The calls for a South Western Sydney rail link to the new airport at Badgerys Creek are getting louder.
In the wake of Infrastructure Australia’s scathing assessment of the current plan for a metro rail link north from the airport, via St Marys and to the western line via Parramatta, more influential people have pointed to what is clearly a much better alternative.
One of them is Anne Stanley, the Labor member for Werriwa, who said today the NSW Government ought to build the railway that will link the South West of Sydney to the Western Sydney Airport.
Ms Stanley says she has been urging the NSW Government for several years to build a railway in South-West Sydney that will link Liverpool, Campbelltown and Kingsford Smith Airport to the new Aerotropolis.
“The extension of the railway to link the South-West to the Western Sydney Airport is critically important to the success of Western Sydney Airport,’’ says Ms Stanley.
“A land corridor is already preserved for this project and would easily, and quickly, connect the airport to Liverpool and Campbelltown.
“It’s time the government acknowledges the need for vital infrastructure in South-West Sydney and built the South-West rail link now,” Ms Stanley said.
The St Mary’s metro link to the Western Sydney Airport doesn’t make sense, says independent South Western Sydney campaigner Michael Andjelkovic.
He has written to both the premier Gladys Berejiklian and ministers, as well as opposition figures to point out the South West rail link from Leppington station to Western Sydney Airport is a much better option than the St Mary’s Metro link.
“A South West rail link would connect the existing airport to the new Western Sydney Airport via the East Hills line,’’ he wrote.
“It would allow people from the Illawarra, the Southern Highlands, South Western Sydney, the inner west and other areas on the existing rail network to access the new Western Sydney Airport.’’
In early 2020 Mr Andjelkovic collected 2,350 signatures on a paper petition supporting the extension of the South West rail link to the new airport.
“Why is the current State Government denying rail access to people from the Illawarra and South Western Sydney to the new Western Sydney Airport for 30 years,’’ he writes in his letter.
Mr Andjelkovic points out a South West rail link to the new airport would provide the option of travelling directly to the CBD via the Granville line.
“In addition the rail corridor has already been established from Leppington Station to Western Sydney Airport and a number of properties have been acquired along the route.
“The construction of the South West rail link from Leppington Station to Western Sydney Airport (if done along proper planning principles) would provide three new stations each with a multi level car park providing 2,000 spaces.’’
Yes a link from Leppington Station to the new Western Sydney Airport should be built and have train services from the current Airport divert to the line after the stop at Glenfield