North Strathfield Rail Underpass project update - Transport for NSW

Northern Sydney Freight CorridorNorth StrathfieldRail UnderpassFEBRUARY 2013 | PROJECT UPDATE 2Ph: 1800 684 490 | www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projectsProject approved and majorconstruction commencing soonMajor construction of the North Strathfield Rail Underpass projectwill commence in the coming weeks.Transport for NSW will deliver the project with Alliance partnersMacmahon Contractors and Bouygues Travaux Publics Australia.The North Strathfield Rail Underpass project was approved inOctober 2012 under Part 5 of the Environmental Planning andAssessment Act 1979.The approval follows the public display of the project’s Reviewof Environmental Factors (REF) in mid 2012 and consultationwith the community.Thank you for your feedbackThank you to everyone who took the time to provide us withfeedback during the project’s REF public display period.We received submissions from 75 people (mostly local residents)and had around 40 people attend our community information andfeedback sessions.Most of the feedback we received was related to noise and vibrationimpacts and mitigation, traffic, parking and clarifications to projectscope. This feedback has helped us to better understand thecommunity’s interests and needs.The Submissions Report which responds to issues raised in feedbackand provides details of the project’s mitigation measures is availableon our website at www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects.Key features of the project• a rail underpass (section of track that travels beneath othertracks via a tunnel) located south of North Strathfield Station• upgrade of Concord West Station, including four new lifts anda new concourse• approximately 2.4 km of new and 850 metres of upgraded track• associated rail infrastructure and civil works.Did you know:An efficient rail freight network stimulates new businessactivities, creates new jobs and increases the productivity andcompetitiveness of Australia’s industries.Transporting freight by rail also makes roads safer and it is betterfor the environment. When completed the Northern Sydney FreightCorridor Program will contribute to this by:• taking more than 200,000 heavy vehicle movements off theroad per year• reducing diesel use by almost 40 million litres per annum• reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions by more than100,000 tonnes.

Northern Sydney Freight Corridor | North Strathfield Rail UnderpassConstruction team appointedTransport for NSW will work with recently appointed Alliancepartners Macmahon Contractors and Bouygues Travaux PublicsAustralia to deliver the North Strathfield Rail Underpass project.The Alliance team brings a wealth of rail experience having mostrecently undertaken major works at Glenfield as part of the SouthWest Rail Link.“It is great to have such experienced rail contractors on boardto help us deliver this important project,” said Glenn Bentley,Transport for NSW’s Project Director.Chris Jones, NSRU Alliance Manager said “We are busilypreparing our safety, environment and construction managementplans so we can hit the ground running with construction in thenext few weeks.”“We are committed to establishing a good relationship withthe community and appreciate that regular communicationwith local residents and businesses is a crucial element in thesuccessful delivery of this project, said Tania Harper, CommunityEngagement Manager.Current and upcoming workServices work and geotechnical investigations were undertakenlast year and will continue in February and March in and aroundthe rail corridor. This includes installing new services underneaththe rail tracks, locating underground services, site surveys, diggingboreholes and potholing to take samples of ground materials.Other works planned over the coming months include:• site establishment works including setting up officesand compounds• road and property condition surveys• overhead wiring work and electrical and signalling serviceswork within the rail corridor• deliveries of plant, materials and equipment.Standard construction hours for the project are 7.00am to 6.00pmMonday to Friday and 8.00am to 1.00pm on Saturdays.To ensure the safety of our workers and to minimise impacts on traincommuters, some work will need to be completed outside of thesehours, including during scheduled rail line shutdowns.Local residents will be notified of any works outside of standardconstruction hours before to the works commence.All care will be taken to minimise impacts on the community.Rail line shutdown work 2–3 March 2013RailCorp has scheduled a rail line shutdown on 2 and 3 March2013. During this period we will be undertaking works from 3.00amSaturday 2 March through to midnight Sunday 3 March. This workwill include:• the temporary closure of the North Strathfield Stationpedestrian bridge to allow for excavation and services work tobe undertaken on Platform 3. A shuttle bus between HamiltonStreet and Queen Street will be in place from 6.00amSaturday 2 March to 11.30pm Sunday 3 March to assistpedestrians and commuters during the temporary closureNSRU Alliance team members (left to right) Mary Lynch – Environmental Engineer,Tania Harper – Community Engagement Manager, Chris Jones – Alliance Manager,and Daniel Clert – Operations Manager.• overhead wiring, signalling and track works adjacent to theBakehouse Quarters• pit and pipe works for drainage services• platform modifications at Concord West Station• subject to approval, some trees will be removed from withinthe rail corridor adjacent to Concord West Station. Threeparking spaces in the Victoria Avenue car park will betemporarily unavailable while these works are completed.• installation of construction fencing.Equipment to be used during these works includes cranes,excavators, bobcats, cherry pickers, scaffolding, lightingequipment, trucks, generators, power tools and hand tools.During this period, buses will replace trains to enable work to besafely undertaken within the rail corridor. For alternative transportinformation, please contact the transport infoline on 131500 orvisit www.131500.com.au.To minimise disruption to the community, lighting equipmentwill be directed away from residences and noisier works will beconducted during daytime hours where possible. We thank youfor your patience while this work is being completed.Want to know more?• Visit the project website atwww.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects• Call our Project Infoline on 1800 684 490• Email us at projects@transport.nsw.gov.au to find out moreor to register for for our email distribution list• Call our 24-hour Construction Response Line on 1800 775 465if you have a complaint about construction works in progress.• Read our regular project newsletters• Attend our community forums, which will be widely advertised.

North StrathfieldRail UnderpassKEYNew trackRail underpass and new trackUpgrade of existing trackExisting trackSite compound/worksitesLIBERTYGROVETO RHODESHOMEBUSH BAY DRIVECHARLTON DRIVEQUEEN STREETHARRISON AVKILLOOLA STHarrison Avenueworksite2.4km of new trackDrainage culvertsConcord West StationBANGALLA RDUpgrade of station will include a newaerial concourse and four new liftsKING STCONCORD AVA modern, accessiblestation at Concord WestCONCORDWESTVICTORIA AVConcord WestStation worksiteFour new lifts will be built at Concord WestStation to improve access to the station andalso provide access across the rail line. Railcustomers will experience better facilities,improved safety features and better access totrain service information.During detailed design of the project, all carewill be taken to protect the current landscapingand urban design of Concord West Station.CONWAY AVEQUEEN STREETVICTORIA AVUpgrade of 850mof existing trackAn urban design and landscape managementplan will be prepared in consultation with City ofCanada Bay Council and interested communitygroups for the Concord West Station precinctand adjacent park.MENA STGEORGE STREETQUEEN STREETSome of the commercial properties on theeastern side of the station will be demolishedto make way for the new track. This area will beused as a site compound during constructionand upon completion of the project theremaining land will be redeveloped as a car park.North Strathfield StationNORTHSTRATHFIELDPOMEROY STRET BERONGA STREETNorth StrathfieldStation worksiteNew rail underpass and trackQUEEN STREETGEORGE STREETRailway/GeorgeLane worksiteNew track connects to existingfreight goods loopM4 MOTORWAYFROM STRATHFIELDPARRAMATTAConcord West Station will be upgraded as part of the projectROAD

The Northern Sydney FreightCorridor (NSFC) ProgramThe NSFC Program is a jointly funded initiative of theCommonwealth and NSW governments to improve capacity andreliability of freight trains on the Main North Line between NorthStrathfield and Newcastle.The NSFC Program includes four projects along the 155 kilometreMain North Line rail corridor:• North Strathfield Rail Underpass• Epping to Thornleigh Third Track• Gosford Passing Loops• Hexham Passing Loop.Transport for NSW is delivering the North Strathfield RailUnderpass, Epping to Thornleigh Third Track and GosfordPassing Loops projects. The Hexham Passing Loop project wasrecently completed by the Australian Rail Track Corporation.Why are we building thisimportant project?Currently southbound freight trains approaching Sydney fromthe north have to cross the path of northbound passenger andfreight trains immediately north of Concord West Station in orderto reach the Sydney metropolitan freight network and Port Botanyand continue south to Melbourne.It takes between six and seven minutes from when clearanceis given to a southbound train to cross before a northboundpassenger train can proceed. This limits opportunities to runfreight trains and can result in delays if the train has to be stoppedor slowed (because freight trains require a long time to build upspeed again).The delay of one train affects all passenger and freight trainstravelling in both directions.Construction of a rail underpass at North Strathfield will removethe need for freight trains to cross the existing Main North Line onthe surface, thereby avoiding existing conflicts and improving thereliability of freight train and passenger train operations.The project will also allow the flexibility for a south-bound freighttrain to be held off the Main North Line to allow passengerservices to pass.How will the drainage culverts atConcord West be impacted?We have received a lot of feedback and enquiries from the localcommunity regarding the drainage culverts near Liberty Groveand north of Concord West Station.The culverts were initially designed to alleviate flooding and havesince been used by pedestrians and cyclists for informal accessacross the rail corridor.The culverts will need to be temporarily closed to allow for thesafe construction of the new track. The culverts on the easternside of the rail corridor will be extended past the new track aspart of the project.The project team will undertake a comprehensive communityconsultation campaign to notify the community of the temporaryclosure and the alternative arrangements that will be in place tominimise impacts.The culverts will not be further modified as part of the project.Following the temporary closure during construction, the culvertswill be reopened.RailCorp, the owner of the drainage culverts, have informedus that there are no long-term plans to close pedestrian andcycle access.This document contains important information about public transport projects in your area. If you require theservices of an interpreter, please contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask them tocall the Transport Projects Division on (02) 9200 0200. The interpreter will then assist you with translation.Contact detailsFor further information you can:• call Transport for NSW on 1800 684 490• email projects@transport.nsw.gov.au or• visit www.transport.nsw.gov.au• Urgent enquiries or complaints24 hours 1800 775 465NSFCNSRU/0213/170