Project overview

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The Botany Rail Duplication is duplicating the remaining 2.9km section of single line track into Port Botany, allowing freight to be moved more efficiently.

The project will increase capacity on the Botany Line and wider Metropolitan Freight Network, with one train able to move around the same amount of containers as 54 trucks.

This will encourage a shift in freight from road to rail, helping to reduce truck movements and associated traffic congestion.

Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is delivering the project on behalf of the Australian Government.

The Australian Government announced in May 2018 a funding commitment to duplicate the remaining section of single line freight track between Mascot and Botany. The project aims to:

• Alleviate constraints and increase the capacity of Sydney’s freight rail network to meet existing and future demands
• Provide increase operational efficiency, flexibility and reliability for freight customers support current NSW government targets to increase the rail mode share
• Support connection to, and operation of, intermodal terminals to meet their targeted freight capacity.

Together, with the Cabramatta Loop Project, Botany Rail Duplication aims to provide the capacity to meet predicted growth in container freight transport between Port Botany and metropolitan intermodal terminals.

The Botany Rail Duplication will complement upgrades taking place in and around the airport and port precinct which aim to improve traffic flow and help reduce congestion on nearby roads, including the Sydney Gateway project.

About the project

Botany Rail Duplication includes the following key features:

• Track duplication – constructing a new track within the rail corridor for a distance of about three kilometres
• Track realignment and upgrading – moving some of the track sideways to make room for the new track
• New crossovers – constructing new crossovers to allow trains options to move between tracks
• Bridge works – constructing new rail bridges at Mill Stream, Southern Cross Drive, O’Riordan Street and Robey Street
• Embankment/retaining structures – constructing new embankment and retaining structures.

Ancillary work would include bi-directional signalling upgrades, drainage work and protecting/relocating utilities.

Major construction started in early 2022 and the project was commissioned in January 2024. Some finishing works are taking place, following commissioning.

The below image illustrates the key features of the project.

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Project need

Efficient access to and from Port Botany is critical to the economic growth and prosperity of Sydney. Over the next 20 years, container freight, air freight, air travel and general traffic in and around the Port Botany area are expected to grow significantly. This will put more pressure on roads and other infrastructure and impact local communities. Without significant infrastructure investment, existing transport constraints and challenges will worsen.

The amount of container freight handled by Port Botany is predicted to significantly increase.  The NSW Freight and Ports Plan 2018-2023 predicts the amount of container freight handled by Port Botany to significantly increase, from 14.4 million tonnes in 2016 to 25.5 million tonnes in 2036, representing an increase of 77 per cent.  The Australian and NSW Governments have identified clear objectives to increase the share of this freight that is moved by rail.

Transporting more freight to and from Port Botany by rail will place additional demands on the existing Botany Line, particularly the single line section of track, which is already an existing constraint to this section of the wider freight network. The Botany Rail Duplication is expected to allow for increased freight movement on the Botany Line from the current average of about 20 trains per day (per direction) up to around 45 trains per day (per direction) by 2030, based on current and predicted operational requirements identified by ARTC.

Attachments & Resources