Project Summary
The North Strathfield 
Rail Underpass Alliance pushes a tunnel for freight trains under the existing 
passenger rail.
The Challenge
How to
allow freight to move more easily from the main North Line at 
North Strathfield (NSW), westward towards Flemington.
The Solution
The North Strathfield Rail Underpass Alliance is constructing the rail underpass 
under the Main North Lines at North Strathfield, removing the need for freight 
trains to cross over the existing tracks before they continue their journey 
towards Flemington.
The project forms part of the Northern Sydney Freight Corridor Program, a joint 
initiative of the Australian and NSW governments to improve the capacity and 
reliability for freight services between North Strathfield and Newcastle.
The project has been designed for Transport for NSW by NSRU Design Joint Venture 
(SKM & PB) and Mott Macdonald.
The key features of the project include:
	- a new rail underpass for freight trains 
	at North Strathfield
- new track to connect to the existing 
	relief goods loop at North Strathfield
- 2.4 km of new track and upgrade of 850 m 
	of existing track
- a new aerial concourse and the 
	installation of four new lifts at Concord West station.
- relocation of an existing RailCorp depot 
	at North Strathfield Station
- associated civil and structural works
- provision of new rail systems, including 
	overhead wire, high voltage, low voltage, communications and signalling
The project is being delivered by Transport for NSW, John Holland Group and 
Bouygues Travaux Publics Australia.
A road header is excavating the tunnel underpass, and the surveyors use the new 
Setout tools and trimeshes in 12d Field for all set out and conformance on the 
project.
The Result
Dave Mares (Alliance Survey Manager) said, “12d 
Field exceeded their expectations on this project, and its features surpassed 
the overseas software traditionally used for this type of project”.
 
--As featured in the Dirt Digger Newsletter - Issue 33, December 2014
                                                            
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