Carlingford Railway Line - Modification Proposals

Modification Proposals

Various inquiries and studies have been undertaken since on the future of the Carlingford line. A major problem remains the level crossing on Parramatta Road, which holds up peak hour traffic when trains travel across the road. Proposals have been made including underground tunnel links to Clyde or Granville stations, or even to replace the line altogether with a more frequent light rail or busway service.

The State Government originally planned for the Carlingford line to be part of Stage 2 of the Parramatta Rail Link. The plan would have incorporated the majority of the line, where the line between Carlingford and Camellia would have been duplicated. Telopea, Dundas, and Rydalmere stations would also have been duplicated and upgraded to service eight car trains. Camellia station would have been demolished, Rosehill station closed and replaced by a new underground station with a preliminary name of 'Rosehill/Camellia'. Carlingford station would also have been replaced by a new underground station. Various proposals were put forward, including a three-way underground junction near Carlingford linking the station to the proposed North West Rail Link as well as the line to Chatswood. In 2003 the then Minister for Transport, Michael Costa announced that only Stage 1 of the line, from Chatswood to Epping, would be constructed, and the Carlingford line section indefinitely postponed.

However, on 11 August 2010, the Federal Government promised A$2.6 billion towards this project, who, along with the NSW State Government, will extend the line from Epping to Parramatta through the Carlingford line. Carlingford station, along with Telopea, Dundas, Rydalmere and Parramatta, would be upgraded, and Camellia and Rosehill stations would be demolished. A new station, Rosehill-Camellia, would be built. The line would be upgraded to accommodate 8-carriage trains, and the line would be duplicated. Work was due to start in 2011, with a prospected 2017 finish. However, the State Election in March 2011 changed the political party in Government. This resulted in a change of priorities and a disagreement between the Federal and NSW governments over the funding for this proposal. The project is once again on hold with no projected start date.

A large amount of land lies behind Carlingford station, for future extensions of the line. A redevelopment of the land next to the station was subsequently put on hold because of the postponement of the link.

Under the Rail Clearways Plan, the line was to have a crossing loop constructed at Dundas station and thus increase train frequency to half-hourly throughout the day, however this project was cancelled in November 2008.