proposal for Western Sydney Airport public transport connections is separately included on the Infrastructure Priority List.
Proponent to identify and analyse potential investment options (Stage 2 of Infrastructure Australia’s Assessment Framework).
Refer to Infrastructure Glossary for terms and definitions.