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North West Metro – Unfit for Purpose

In 2012 NSW’s O’Farrell Government announced that Sydney’s long-awaited North West Rail Link would proceed, but only as a metro-style, privatised operation. In addition, the Epping-Chatswood tunnel and its stations would be modified so that it could not be used by modern double-deck suburban trains.

This video examines the misinformation, motivations, personalities and politics behind the decision.

In February 2013, rail expert Sandy Thomas, who was a team member on the Sydney Morning Herald’s independent public inquiry into a long-term public transport plan for Sydney’ published a detailed critique of the NWRL plan strikingly similar to ‘Unfit for purpose’. EcoTransit strongly recommends a reading of it, the pdf can be read or downloaded here.