Evaluation of the Northern Sydney Freight Corridor

The Northern Sydney Freight Corridor (NSFC) rail enhancement project, managed by Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and implemented to improve access for freight trains travelling between Sydney and Brisbane.

The NSFC was an innovative proposal to improve freight and passenger rail efficiency in a tightly constrained corridor.

Participants

• Transport for NSW
• National Transport Research Organisation (NTRO)

Project background

The Commonwealth and NSW Government jointly funded the $1.05B North Sydney Freight Corridor on the back of the NSFC business case developed in 2016. The work was experimental in that it was based on the benefits that could be achieved through capacity enhancements of the rail corridor.

Increasing the proportion of freight on rail and reducing the pressure on the road network offers significant benefits for road safety, the environment, and increasing the volume of freight through the network. The rail service offering must be able to compete with road to remain viable.

Upgrades made to the network through this program included:

• Epping to Thornleigh Third Track – completed in 2016
• Gosford Passing Loop – Completed 2015
• North Strathfield Rail Underpass – Completed 2015
• Hexham Freight Loop – Completed 2012

Project objectives

The aim of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of the NSFC program of work and determine whether the benefits and outcomes outlined in the NSFC business case have eventuated or no, and why.

To determine this, the project will aim to make an assessment on:

• What is the current service offering?
• The extent to which the outcomes from the project have been delivered
• What factors are possibly impeding the predicted economic benefits from occurring?
• What are the broader social and environmental benefits?
• Are there any governance or compliance concerns?

The evaluation team will consult widely with above and below rail operators, the regulator and the owners of freight moving on the corridor to understand the service offering and if the improvements to the corridor delivered a better service.

Please note …

This page will be a living record of this project. As it matures, hits milestones, etc., we’ll continue to add information, links, images, interviews and more. Watch this space!