From what I've been aware of and from what we get told, twin track is laid to cabramatta creek bridge, with the exception of Edmondson park stn, from cab creek to Camden valley way it is single track on the down side to allow vehicles to travel between there and cab creek on the up side, ballast still comes in off Jardine drive near cab creek bridge, they'll be laying the rest of the  of the up side to Camden valley in coming days and then continuing to cowpasture rd viaduct. From there they will pack up and lay track from the stabling yard and meet up at cowpasture. Yes they are offloading all the rail here and front end loaders will drag it along the corridor to where need be.

Thanks for the heads up! I've just been up & photographed 8162 still up at the Camden Valley Way bridge. For a local seeing an 81 class (or any train) at Leppington has been so long coming that many doubted it would ever happen. But 2016? What are they going to do for the next 3ish years? This project has to be a long way ahead of schedule.

Cheers


Richard

Thanks for the details, dreamer. I hope you'll continue to hang around this forum with more updates.

As far as "what will they do for three years"... Maybe they'll be waiting for more rolling stock to be delivered? (I haven't been following that subject, so maybe someone can enlighten me).

It's being commissioned in October 14, to be nice and forefront in people's minds for the 2015 state polls.

It's being commissioned in October 14, to be nice and forefront in people's minds for the 2015 state polls.

Sweeeeet. 2 years ahead of schedule.

I am very curious as to your source on this.

The other thing I did notice this morning is that the overhead is up now on the future down track through platform 4 from north of Glenfield station to as far as the southern fly over. I wonder if there may be an intention to bring platform 4 in to use before the opening of the SWRL?

Cheers


Richard

The other thing I did notice this morning is that the overhead is up now on the future down track through platform 4 from north of Glenfield station to as far as the southern fly over. I wonder if there may be an intention to bring platform 4 in to use before the opening of the SWRL?

My guess is that the Oct 2013 timetable has already planned all the SWRL services and currently shows them starting/terminating at Glenfield (with the intention of simply extending to Leppington when the line opens). So P1 and P4 would be good candidates for East Hills services, and P2 and P3 would be good for Liverpool services, and there would be no waiting for trains to cross on the level.

If I am right (which isn't guaranteed), then they would start using the platforms and the northern flyover in this way starting from Oct 2013.

The July construction update is out. There is a photo showing a track tamping machine working in the Rossmore stabling yard. SWRL Current Works

"Skeleton track" laying will finish along the entire corridor in early July (Skeleton track is essentially track without the final layer of ballast and before tamping). Tamping started on 22 May and will be completed to the east of Cowpasture road by mid July and all the way to Glenfield by early November.

Overhead, high voltage, and signalling installation will continue along the entire corridor.

Dickson Rd bridge (the one that was closed in March 2013) will have the deck poured and traffic barriers installed. All other bridges are finished with the exception of Rickard Rd (next to Leppington station) and the new road east of Edmondson Park station which will both have "final works" done in July.

Edmondson Park station will have building walls installed. Leppington station will have lifts installed in July.

Rossmore will have interior works on the facilities building, further track and overhead installation and installation of signalling cabling.

All three electrical substations will have interior work being done on their buildings.

The Combined Services Route (CSR) carries signals, communications and compressed air along the alignment. It requires more than 200kms of conduit (pipe used to carry cables and facilitates all signaling and energising of the rail line. The project aims to complete the CSR works in late June or early July.

Note that there is not yet a report on the Glenfield Transport Interchange, so there are no hints as to when the Northern flyover will be commissioned.

The August construction update is out. There is a photo showing roof truss installation at Leppington station. All sections are showing a very high level of completion with quite a lot of cosmetic work being done (landscaping, painting, fencing, etc).

The stations had their roof trusses installed (Leppington in Jun and Edmondson Park in July) and will have their roof sheeting installed in Late July or early August. August work on the stations includes installation of ceilings, lighting, signage and art, as well as platform and concourse works.

Electrical substations are having fencing, paths and wall and floor finishes done. Leppington substation is being prepared for a large crane lift (I am guessing this will be for the installation of the transformers).

Skeleton rail laying is expected to be completed in mid-late August with top ballast, tamping and grinding continuing. Overhead wiring installation to continue. Installation of signalling equipment will commence in August.

Rossmore yard will continue to have overhead wiring installed, as well as signalling and high voltage cable installation. Other activites at Rossmore are fairly cosmetic (landscaping, fencing, painting and floor finishes)

The Glenfield interchange update mentions overhead wiring installation on the closedown 10-11 August. My reading of the trackwork calendar is that this closedown will not affect the East Hills line, so I am guessing that this will involve overhead installation from platform 1 (and possibly 2) to the northern flyover. This would leave the remaining work to bring the northern flyover online for the closedown on 21&22 September.

There are also some photos on the Project webpage.



Feb 2013 - Hume underpass & Edmondson Park station


March 2013 - Hume underpass under construction.


April 2013 - Rossmore track installation


May 2013 - Looks to me like the construction for the Dickson Rd bridge.


June 2013 - Western side of the Hume underpass. Looking at this, you'd expect to see a train go past any minute - it looks finished!


June 2013 - Leppington Station (must be just before the roof trusses were installed). Also shown is the Rickard Rd bridge which I think is finished, but not yet opened due to the proximity with the station construction site.


July 2013 - Glenfield station.


Rossmore stabling yard.

The Glenfield interchange update mentions overhead wiring installation on the closedown 10-11 August. My reading of the trackwork calendar is that this closedown will not affect the East Hills line, so I am guessing that this will involve overhead installation from platform 1 (and possibly 2) to the northern flyover.

Has anyone seen what was done during this closedown? Do they have overhead all the way from platform 1 to the northern flyover yet?


I'm feeling a bit lonely in this thread! Do we have any commuters who can provide an update?

I Heard an EOI will be put out in Feb / Mar for Drivers and Guards for the new Rossmore depot and will probably take another 6-12 months for training before opening .

Nice work with the continued updates maestro

Has anyone seen what was done during this closedown? Do they have overhead all the way from platform 1 to the northern flyover yet?


I'm feeling a bit lonely in this thread! Do we have any commuters who can provide an update?

There's nothing noticable from on the train. There's a lot more stanchions up and plenty of signals (currently covered in black bags with white Xs over them). The turnout is still sitting on the side of the track at Mac Fields, so not sure what the rush was there to get it built. The points from the P3 side to the northern flyover got connected up to the flyover track some time back prior to this shutdown,  but that's all I've noticed in physical stuff. There's a lot of guys constantly out and about doing what appears to be signalling work.  

Northern flyover still no change - OHW has been up there for probably a good 6 months now. The last bit of work swapping over and connecting up the track I guess won't be done until they're about to commission it if they are going to do what the original plan was (ie remove the old track and the only way to up east hills is via the flyover). If they were going to leave the old track there and join the new up with a set of points, I would have expected them to have done that by now. As it is, there's no ballast sitting where the new track would be, nor any signs that work is happening there, so I guess one Monday morning we'll be on the train and suddenly going up and over.

There's nothing noticable from on the train. There's a lot more stanchions up and plenty of signals (currently covered in black bags with white Xs over them). The turnout is still sitting on the side of the track at Mac Fields, so not sure what the rush was there to get it built. The points from the P3 side to the northern flyover got connected up to the flyover track some time back prior to this shutdown,  but that's all I've noticed in physical stuff. There's a lot of guys constantly out and about doing what appears to be signalling work.  

Northern flyover still no change - OHW has been up there for probably a good 6 months now. The last bit of work swapping over and connecting up the track I guess won't be done until they're about to commission it if they are going to do what the original plan was (ie remove the old track and the only way to up east hills is via the flyover). If they were going to leave the old track there and join the new up with a set of points, I would have expected them to have done that by now. As it is, there's no ballast sitting where the new track would be, nor any signs that work is happening there, so I guess one Monday morning we'll be on the train and suddenly going up and over.

I agree, they will likely be disconnecting the old track when the eastern end of the northern flyover is brought into service, and it looks as if all that is needed for this to happen is a single shutdown weekend.

I can't imagine that they'd start the new timetable while still having conflicting movements for trains crossing to the East Hills line, so I'm still thinking that the September closedown will be the cutover date (the South Line closedown is only between Macarthur and Liverpool). I could be wrong, though... We'll see in four weeks.

The following Glenfield closedown is 7th & 8th December, and there are two in Jan 2014.

Nice work with the continued updates maestro

Thanks, I was wondering if anyone was reading them

The Glenfield Transport Interchange September update is out...

During the closedown on the 21/22 Sep there will be the following works:
- Station works ton each platform
- construction of drainage routes
- Installation of overhead wire and signals
- Installation of track turnout
- tamping, grinding and welding.

No mention of the northern flyover

Some photos from the weekend...



Edmondson park station as seen from the North (from Croatia Ave) with the new road being built. The road in the foreground is Croatia Ave which turns left where the yellow digger is parked (last time I came through here the road just went around a corner and there was no sign of EP station). The road from that intersection going towards EP station is new and curves a bit to the left and goes over a bridge over the SWRL.
If you can't spot the station, have a look at my photo below of Leppington station from Rickard Rd, they look pretty much identical from this level!



SWRL crossing Camden Valley Way (Photo taken from Bringelly Rd looking east) with what I assume to be a substation under construction.





Leppington station looking east from Eastwood Rd. The partially completed Dickson Rd bridge in the middle. You can see one of the down tracks installed through the station, and the down turnout (the up turnout is there as well, but not clear in this photo). Signals are already mounted and covered with plastic. The big blue/grey shed looking thing is Leppington station concourse.



Same location, but zoomed to full wide angle. This stretch (a couple of hundred metres) appears to be the only section of the SWRL with no track at all.





Looking west from the same location (Eastwood Rd bridge) at Rossmore yard. Signals and turnouts are in place, as well as some of the catenary within the yard. There is some sort of substation or facilities building on the left looking fairly much complete.




From the foot of the Eastwood Rd bridge showing the crossovers just outside Rossmore yard. There is a couple of hundred metre gap between the tracks here and the track in Leppington station.




Leppington station from Concourse level. Photo taken from Rickard Rd looking south.




Photo from the new Ingleburn Gardens Drive bridge looking west (The Hume is just behind me)




From the same location but zoomed all the way in. Edmondson Park station is in the background, with the track going under the new bridge for the new road (comes off Croatia Ave) just in front. In front of that, where the track humps, is the bridge over Campbelltown Rd. Again, several sets of covered signals can be seen.

The picture of Leppington station seems to show three platforms.

Does Rossmore yard allow the SWRL to be extended to say Baderies Creek?

Presumably, a track diagram is available somewhere.

The picture of Leppington station seems to show three platforms.

Does Rossmore yard allow the SWRL to be extended to say Baderies Creek?

Presumably, a track diagram is available somewhere.

Maybe it's not the best angle of Leppington, with the Dickson Rd bridge construction in the way, but there are four platforms (two islands). If you have a look at my photo from the same location on page 11 of this thread (photo taken before the bridge started being built) you can see it a bit more clearly. Also, just in front of the station are two turnouts sitting side-by-side, the left one to split the up track between platforms 1 & 2, and the right one to merge the down track after leaving platforms 3 & 4. The documentation I have seen on the SWRL indicated that Leppington is to have 4 platforms and is intended to be a significant bus interchange. It is also possible that they are considering extending the SWRL both north and south, in which case Leppington would be the rail interchange between the two (otherwise four platforms just seems to be overkill).

I, too, was wondering what would happen to Rossmore with the intended extension. If they extended through the yard, then they would use the middle two roads (which would be annoying if they were to still use it for stabling). The alternative would be to split off between Leppington and Rossmore so as to pass the yard to the North or South, possibly with a second bridge crossing the creek just to the east of the yard.

I haven't seen a detailled track diagramme, but I think the publicity video showed EP with two platforms (a single island) and Leppington with 4 platforms (two islands) and Rossmore with 10 roads (each road capable of stabling two 8-car trains).

I have noticed over the last few days that there is some work being carried out on the flyover on the north side of Glenfield.
As well as the areas leading up to Glenfield.

Could they be preparing the new signals for commission?

GLENFIELD:
Electrical work was scheduled for the June (?) shutdown, when OHW was to be livened over the "Future Down East Hills" from 50 points, through P4, and rejoining the Down  South Main via 57 points.
Also, live OHW on the Northern Flyover, north from 52 points (where the present track from P4 connects with the Up South Main at 46 points). This latter section is marked "Not available for electric traction"

It is also possible that they are considering extending the SWRL both north and south, in which case Leppington would be the rail interchange between the two (otherwise four platforms just seems to be overkill).

I, too, was wondering what would happen to Rossmore with the intended extension. If they extended through the yard, then they would use the middle two roads (which would be annoying if they were to still use it for stabling). The alternative would be to split off between Leppington and Rossmore so as to pass the yard to the North or South, possibly with a second bridge crossing the creek just to the east of the yard.

I haven't seen a detailed track diagramm, but I think the publicity video showed EP with two platforms (a single island) and Leppington with 4 platforms (two islands) and Rossmore with 10 roads (each road capable of stabling two 8-car trains).

Having two island platforms with four sides, rather than say just two side platforms is not really over kill, as the extra platforms allows long turnback-dwell times, and reduces the chance that trains will be blocked trying to arrive or depart. Long turnback-dwell of say 20 minutes allow trains to arrive 10 min. late, and still have 10 left to return on time. Short turnback times are false economy, as trains that arrive late, return late.

If an extension past Rossmore uses the two middle and straight sidings, at least the track centres appear to be wide enough to allow for safety fences between running lines and sidings, like turnback sidings at say Kingsgrove and Chatswood.

Having two island platforms with four sides, rather than say just two side platforms is not really over kill, as the extra platforms allows long turnback-dwell times, and reduces the chance that trains will be blocked trying to arrive or depart. Long turnback-dwell of say 20 minutes allow trains to arrive 10 min. late, and still have 10 left to return on time. Short turnback times are false economy, as trains that arrive late, return late.

I'm all in favour of good turnaround times (far better that a train is waiting for 20 minutes longer, compared to all the passengers having to wait due to follow-on delays), but there is the entire Rossmore yard for this. If this were the sole reason, then a single island platform (two tracks) would be sufficient (such as at Bondi Junction).
I suspect that they have four tracks here because they either intend to branch the line (north and south) or they plan a significant bus interchange, or both.

If an extension past Rossmore uses the two middle and straight sidings, at least the track centres appear to be wide enough to allow for safety fences between running lines and sidings, like turnback sidings at say Kingsgrove and Chatswood.

Yeah, fair enough. Although it would make the yard a bit more awkward (although it wouldn't be used anywhere near as much).

Has anyone seen anything around where the extension may go? I'm thinking possibly north through Badgery's creek (new airport station?) and then either an interchange with the Western line between St Mary's and Werrington, or just join onto the end of the quad at St Mary's and run a loop back into the CBD. This whole area (north and south of St Mary's) is a near-term growth area.

Has anyone seen anything around where the extension may go? I'm thinking possibly north through Badgery's creek (new airport station?) and then either an interchange with the Western line between St Mary's and Werrington, or just join onto the end of the quad at St Mary's and run a loop back into the CBD. This whole area (north and south of St Mary's) is a near-term growth area.

By all means have the extension extend to via Airport-2 to say St. Marys, Quakers Hill and Rouse Hill, but do not have the trains do a complete circles.

Circles have nowhere to put recovery margins.

Rely on frequent services to compensate for the need to interchange.

Sydney trains will be breaking the Bankstown Circle with Turnbacks at Lidcombe and Homebush.

London Underground is breaking its Circle Line (but not the name) at turnbacks at Edgware and Hammersmith.

Circles have nowhere to put recovery margins.

Rely on frequent services to compensate for the need to interchange.

Wouldn't frequent services also compensate for the lack of recovery margins on a circle?