North West Rail Link approved
The much awaited North West Rail Link has been given planning approval to start, in what is being called a “major milestone” for one of NSW’s biggest transport infrastructure projects.
The entire project has seen approval, announced minister for transport, Gladys Berejiklian, with construction approved to start on more than 15 kilometres of twin tunnels and the four kilometre skytrain section.
The tunnels will be between Epping and Bella Bista, while the four kilometre viaduct will be between Bella Vista and Rouse Hill.
“The NSW Government is committed to providing a public transport rail link for the people of Sydney’s fastest-growing area,” Ms Berejiklian said.
This will see the tunnel boring machines in the ground as soon as 2014, she said.
Community responses will be called for later this year in relation to topics such as design of the eight new stations, the access points and the operation of the railway.
The eight stations will be located at Cherrybrook, Castle Hill, the Hills Centre, Norwest, Bella Vista, Kellyville, Rouse Hill and Cudgegong Road. There will be 4,000 commuter car parking spaces.
“Over coming decades, an extra 200,000 people will move into the North West, taking the region’s population above 600,000,” she said.