Sydney Metropolitan Map
The Overall Network Map is the future look of the Sydney Metropolitan Railways.
These plans are for the existing Railways and not a combination of other modes of Transport.
When buses replaced Trams in the 1940s, 50s and finally in 1961 we were led to believe that our future was secure.
When the Trams to Ryde ended in 1949, the promise to quadruple the Northern line between Hornsby and Strathfield was made. This has never eventuated and with the opening of the Epping to Chatswood line, there will be a reduction of services on the Northern line between Eastwood and Strathfield.
Now we are being told that Metro is the answer that we are all seeking. Why can't the existing railways expand?
If the focus is to be on Metro Rail, what investment will be put into the existing Railways?Haven't we learnt the lessons of Granville?
To simply draw up plans for one Railway line would be of no consequence. It quickly became obvious that a large scale plan for the next thirty years is what is required.
When Governments are elected, the focus is on immediate concerns in marginal seats.
What is required is a plan that can be delivered over the next thirty years and not engage in 'piecemeal' transport planning.
Sydney unlike Melbourne was never a planned city. Even the County of Cumberland plans have been dispensed with.
This Overall Network map is a plan that will achieve meaningful results. It transcends all political parties and cycles of elections.
For new land releases to continue to occur without a new Railway line being built is absurd. Included in the website are needed legislative changes so that we do not continue to make the same mistakes of transport planning that has been made in the past.
While there is a Minister for Roads and not a Minister for Railways, the deliberations of State Cabinet continue in favour of Road construction. There has been a continued widening and expansion of the road network, but our Railways are at capacity.
Even duplicating and quadrupling existing Railway lines does not occur as it should have over the last sixty years. Laying additional tracks is the same as widening roads for new traffic lanes. How many roads in New South Wales have been widened over the same period of time?
Yes we need to upgrade the Pacific and Princes highways, however the Railways have not matched the growth of Metropolitan Sydney over the last sixty years.
Even as we have built new Railway lines in recent years, there has been a chorus of complaints from the NIMBY'S (Not in my backyard).New Railway lines are used by people from all suburbs and to alter routes and construct a Railway with a steeper gradient or suburbs without a Railway station is ridiculous to say the least. Once again that is why legislative reform is required to avoid making the same mistakes of the past.
If we can have legislative reform for Metro Rail, Why can't the same be done for the existing Railways?
As the saying goes: "Where good men do nothing, evil triumphs"
After all these are YOUR RAILWAYS: OUR FUTURE
To download the map simply click on the image of the map.
