South West Rail Link Corridor

The newest rail corridor will serve as the transport backbone of future developments in the South West Growth Centre.

The NSW Government has invested over $500 million in public transport infrastructure for the South Western suburbs of Sydney. Sydney thus far, has seen the fastest population growth in Camden LGA, along with an increased dependency on cars due to the lack of reliable public transport in the area. The opening of the South West Rail Link (SWRL) in the beginning of 2015 has provided a reliable link to major employment centres including Liverpool, Parramatta and the Sydney CBD, which was once only accessible by motor vehicle and bus. It will continue to have an impact on south western Sydney due to increased accessibility in the region.

The SWRL has delivered:

11.4km new rail line from Glenfield to Leppington
Two new stations at Edmondson Park and Leppington
Commuter car parking at both stations
A train stabling facility at Rossmore
Glenfield Station upgrades; including bus/rail interchange and commuter car parking
Rail flyovers at Glenfield North and Glenfield South

Laing O’Rourke engaged Turf Design Studio to play a key role in the urban design and documentation of the rail corridor from Edmondson Park Station to Leppington Station. The studio explored the physical relationships between the new rail corridor elements including bridge abutments and embankments, and between the local landscape and existing built form surrounding the corridor. Between these stations, the corridor passes through a variety of landscape conditions including, rural residential land holdings, market gardens, numerous creek lines, areas of remnant Cumberland Plain vegetation and areas of heritage value.

The diversity of the existing urban landscape opened up an opportunity to create unique experiences along the corridor for rail commuters. This was expressed through public art along the rail corridor which celebrated the local environment and provided an interpretive experience through the journey. Visual and functional links to rail and town centres, strengthens the connection between existing communities and provides a safe passage for people to use the rail network at all hours of the day.