Tracks laid for NSW South West link
AAPMarch 18, 2013, 11:51 am
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Six kilometres of track have been laid for the long-awaited South West Rail Link, the NSW government says.
The continuous rail corridor stretching between Glenfield and Leppington is the first instalment of a 11.4 kilometre rail line that will link residents in Sydney’s southwest to the rest of the city network.
Stations are now being built at Leppington and Edmondson Park, near Camden.
Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian on Monday said after four months of work, construction on the $2.1 billion link was ahead of schedule.
“These were empty paddocks last year, now you’ve got the structures of the two new stations, the entire corridor is outlined, six kilometres of new truck – I couldn’t be more pleased and more proud,” she told reporters gathered at the Leppington construction site.
“The progress is remarkable and what is really pleasing to see is the light at the end of the tunnel.
“Residents who have waited for the rail link so long here on the southwest will be able to get that rail link and use the trains in the not-too-distant future.”
Premier Barry O’Farrell said the area had been earmarked as a residential hub in the government’s 20-year growth strategy for Sydney, announced over the weekend.
“What we’re seeing here is the infrastructure being delivered prior to those houses arriving,” he said.
“Ultimately the population of Canberra will live in this district.”
Ticket prices for rail services along the line would match those for services on other parts of the CityRail network once the southwest services opens to passengers in 2016, he said.