Aerotropolis Station Community Day with Sharath
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- Опубліковано 10 лип 2024
- In this video, myself and Sharath@BuildingBeautifully get behind the hoardings at the construction site for the new Aerotropolis Sydney Metro Station.
This station will be the terminus for the Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport Line. It will also be in the heart of the new Bradfield City, the first major city to be built in over 100 years!
We will reveal the 320 metre station box for Aerotropolis Station, and Paul will explain why it had to be this big! We also uncover the location of the secret stub tunnels that could allow the Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport Line to continue to Leppington and/or Macarthur in the future!
After talking about TBM Eileen which started at Airport Business Park and has already broken through the Western Sydney Airport Station, Sharath heads up to Orchard Hills to meet two special ladies!
One is Marlene and she is about to embark on the slowest ever journey from Orchard Hills to St Mary's! Only 120 metres a week, but to give her credit, she will be boring these important Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport Line tunnels and won't see the light of day for a good few months.
The other is the NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen, and not only did Sharath meet her, he got to interview her live on camera! So we think @BuildingBeautifully is the first UA-cam channel to ever interview a NSW Transport Minister!
After all that excitement, Paul returns to talk about how the completed Aerotropolis Sydney Metro Station will look, and then we finish off with some drone action, as Sharath takes us on an aerial tour of the future Bradfield city area, and talks passionately about this new exciting city.
Thanks to Sharath @BuildingBeautifully for being such a fun companion, and for providing additional footage, voiceovers, energy and enthusiasm!
Check out Sharath's Building Beautifully channel right here - / buildingbeautifully
Chapters
0:00 Introduction
1:17 Aerotropolis Station Box side views
4:30 Aerotropolis Station Box - north end views (part 1)
5:03 Orchard Hills (including Sharath's interview with Jo Haylen)
7:10 Aerotropolis Station Box - north end views (part 2)
8:00 Design of Aerotropolis Station.
9:12 Sharath gets his Drone out!
11:25 Closing clips
Attribution - Photos, Video and Diagrams
All uncredited footage in this video with taken by either Paul or Sharath. All credited footage, diagrams, artist impression images, and maps are from Sydney Metro, NSW Department of Planning or NSW Transport Ministers Office.
Sydney Metro - www.sydneymetro.info
NSW Department of Planning - www.planning.nsw.gov.au
NSW Transport Ministers Office - www.nsw.gov.au/nsw-government...
Diagrams of the completed Aerotropolis Station came from the Section 7.4.6 of Chapter 7 of the Sydney Metro - Western Sydney Airport EIS.
Here is a link to this document. - majorprojects.planningportal....
Attribution - Music
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come on Eileen - Live version at Shaftesbury Theatre in 1982 - • Dexys Midnight Runners...
The awesome Drone Footage Music! - Golden Cage by Jimena Contreras - • Jimena Contreras - Gol...
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* Equipment and Applications *
Cameras
iPhone 11 (most footage)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 camera (for the serious zoomed in close-ups!)
Microphones
DJI Mic (when filming)
Blue Yeti Microphone (for voiceovers)
Editing Software
Final Cut Pro
Maps created using Affinity Designer
* Disclaimers *
Accuracy
I do my best to make the commentary in these videos as accurate as possible by checking facts on the internet and other sources. However, sometimes the information isn't available, so I'll use my railway knowledge and insight to explain something to the best of my ability. If accuracy is important, do check the comments, as other viewers will often pick up on things I've missed or any mistakes made. Also note that for older videos, things may change over time, causing some of the information to become out of date.
Construction Sites, Maintenance Facilities and other Private Property
All footage of construction sites, maintenance facilities and other private property is taken from a public vantage point. The only exception is if it's an open day or I have special permission to access the site. The iPhone's small lens and zoom function makes it easier to film through small gaps in hoardings or fencing, so it may look like I'm on site when I'm not! If you would like to know the exact filming location, then ask me in the comments.
To get in touch:
Email - paul@transportvlog.com
Twitter DM - transportvlog
Had lots of fun with you Paul, it was a great day out! Looking forward to our future collabs! But I'm afraid your purple arrow has just made a sworn enemy for life 👿👿
Hi Sharath, yes it certainly was, and definitely up for more! And my naughty purple arrow is feeling guilty, and has gone all blue!
Wow, I've never seen that well coordinated a collaboration on UA-cam before. And you got to talk to the transport minister! I'm so pleased that people at TFN knew both of you. Congratulations, both of you; I wish you continued success, and I hope you do another collaboration soon… and that you make up about the purple arrow. 🙂
did you suggest any ideas on Public Transport to Jo haylen?
Thanks @nomadMik - yes it did coordinate really well!
@@electro_sykes I really hope she's poring over Sharath's metro map with a bunch of bureaucrats, and securing the money saved from not building those freeway tunnels to the Northern Beaches. 🙂
It is great to see two of my favourite channels coming together.
Yes absolutely, and we will be doing it again for sure!
Same
Yes so excited for this!!
Those metal bars coming out of the wall are rock anchors.
They drill a steel bar diagonally down deep into the rock behind the piles and then tighten a big 'nut and washer' against the pile to hold it back. Much like a guy rope on a tent.
Thanks for that. I'll remember that for next time. I like your analogy with a guy rope on a tent! - I might use that in a future video!
Two of "The Greats" of Sydney's public transit and town-planning fans. Keep up your fine work Paul and Sharath! Now, if only we can abandon that damnable word "Aerotropolis" - it's not the 1930s! However, I am enormously glad that the regional centre is being named "Bradfield".
Thanks! yes will do! Yes hopefully the name of this station will change to "Bradfield"
@@TransportVlog Thanks Paul. Some Sydney academic invented the name "Aerotropolis". I cannot hope that the name can be uninvented (I don't own a TARDIS). I hope that the station can be re-named 'Bradfield" and a truly great city can flourish around it.
Wonder collab and an amazing video. This is awesome! I just wish they'd advertise these community days more
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it! The best way to find out about community days is to go to the Sydney Metro website and enter your email in the "Register for Updates" field. Then tick the boxes for the projects and construction sites that interest you.
You boys have done fantastic job!
Thanks!
@@TransportVlog In Brisbane, I hate that they didn't build the stub tunnels to Cross River Rail.
Wow the hindsight of what is proposed is outstanding. Not just a line to the new Airport but a completely new suburb and all its infrastructure as well as more stations .
Yes it certainly is! It's going to be very exciting to see this happen!
Hi Paul, those steel bars that you were asking about are called ground anchors. They get drilled into the ground to support the piles against the weight of soil which is trying to push them over.
Interestingly this project is being delivered in 3 construction contracts. The work that you were looking at on site is from the station boxes and tunnels (SBT) contract, which as the name suggests involves the boring of the tunnels and the excavation for the station.
Once the SBT contract is complete the SSTOM contract will build the stations themselves, install all the rail systems and trains etc.
By using multiple construction contracts early building work is able to get underway while the finer points of the design are still being finalised. It’s important for this project as the goal is to have the line complete before the new airport which is a challenge given that the airport construction started in 2018 and this project didn’t really start onsite until 2022
Thanks for confirming the name and purpose for the steel bars. Yes I'm sure some of the station designs will change. Yes this project took a while to get off the ground, but it seems to be gaining momentum now!
Hi Paul 👋 I didn't watch this until today because I wanted to read the comments and I think everything that could be said has been said. Naturally Sharath was recognised first, have a look at him, he always wears the same glasses😮. I loved this video with "piles" of humour getting to the "bottom" of things. I also noticed that all the "boring" machines have female names but I am sure they are well "grounded" and maybe a little "flighty" given the location 😅. I am sure Sharath is happy with the project and can see they are "building beautifully" and are on track and on time. Excellent presentation Paul and I look forward to your next adventure 😀
Hi John, Glad you enjoyed this video and found it entertaining as well as informative. TBMs always have female names! Not sure why, but they do! That was the case in the UK too. I love your extra puns too!
😂 Absolutely loved every minute of this video. Excellent job both!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it so much!
You didn't ask the question about extending the Sydney Metro to Talawong. A necessary extension to ease the congestion on the existing western rail line. The population in Western Sydney will increase due to the construction of the new airport and immigration. A second link to the CBD is vital to provide for future growth.
Hi Victor, yes that would have been an interesting question to ask. However, I don't feel that this is the best way to ease congestion on the western rail line. The off-peak journey time from St Marys to Central is 53 minutes on a weekday. I reckon Tallawong to Central when Sydney Metro City & Southwest opens next year also be about 53 minutes. Add on the bit from St Marys to Tallawong, and its going to quite a lot longer. Extending Sydney Metro West beyond Westmead seems like a better way to do this. Having said that, the St Marys to Tallawong link would be useful, for other reasons.
That was awesome Paul and Sharath. I'm still chuckling over you getting Sharath to stop talking.... Lol. 😂😮😅😊
Thanks Jim, Glad you enjoyed. We certainly had a few giggles making this video!
@@TransportVlog I really wish they could link up Metro Western Sydney Airport to Metro West or Northwest. Would also be great if they could send it south to Glenfield via Leppington and they should also build a shopping centre there at Leppington
Wonderful teamwork you two! Thanks very much. At last you have the drone. An exciting time in the world of civil engineering.
Thanks Luke, Sharath's had a drone for a while, and I think I'll be getting one soon! Yes it certainly is!
The collab that we all needed.
Yes absolutely!
Great collaboration guys! Another great video Paul
Thanks - glad you enjoyed it!
This is the comic book crossover for transport, now we need to round up all of the vloggers for a mega avengers team up.
LOL! Yes that would be fun to do! - Perhaps next year when Sydney Metro City & Southwest opens!
The "Lano and Woodley" of rail transportation, thoroughly investigating a big hole in the ground😎
woah! didn't expect this collab, love to see what bradfield city has to offer in the future
Aaah cool, we surprised you! Yes it will be exciting to watch Bradfield growing for sure!
That's place is gonna look nice.
Excellent video Paul
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it
Well done to both of you….All hail Paul’s purple arrow!
Thanks!
A fun day out, especially the power of the purple arrow ha ha
Thanks Alex, yes it certainly was!
Good to see this collaboration, you should have invited Chris Topher too. Also, Bradfield has all the Hallmarks of a Suburb, Not a City,
I feel a bit sad that all that farm land around the airport precinct that will be buried.
Thanks! Yes we'll see if we can invite Chris next time. Bradfield is designed a major employment centre, rather than a residential suburb, but it might start off that way! I guess that's the price you pay for a bigger Sydney!
Love to see father and son working on projects together. Also, if people are interested in the technical names for that earth moving equipment, I see diggy machines, pushy machines and lifty machines.
😂
🤣🤣
Thanks David! and I like your technical names!
?
I subscribe to both your channels and it was weird and entertaining at the same time seeing the two of you in the same video at the same location 👍🏼
Lovely to hear that you're subscribed to both our channels. That video was the first time we'd met up in person!
you finally united
Yep!
once again as a melburnian im jealous of all the infrastructure going on over there meanwhile for us its gonna be at least another decade for airport rail 😭😭
tho amazing collab once again 😄
Yes I do feel for you! Melbourne Airport really needs that rail link! Glad you enjoyed our collab!
glad to hear the possible extension to MacArthur or Leppington is still possible.
Yes absolutely!
I Saw Bradfield in the City Circle when i played Mini Sydney Trains 2 (MST2 for short)
Wondered how long it would take you two to do a collab. Great video as always :)
That day was the first time we'd met in person! We'd been chatting over email for several months before then. Glad you enjoyed it.
great to see you both doing great things
Thanks!
These collabs are awesome!!! Keep them coming. 👏👏👏
Thanks, yes we will do more. Probably one for Western Sydney Airport quite soon, as we both attended an open day there recently as well.
Thanks, Paul and Sharath. I am subscribed to both of your channels. So pleased to see more of the station box and to know you folks have better access to good spots for video and photos. Thanks for I presume Sharath's Dronework.I hope you will allow me to include a link to this video and interviews in my new collection of video and photos at St Marys. Probably parts 11 and 12 of my "Changes At St Marys" series.
Hi Geoff, glad you enjoyed it. Yes that was Sharath's Drone footage towards the end. Yes feel free to pop a link to this video in your St Mary's series.
@@TransportVlog Thanks paul and Sharath on theside. I am finally back at working on some of my ancient videos, initially some petty roughstuff to and from Dulwich Hill in several sections then I will get to updating my Metro stuff sat St Marys including our stuff and a couple of photos John Cowper has permitted me also to add in there. I sent him a link to both your recent UA-cam video of similar areas he photographed.
You guys are hilarious!
Thanks! Glad it make you laugh!
awwww my 2 favourite infrastructure UA-cam channels!
Yes, we have another collab coming soon, this time on the Western Sydney Airport!
Wonderful
Thanks John.
Hopefully more collabs in future!
Yes will definitely do this again!
Finally the collab I was dreaming of..
Awesome! Your collab dream came true!
Thanks Paul and Sharath. Informative as usual. Now you have the ear of government ministers can I just make one suggestion. The drone shot revealed some of the agricultural traditions of South Western Sydney. I would encourage urban agriculture to be included in the master plan for the new city. It is a good match for the heritage of the site and also a match for the multicultural traditions of the area as many migrants have worked the market gardens. It will be the first port of arrival for many new Australians and futuristic integration of traditional human practices and modernity communicates a very positive and welcoming message. FYI there is still a working market garden near Kingsford Smith Airport in Botany but it is overwhelmed by all the adjacent development.❤
Glad you enjoyed it Philip. Yes that sounds like a wonderful idea.
Ahh Construction Sheep !!!
When I say avengers assemble, I mean Paul and Sharath
Hi Paul and Sharath, thanks for sharing an excellent video. Certainly interesting seeing this area going ahead. You both do very well with all your videos and should have railway stations named after you...actually that was Sharath's idea on another of his videos. Not only the train lines will be new, but the entire suburb and city area will completely change there. Just wondering where all the sheep will go when all the building gets underway. Anyway, all the very best. Rob in Melbourne Australia.
Glad you enjoyed it Rob, and thanks for your lovely comments! Yes it's going to be very different, but I'm sure the sheep will find new homes!
I’m a sub to both of your channels. Well done guys.
Thanks David.
Good collab 🎉
Thanks!
Good video
Thanks
Great video! It's nice to be able to see the station box in this much detail.
I assume the parking on the west side of the station is there so it can be used in the future as the excavation site for future platforms for the Metro West extension. Provisions for 2 future platforms are being made at the airport stations so it would make sense to do it here too.
That platform layout looks quite inefficient, doesn't it? Both pairs of escalators are at one end of the platform. That's probably the end which the initial 3-car trains will be stopping at, but it still seems non-optimal, and the fact that the escalators are in pairs would limit future capacity. This is supposed to be a city station, yet it's being built nothing like the new Metro stations in the eastern city.
Glad you enjoyed it! Possibly, although I think the parking could be replaced with new buildings in the future. The design does include provision for future east-west platforms at the mezzaine level, so whatever happens, that will be safeguarded. The designs are at an early stage, and they could well change, and probably will! Sydenham station was never going to have a new aerial concourse under the original plans! That came later, along with Trains Facility South! I'm sure it will be built with future capacity in mind.
biggest crossover
It's the Gorbachev and Reagan summit 2023
This is where the choo choo train will make its long and arduous journey to St Marys and then to the city which will take over an hour and you will be sardines with all the other Sydney commuters. If we were in any other developed country the bullet train would take you directly there in 10 min! Didn't expect much when I learned that not all planes will have aerobridges! Very third world!
Yes it is a long way to the city for sure! I think this airport will be mainly used by people living in Western Sydney.
Sharath talking about Bradfield being built to such a massive scale is scaring me more and more that the area is being served from day.1 by inadequate transport.
Realistically, everyone will drive or taxi/uber to Bradfield, unless they specifically live in the Penrith-Blacktown area.
In my opinion, it would have been more worth it to delay Bradfield opening to open the line from St Marys ALL the way to Macarthur (with Metro West extension and Bankstown Metro extension to Bradfield via Liverpool higher up on the cards)
++++ Bringing regional intercity trains (Blue Mtns/Highlands) and SWRL HEAVY RAIL extension to a central Bradfield rail terminal (like Central)
Bradfield will be quite small to start with, and as it grows, transport links will improve. I feel that an extension of Sydney Metro West from Westfield to Aerotropolis and the Airport would be necessary for this city to grow to its full potential. And Metro or SWRL from Leppington will help too.
@@TransportVlog Agreed. Another vital link I think will be needed is an 'Airport Express' proposal I've heard of involving express (preferably single deck on the legacy sydney network) starting at Bradfield City / WSA and then following SWRL/T8 stopping at Glenfield, Padstow & Kingsgrove (to connect w other proposed North-South lines), then Domestic Airport, International Airport, and Central (or future HSR terminal) - helping w inter-airport transfers and getting all across Sydney. There is possiblity for dedicated rolling stock being used, having less capacity (bigger seating areas), single deck, and abundant in luggage compartments (not too different from a smaller plane layout itself)
From how you describe it, Bradfield will be a new example of TOD (
Transit Oriented Density), as it's being built specifically around this new metro station. I'll be interested to see how the finished results look.
Yes that's right. I think TOD stands for Transit Oriented Development, and yes, that is what is happening for Bradfield. It's great to see the station going in first!
Better crossover than SNW & Lower Decks.
Great to see you both working together, you 2 have it!
Thanks John! Glad you enjoyed the 2 of us!
While you're thee, tell them to keep digging towards schofields and Tallawong and finish the metro loop that way.
Yeah. Although it would have to be an interchange station at Tallawong, as the 2 lines use different power supply.
@daveg2104 do you know the reason behind?
@saddysly8281 Best practice globally these days is for 25kV AC trains.. don't need as many substations and generally allow for faster trains.
The NW, City and SW Metro was reusing two sections that had already been designed for 1500V DC (even though they are still adding to it) and decided cheaper to keep it that way
@@mark123655 Yes, that is true. But it has left us with a less than ideal system. I don't know what the best alternative would have been. Build the new connecting lines to DC, or convert the Epping/Chatswood line to AC. I'm not sure on how much disruption that would have caused.
@daveg2104 Also train lengths are different. Metro 1 6 car trains with platforms built to 8 (160m). Think Airport West Metro is Max 4 cars.
a great video, would be awesome to see you guys join up with phillip mallis from melb at some point for a colab.
Thanks Elliot. I think Sharath might have something planned with Philip, and I’ll definitely reach out to him when I’m next in Melbourne.
It looks like Sydney will get the jump on Melbourne this time, with the airport rail in Melbourne being delayed or even cancelled.
Don't like to rub it in but Sydney already has an airport-city rail link.
Yes, but Melbourne really needs that airport link!
You should have asked the question why wasn’t the Aerotropolis station extended to Leppington by Metro or heavy rail. Also why wasn’t The North West Metro, extended to Scofields now not some distant time in the future.
..and why the WSA metro is not compatible with other metro lines, and why there ia a 7km gap between stations on the Parra metro, and why the post-metro west of Bankstown plans are such a mess, and why the Parra LRT does not extend to Carlingford and and
Well done guys. I would like to know where the boundaries lie between state and federal jurisdictions. Do the station stay state or do they come under federal ? Just trivia curiosity .
Neither. They will be operated by a foreign owned private company.
Good question and I'm not sure of the answer. I know there was some federal funding for the metro line, and that probably helped to it get off the ground. And I guess they are partly funding the airport too.
such an interesting pairing of "talking heads".
Thanks!
It should be pointed out that the station box under construction at the Aerotropolis (Bradfield) is only for the metro line from St Marys and its future extension to Macarthur. The same goes for the Airport and Business Park stations. Additional station boxes will be necessary at the Airport and Business Park for the extension of Metro West, assuming it goes ahead, as well at the Aerotropolis, with the provision also for the SWRL extension at the latter. It would have been useful if reference was made to this and how they would fit in with the current construction.
The new NSW Labor government has not committed to feasibility studies for extension of Metro West from Westmead to the Aerotropolis or the SW metro from Bankstown to Glenfield via Liverpool. Infrastructure Australia has committed funding for preparation of a business case for extension of the SWRL from Leppington to the Aerotropolis and conversion to metro, but I can't see how this would be feasible if the NSW government doesn't support the Bankstown to Glenfield metro extension.
If the Metro West extension doesn't proceed, then it still opens up the opportunity to extend the SWRL from Leppington to the Airport and Business Park as part of the Sydney Trains network, which IMO should have been the preferred option in the first place. The St Marys metro link is useless in the early stages of the Airport and Aerotropolis development and Infrastructure Australia said as much in its assessment, although it would be worthwhile in the future.
The business case predicted a patronage of only 880 passengers per hour in the peak at 15tph initially, which is around 60 passengers per 3 car train or 11% of the line's capacity. For an investment of $11 billion, it doesn't add up, when the early stages of the Airport and Aerotropolis development could be adequately serviced by the proposed rapid bus network connecting with Penrith, Liverpool and Campbelltown, until the level of demand warranted the rail link.. I might add, that the SWRL extension would provide far greater initial patronage, as it would connect more centrally with the broader rail network than on the fringe at St Marys, as well as providing a more direct and faster rail link with the Sydney CBD via the East Hills Express Line and Parramatta via an extended Cumberland Line, without the need to interchange.
The fact that extension of the SWRL has suddenly come back onto the agenda under the previous government, when it was previously given a low priority, bears testimony to that. It wouldn't be an extension of the St Marys metro link though, which is only proposed for 4 car trains, with 3 cars initially.
Yes that's right. These are much longer term plans, and I wanted to keep this video focussed on the current airport line project.
I'll leave it to others to comment on the pros and cons of this scheme. I'm just pleased to see a rail link to the new airport happening.
Hi Xray1. I know this thread is a several months old, but I think you raised some interesting points. A few comments they inspired:
From the numerous clips of drone flights over the area, it is now apparent that some provision is being made for another metro line in from Westmead. The Elizabeth Drive overpass at the north end of the airport goes over the forthcoming M12. Just east of it is the underpass for the metro, which is quite wide, certainly wide enough for four tracks. Some diagrams of the broader area also depict an additional rail corridor curving away east across to Mamre Rd around the same place the WSI Metro curves away to the west towards (new) Luddenham station.
The WSI Metro now under construction is what I would call a 'Mini-Metro' with 3 car sets (expandable to 4). The WSI Metro station boxes seem to be matched to that, once the area used up by (non-public area) services and (in some cases) crossovers are taken into account (diagrams of them available online concur with that). If the metro in from Westmead is an extension of the West Metro it is likely to have longer trains, requiring longer station boxes. There appears to be provision for this line along the east side of the WSI metro and under the bridge in the airport area, and for additional station boxes parallel and east of those for the WSI Metro. II suspect these will only be developed during 'stage 2 of the airport in 2 to 3 decades) There is also a 60m wide transit corridor through Bradfield paralleling the WSI Metro station.
I have a quite different view about rail connectivity from WSI to 'Harbour Sydney' than most. I don't see it as the primary purpose of the WSI Metro line. It's there to provide a north south transport spine through western Sydney; an area which already has a larger population than the rest of Greater Sydney. Increasingly, the gentrified Harbour City will need the West of Sydney as its industrial powerhouse and employment growth centre, much more than the West needs it. Don't get me wrong, interconnections are needed between the two, but I see tham more as important secondary benefits, rather than a primary purpose. When our (mostly radial) rail system was originally designed, Sydney was a very different place; where the only place for employment, study, shows and serious shopping was around Central and the City Circle. That's not been true since the 1960s.
I don't see a big demand for people to transfer between flights at WSI and the existing Sydney KSA (Kiinsford-Smith) airport. If, say, you are flying in to connect with a flight that only runs from one, you will get a (very likely available) connecting flight to the same airport. I would suggest the passenger load for the WSI Metro will be as much (or even more) for people working at the airport than passengers, probably people who live at places like St Marys and Oran Park etc. And not just at the airport, that whole N-S area is rapidly being covered by workplaces. The connection at StMarys and similar allow for other Western Suburbs dwellers to get easily to the airport. But if someone lives at Padstow, Bondi or North Sydney, they're probably going to continue to fly from KSA.
My big question is more about what Bradfield (core metropolis) is for? Its projected population is about 10K, yet it's purported to be "Sydney's third city" (possibly the marketing is getting the core aerotropolis and the greater aerotropolis muddled.). It will connect with mere suburbs like St Marys (12K) and Oran Park (18K), and LGAs like Blacktown (nearly 400K), Penrith (220K), Liverpool (240K), Camden (120K) and Campbelltown (170K), yet somehow it will dominate the area??? It has a Central Park that is only 2 ha, a pool and a larger park with a stage. It will undoubtedly be pretty, green, walkable, up-market and quite expensive. It's certainly not being built for Westies (no clubs, no pubs, no malls, no cinemas, no sports fields for kids, no parks for a quiet BBQ), so I'm guessing it's for their aspirational bosses to reside in the West, without having to live there, so they can feel pseudo-privileged. (Meanwhile the real money will be in mansions on 50 ha in the gorgeous (but largely undiscovered) semi-rural hills and dales to the deep SW of the airport.)
@@tacitdionysus3220 From press comments over the last few days, it appears that the development of Bradfield is way behind schedule. Regardless, it's still going to take a long time before it reaches a critical mass. I've always maintained that it is more likely to develop in a similar manner to Macquarie Park, which isn't a bad thing in itself, but I wouldn't brand it as a third city like the Parramatta or Sydney CBDs. Penrith and Liverpool are more likely to develop as genuine regional CBDs.
Agree that the primary purpose of the WSI Metro is to provide a north-south transport spine through Western Sydney and not to provide access to the Harbour City CBD and other eastern destinations such as Liverpool and Parramatta. But I think that strategy is misplaced as a priority, when the business case predicts a very low patronage in the early years, which could have been adequately catered for with a rapid bus network until the level of demand warranted the metro line.
This is reinforced by the sudden about face to extend the SWRL from Leppington to Bradfield and convert the whole line from Glenfield to metro, for which a business case is currently being prepared. Extension of the SWRL was previously given a low priority behind the metro extensions. I'm not convinced that this proposed extension and conversion to metro will directly connect with the WSI Metro at Bradfield as many appear to suggest. The two lines are incompatible, even if the extended SWRL is converted to metro, with differing train lengths and power sources. The SWRL conversion is now even less viable with the Minns government not supporting a business case for extension of the C&SW Metro line from Bankstown to Glenfield via Liverpool. The SWRL conversion from Glenfield to Bradfield could end up as an isolated asset, not to mention the need to find an alternative location to replace the Sydney Trains Leppington/Rossmore stabling yard.
I'd go even further to suggest that the greater travel demand from an extended SWRL to Narellan as part of the Sydney Trains network would be to the Sydney CBD and other eastern destinations such as Liverpool and Parramatta, rather than to Bradfield and the airport. I don't see it being any different to the current travel demand from the north-west, which is to the east. That brings into question the need to extend the current WSI Metro further south from Bradfield.
It makes the most sense to extend the SWRL as part of the Sydney Trains network to at least Narellan via Oran Park, which was the original intention, with a branch to Bradfield and the airport precinct, including the business park, since the government also hasn't supported the extension of Metro West from Westmead to Bradfield. The extended SWRL could utilise the corridor preserved for the Metro West extension with the extended additional station boxes at Bradfield, Airport Terminal and Business Park. An extended Cumberland Line could provide services to Liverpool and Parramatta.at a higher frequency. There could also potentially be a Y link from the SWRL extension from Narellan to Bradfield and the airport precinct. No doubt the metro purists won't agree with it, but it's the most sensible option.
Agree that there won't be a huge demand for travel between WSI and KSA, but for those that need it, it would involve a simple cross platform interchange at Glenfield. In saying that, I suspect that there will still be demand to and from eastern Sydney for overseas tourists travelling on budget airline services in particular. I suspect that over time, WSI will become the dominant airport for Sydney.
@@exray1 Thanks for all that exray1. Much appreciated.
- I had similar thoughts about it being a sort of toned down Macquarie Park. Delays for it don't phase me that much, my concerns would be more about it being more a showcase than a productive centre. The airport and the rest can work as well, with or without it. There's still 2 years and 8 months until WSI opens - they say 2026, but the fine print says 31 Dec!
- Was in the USA last year and rode some of their airport rail services, which seem to be built to a budget and more like trams connected to form trains - though it did mean they could do sharp curves and climbs to negotiate difficult routes more cheaply where needed. Busways are a possibility, but that can often mean that's how they stay, and stepping up services to cope with peaks is much easier in a driverless metro system. Like KSA it will probably only carry 20% of the airports passengers, but probably more of its workers.
- Somewhere on UA-cam I've done a rundown of several options for SWL, all of which have their strengths and weaknesses, but I don't know enough about relative construction costs to suggest likely winners. It would appear the cheapest is a Chatswood style cross-platform exchange at Leppington, with the most expensive probably being an extension of the SWL to Bradfield. Some old diagrams show a surface cross-platform exchange station just south of Bradfield. I guess we'll see soon enough.
- I've noticed some overseas budget bus tourists already stay towards the west after a brief initial visit to Harbourside, then they're off in other directions in coaches to pat kangaroos at Featherdale and beyond. If WSI did become the dominant airport, I wonder what pressure might arise to close a runway at KSA for developments?
- Not sure how much inside the industry you are, but if you know whether the WSI Metro loading gauge, (especially its width for platforms), corresponds with any other NSW rolling stock, I'd be curious to know?
@@tacitdionysus3220 All I know about the WSI Metro rolling stock, apart from being ultimately restricted to 4 car train sets, is that they will be wider than the current Metro Northwest sets and have a different power source (25KV AC v 1.5KV DC).
The drone looked like a frog!
I think its stupid that Sydney Metro keeps referring to this upcoming station as Aerotropolis ... It does however make much more sense for the station to be renamed Bradfield is it ? It makes perfect sense to honour John Bradfield with a train station names after him , just like the city that will eventfully grown in that location.
Hi Stephen, I reckon it will get the name Bradfield when it opens. For a long time, the Metro NW terminus was going to be called "Cudgegong Road" until it was changed to "Tallawong" a few months before opening. And I totally agree with you, John Bradfield definitely deserves having a station named after him!
What a perfect collab! You both in a video with RMTransit would be the dream-team.
Yes, a collab with Reece will happen at some point, as we are in contact. Probably not face to face unless I can persuade him to come to Sydney!
Excellent idea!… The only 3 transport UA-camrs that I subscribe to ;)
Is Olympic Park in Sydney a city?
No, it’s a suburb. It was originally stadiums, arenas and sports facilities, but now there is quite a lot of high density apartments as well.
Why isn’t there a direct west line being built from central or at least parramatta… it seems it will take ages to get to this airport
It wouldn't if there was a cheap extension of the line from Leppington instead of this overpriced monster.
In the longer term, the plan is to extend Sydney Metro West from Westmead to the airport, and I reckon this would bring the journey time to the CBD to under an hour. Unfortunately, with Sydney Metro West not opening until at least 2030, another solution was needed to get a rail link to the airport in time for the airports opening in 2026.
@jack2453, Yes it would, but it would still be a long journey to the CBD and also to Parramatta, and there is more capacity (and more trains) on the T1.
@@TransportVlog Not sure that's necesserily true. Trains could run virtually non stop from the CBD to Revesby and then pretty quickly from there.
Hi @jack2453, yes that could work, especially once the T3 is converted to Metro, as that would free up space between Central and Wolli Creek (via Sydenham)
Do you think it really can open in time by 2026? It's only 3 years away, there's still seem a lot to be done...
Hi Stanley, I reckon at the speed that they are going, and answer is yes. And they are talking late 2026. Its a lot simpler than the City & Southwest or Metro West, and has many similarities with Metro NW, so its not unchartered territories. And having a significant above ground section will help too.
Where is everyone's ppe hardhat and hi vis
Hi Chris, it was a community open day, and they created a special walkway that we could use, and this did not require PPE. This is standard practice on construction sites to allow community events to take place.
I don’t know if naming “boring” machines after women is a compliment or an insult 😏
It's tradition, but perhaps one that should be reconsidered in today's world of gender equality.
Do you think the new airport line will go ahead? I understand construction already start but the new NSW government seems hell bent on cancelling any future train projects that the former liberal government announced.
The Western Sydney Airport Metro is part of a bigger project. So I don't think it will be stopped. The line from Chatswood to Sydenham is effectively finished, it's some of the stations and the overstation developments that are under construction. The Western Metro to Westmead may be modified/delayed, and the Bankstown line conversion may be delayed depending on the review/politics, but at this stage it's all going ahead. All other proposals are on the back burner, apparently.
New NSW Govt isn't hell bent on cancelling future rail projects. All of the projects they cancelled didn't stack up and would not have progress under the Liberals anyway. Meanwhile the current Labor Govt was campaigning for Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2, is continuing the Bankstown conversion, may be adding more stations to Metro West, and is currently investigating a South-East Metro through Zetland (which the Liberals had previously cancelled). Please don't post BS accusations like "the NSW Govt is hell bent on cancelling rail projects" when it simply is not true
Hi @julianlee4803, yes all current projects are going ahead. Sydney Metro West may be modified, but it will definitely happen. It would be political suicide for them to cancel it now! Rapidly rising construction costs (and interest rates) mean that it will be a while before any new projects are announced, but there is still lots to be excited about in the meantime.
@daveg2104, Bankstown Line conversion is definitely happening, probably opening late in 2025.
@@TransportVlog Yes. The findings of the Interim Report are positive for the Bankstown Line conversion. The Sydney Metro West review is ongoing. "Final findings and recommendations will be tabled by end of 2023 for consideration by Cabinet". They are looking at "value for money, delivery models, project governance and passenger impacts" and assessing " land use, urban renewal and better integration with the wider transport network". It would be a "brave" decision to put it all on hold.
Nice one Paul. So Australia is now copying China. First build underground stations in farmland, then build the rest of the metropolis around it.
only in Sydney. Come to Brissy and we are still prefering cars
@@electro_sykes yeah even here in Melbourne our train network is way behind Sydney.
I doubt China is the first country to build that way. Admittedly, their projects are massive. It is much easier to build infrastructure first, than to shoehorn it in afterwards, as is the typical way.
@@Karl-going-solo more comprehensive trams though. Ours take forever to be constructed after they have been cancelled and restarted several times.
Thanks Karl! If we were really copying China, we'd have about 10 metro lines by now!
I love both of your work. But it just upsets me watching the tax $ burn away on expensive tunnels under paddocks, expensive metros that don't take you any further than St Marys and are not only incompatible with the train system but with the other metros. etc.
Glad you enjoyed it. I'll let others discuss the pros and cons of this scheme.
ob god
So cringeworthy seeing Labor take credit for Gladys's baby. There would be no airport and no metro if they had their way.
Yes that's very true, and unfortunately, that's the world of politics!
Absolutely. Nauseating. Haylen is a total hypocrite and such a lightweight Transport Minister compared to Gladys. Thank heavens she hasn’t been able to ruin all the progress already made which is too far along to cancel (everyone knows she wouldn’t have even conceived, let alone delivered anything like this). Still, at least this time she managed a short interview without every comment being party political point scoring and lying through her teeth about “blowouts” etc. Which is pretty much all she has done so far. Totally out of her depth.
Bradfield would be disgusted his name was used fir this “town” to enrich Rent Seekers. Bradfield advocated Land Value Tax to pay for all railways & used it to pay for Sydney Harbour Bridge compulsory land purchases.
Bradfield is meant to be a CBD larger than Parramatta, but the place is too far from civilisation.
It will take a few decades for it to become larger than Parramatta and by that time, this area will be more populated.
LNP Corruption Party have stuffed Sydney rail by ramming in the Metro incompatible with existing Sydney Rail. Labor takes $$$ from property developers so is just as compromised.
All private land served by the rail gets a free tax payer value lift. Tax land values 2% pa and its free to tax payers.
120meters per week my ass😅 better of using boringco
Such a shame there will be no direct rail link to the new airport.
Direct from where?
There will be a railway station at the airport, and it will have other stops. Ergo direct.
If you mean from the central cbd.. why.. this is an airport for those living in Sydney's West, its a 2nd airport for a distinct catchment, not a replacement airport.
It's not a shame, it's a disgrace.
@@mark123655 Direct from where? 10 km of cheap, above ground track from WSA to Leppington would provide direct connection to the Aerotropolis, Liverpool, Parramatta, Sydney Airport, Sydney CBD.
They may plan it with the Metro West Extend it from Westmead