Description of route
The railway commences between Seven Hills and Blacktown station on the western line in Sydney's western suburbs. This section of the western line consists of four tracks—two "up" tracks (meaning the direction towards Sydney) and two "down" tracks (meaning the direction away from Sydney). A flyover branches off the two "down western" line tracks and passes over the top of the two "up western" tracks to form the "down Richmond line". The "up Richmond track" connects to the two "up Western tracks" at the same point. The line then parallels the Main Western line to Blacktown station.
The line branches off in a northerly direction from the Main Western Line at Blacktown station, and Blacktown platforms 1 and 2 (an island platform) serve the Richmond Line tracks. The line then heads north as a double track electrified line, passing the Blacktown Control Box and Blacktown train sidings to Marayong station, which has an island platform. The line continues north to Quakers Hill (island platform). Two sets of points at Quakers Hill allows trains to terminate on either platform. The line continues north-west through Schofields (island platform) where the double track currently ends. Two sets of points at Schofields allows trains to terminate on either platform.
Continuing to the north-west, the line next reaches Riverstone where a passing loop and two side platforms are provided. Riverstone was the extent of electrification until the early 1990s when electrification was extended to Richmond. The line continues north as a single track through Vineyard station, Mulgrave station (where another passing loop and island platform are provided), Windsor station (single side platform) to Clarendon station. At Clarendon, another passing loop and 2 side platforms are located. From Clarendon the line heads north as a single track on its final leg through East Richmond (single side platform) to its terminus at Richmond station. At Richmond, 2 platforms (as a single island) are provided. There is an adjacent storage siding.
History
Schofields station was rebuilt in 2011. As Sydney expands, the Richmond line is being redeveloped to cope with the population influx in the area.
The line opened to Richmond in 1864 under the stewardship of engineer James Moore. In 1926, an extension was opened to Kurrajong, closing in 1952. [1] The line was electrified from Blacktown to Riverstone in June 1975. [2] [3] Electrification from Riverstone to Richmond commenced in 1987 but was suspended in 1988 due to lack of funds, restarting in 1990 and opening in August 1991. [4] Initially electric trains operated as 2-car shuttles between Riverstone and Richmond until the electric power supply was upgraded to allow through running to and from Sydney in 1992.
In 2002, the track between Marayong and Quakers Hill was duplicated. [5] Two further duplications were announced as part of the Rail Clearways Program—from Quakers Hill to Schofields and from Schofields to Vineyard. These provide extra capacity to support increased patronage, as the line passes through the middle of Sydney's "North-West Growth Centre". Duplication of the Quakers Hill to Schofields section commenced in 2009 and was completed in October 2011. The extension of the duplication to Vineyard has been deferred.
The Division of Chifley is an Australian electoral division in the state of New South Wales.
Marayong is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Marayong is located approximately 38 kilometres north west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Blacktown and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region.
Quakers Hill is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is 40 kilometres (25 mi) westnorth-west (WNW) of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Blacktown. Quakers Hill is part of the Greater Western Sydney region. Quakers Hill is colloquially known as 'Quakers'.
The South Creek or Wianamatta, a creek that is part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment, is located on the Cumberland Plain, also referred to as Greater Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
The Division of Greenway is an Australian electoral division in the state of New South Wales.
Quakers Hill railway station is located on the Richmond line, serving the Sydney suburb of Quakers Hill. It is served by Sydney Trains T1 Western and T5 Cumberland line services.
Riverstone railway station is a heritage-listed railway station at Riverstone Parade, Riverstone, City of Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by NSW Government Railways and William Weaver and built from 1883 to 1939. The station is located on the Richmond line, and is served by Sydney Trains T1 Western and T5 Cumberland line services. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Richmond railway station is the heritage-listed terminus railway station of the Richmond line, serving the Sydney suburb of Richmond, in New South Wales, Australia. It is served by Sydney Trains T1 Western and T5 Cumberland line services. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Vineyard railway station is located on the Richmond line, serving the Sydney suburb of Vineyard. It is served by Sydney Trains T1 Western and T5 Cumberland line services.
Windsor railway station is a heritage-listed railway station located on the Richmond line, serving the Sydney suburb of Windsor, in New South Wales, Australia. It is served by Sydney Trains T1 Western and T5 Cumberland line services. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Mulgrave railway station is located on the Richmond line, serving the Sydney suburb of Mulgrave. It is served by Sydney Trains T1 Western and T5 Cumberland line services.
Schofields railway station is located on the Richmond line, serving the Sydney suburb of Schofields. It is served by Sydney Trains T1 Western and T5 Cumberland line services.
Blacktown railway station is located on the Main Western line, serving the Sydney suburb of Blacktown. It is served by Sydney Trains T1 Western Line and T5 Cumberland Line services and NSW TrainLink Intercity Blue Mountains Line and regional Central West XPT services.
Kings Park is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Kings Park is located 40 km west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Blacktown and part of the Greater Western Sydney region.
Riverstone is a suburb of Blacktown, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Riverstone is located 48 kilometres (30 mi) north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the Blacktown local government area; parts of the Greater Western Sydney region. Originally settled in 1803 as part of a government stock farm, Riverstone is one of the oldest towns in Australia.
Schofields is a suburb on the fringe of Sydney's urban sprawl, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Schofields is located 45 kilometres (28 mi) north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the Blacktown local government area. It is part of Greater Western Sydney's North West Growth Area.
Marayong railway station is located on the Richmond line, serving the Sydney suburb of Marayong. It is served by Sydney Trains T1 Western and T5 Cumberland line services.
The Ponds is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Ponds is located approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) west-northwest (WNW) of the Sydney central business district in the Blacktown local government area. At the 2016 census, The Ponds had an estimated resident population of 11,731.
There has been Catholic education in the Diocese of Parramatta since before the Second World War. There are 76 Catholic systemic schools in the diocese with a total student population of around 41,000. There are also six non-systemic or congregational (independent) Catholic schools.
Richmond Road is an arterial road in Sydney, Australia.
