New detailed plans for two freight rail projects, that will boost land-side freight capacity around Port Botany, have been approved by the NSW Government.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said that the fast-tracked assessment will enable construction works to begin within the next six months.
The current single freight rail track between Mascot and Botany will be duplicated and a new passing loop will be added to the freight line between Cabramatta and Warwick Farm stations, allowing for freight trains up to 1,300 metres in length.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the Botany Rail Duplication and Cabramatta Loop projects will help meet Sydney’s future freight demand.
He added that modelling predicts a 77 per cent increase in the amount of freight handled from 14.4 million tonnes in 2016 to 25.5 million tonnes by 2036. Minister Constance said that every extra freight train on the Botany rail line will help remove up to 54 trucks.
Both projects will be delivered by the Australian Rail Track Corporation with the Cabramatta Loop Project expected to be completed by mid-2023 and the Botany Rail Duplication expected to be completed by late-2024.
Statutory advisory body Infrastructure Australia assigned priority project status to the Port Botany Rail Line Duplication project and the Cabramatta Passing Loop earlier this year.
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