Current status:Enabling Works and Construction
- Planning
- Design
- End Assessment
- Approval
- Procurement and Enabling Works
- Enabling Works and Construction
- Operation
The Cabramatta Loop Project will increase rail freight capacity on the Southern Sydney Freight Line by allowing freight trains travelling in either direction to pass each other. Together with the Botany Rail Duplication, it will build capacity to meet predicted growth in demand for freight to be carried on rail between Port Botany and metropolitan freight intermodal terminals.
The Australian Government announced in May 2018 a funding commitment to construct a freight rail passing loop between Cabramatta and Warwick Farm. Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is delivering the project on behalf of the Australian Government.
The project aims to:
- Alleviate constraints on, and increase the capacity of, Sydney’s freight rail network to meet existing and future demands
- Support the operation of intermodal terminals, including Enfield, Chullora and Moorebank
- Encourage a shift in freight from road to rail, helping to reduce truck movements and associated traffic congestion.
Australia’s freight task is set to experience significant growth over the coming decades. The existing freight infrastructure cannot support this projected growth, with increasing pressure on already congested roads and rail lines through Sydney, and increasing use of heavy trucks.
About the project
The Cabramatta Loop Project includes the following key features:
- New rail track – providing a 1.65 kilometre long section of new track adjacent to the existing track, with connections to the existing track at the northern and southern ends
- Track realignment – moving about 550 metres of existing track sideways to make room for the new track
- Bridge works – constructing two new bridge structures adjacent to the existing rail bridges over Sussex Street and Cabramatta Creek
- Road works – reconfiguring Broomfield Street for a distance of about 680 metres between Sussex and Bridge streets.
Ancillary work includes communication, signalling and power upgrades, works to existing retaining and noise walls, drainage work and protecting/relocating utilities. In addition, new signalling will be installed at a number of locations within the rail corridor.
Major construction started in early 2022 and the project was commissioned in February 2024. Some finishing works are taking place, following commissioning.
The diagram below illustrates the key features of the project.
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.
The Southern Sydney Freight Line (SSFL) is already operating close to capacity, limiting its ability to adequately service future demands for rail freight transport. Additional demand arising from the predicted growth in container freight has the potential to exacerbate this situation, impacting on reliability and restricting the efficient movement of freight across the broader Sydney rail network.
Attachments & Resources
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Community updates files
53
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Community Update – 12 month Out of Hours Works Update
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Community Update – Station Street resurfacing February 2024
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Community Update – February 2024
- Community updates file: The Loop – news from the Cabramatta Loop Project – December 2023
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Community Update – November 2023
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Community Update – 6 Month Out of Hours Work Update
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Community Update – October 2023
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Community Update – Warwick Street Substation Work Notification – October 2023
- Community updates file: Broomfield Street – community update – September 2023
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop – community update – 4 September 2023
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop – community update – August 2023
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop – out of hours work – 3-month lookahead
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop community update – Broomfield Street – July 23
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop – Community Update – 23 June 2023
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Project – Community Update – June 2023
- Community updates file: The Loop – news from the Cabramatta Loop Project – June 2023
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop – construction fact sheet
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Project Community Notification – April 2023
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop – community update -April 2023
- Community updates file: The Loop – news from the Cabramatta Loop Project – March 2023
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Community Notification 10 March 2023
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Community Notification – February 2023
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Project Community Update – 30 January 2023
- Community updates file: The Loop – news from the Cabramatta Loop Project – December 2022
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Community Update – November 2022
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop – Sustainability Fact Sheet
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Community Notification – September 2022
- Community updates file: The Loop – news from the Cabramatta Loop Project – September 2022
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Community Notification – 18 August 2022
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Community Notification – 15 August 2022
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Community Notification – 9 August 2022
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop community update – June 2022
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop community notification – July
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop project information – June 2022
- Community updates file: The Loop – news from the Cabramatta Loop Project – May 2022
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Community Update – May 2022
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop Community Update – 9 April 2022
- Community updates file: Fact sheet – bridge construction
- Community updates file: The Loop – news from the Cabramatta Loop Project #1
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop community update – 20 January 2022
- Community updates file: Fact sheet – noise and vibration
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop community update – 4 January 2022
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop – out of hours works notification – November 2021
- Community updates file: Fact Sheet – Tree restoration and landscaping
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop community update – November 2021
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop community update – August 2021
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop newsletter – August 2021
- Community updates file: Bản tin Cabramatta Loop – tháng Tăm 2021
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop community update – April 2021
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop community update – January 2021
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop newsletter – Spring 2020
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop – community update May 2020
- Community updates file: Cabramatta Loop – community update Aug 2019
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Environment & Planning files
46
- Environment & Planning file: Independent Environmental Audit #5 – Proponent Response Table
- Environment & Planning file: CLP Independent Environmental Audit #5
- Environment & Planning file: CLP Six-monthly Construction Monitoring Report – May to Oct 23
- Environment & Planning file: CLP-Construction Environmental Management Plan Rev 7
- Environment & Planning file: CLP – Urban Design and Landscape Plan Rev H
- Environment & Planning file: CLP-Independent Enviornmental Audit #4
- Environment & Planning file: Response to Independent Environmental Audit #4
- Environment & Planning file: Cabramatta Loop Project Soil and Water Management Sub Plan Part 1
- Environment & Planning file: Cabramatta Loop Project Soil and Water Management Sub Plan Part 2
- Environment & Planning file: Cabramatta Loop Project Soil and Water Management Sub Plan Part 3
- Environment & Planning file: Cabramatta Loop Project Soil and Water Management Sub Plan Part 4
- Environment & Planning file: Cabramatta Loop Project – Noise and Vibration Management Plan
- Environment & Planning file: Cabramatta Loop Project Air Quality Management Sub Plan
- Environment & Planning file: Cabramatta Loop Project Traffic and Transport Management Sub Plan Rev 6
- Environment & Planning file: CLP Six Monthly Construction Monitoring Report_November 2022 to April 2023
- Environment & Planning file: CLP – Proponent Response to Independent Environmental Audit 3
- Environment & Planning file: Cabramatta Loop Project Independent Environment Audit 3
- Environment & Planning file: Cabramatta Loop – Construction Monitoring Report # 2
- Environment & Planning file: Cabramatta Loop Project Independent Environmental Audit
- Environment & Planning file: CLP – Independent Environmental Audit – November 2022 – Proponents response
- Environment & Planning file: CLP – Independent Environmental Audit – April 2022 – Proponent response
- Environment & Planning file: CLP Six Monthly Construction Monitoring Report: Nov 21-April 22
- Environment & Planning file: CLP Sustainability Management Plan
- Environment & Planning file: Cabramatta Loop Project ONVR
- Environment & Planning file: CLP-Operational Noise and Vibration Review
- Environment & Planning file: CLP – Independent Environmental Audit – April 2022
- Environment & Planning file: Cabramatta Loop Project: Monthly Construction Monitoring Report – November 2021
- Environment & Planning file: CLP-Waste and Energy Management Sub-Plan
- Environment & Planning file: ER CEMP Approval Letter
- Environment & Planning file: CLP-Heritage Management Sub-Plan
- Environment & Planning file: CLP – Flood Management Sub-Plan
- Environment & Planning file: CLP-Flora and Fauna Management Sub-Plan
- Environment & Planning file: CLP-Air Quality Management Sub-Plan
- Environment & Planning file: CLP – Complaints Management System
- Environment & Planning file: CLP – Communication Strategy
- Environment & Planning file: Environment Protection Licence 3142
- Environment & Planning file: Jacquie Osmond Reserve – Softball Design Report
- Environment & Planning file: Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report
- Environment & Planning file: Instrument of Determination CLP
- Environment & Planning file: Cabramatta_Loop_Project_Submissions_Report
- Environment & Planning file: EIS – engagement strategy – 2019
- Environment & Planning file: EIS Vol 1_Part A – Ch 01 to 07
- Environment & Planning file: EIS Vol 1_Part C_Ch 22 to Ch 24 and Appendices
- Environment & Planning file: EIS Vol 1_Part B_Ch 08 to Ch 21
- Environment & Planning file: EIS-Summary_August-2019
- Environment & Planning file: Cabramatta Loop – Preliminary Environmental Assessment
- Supporting documents files 2
