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diff --git a/project/templates/sydneyrail.xhtml b/project/templates/sydneyrail.xhtml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c5873e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/project/templates/sydneyrail.xhtml @@ -0,0 +1,160 @@ + +{%- extends "base.xhtml" -%} + + + +{%- block title -%}Sydney Rail Maps{%- endblock -%} + + + +{%- block content %} +<h4>Sydney Rail Maps</h4> + +<p>Git repository: <a href="/cgi-bin/cgit.cgi/rail-maps">Link</a></p> + +<h5>21/9/2021</h5> + + +<h5>Overview</h5> + +<p>Over the years there have been more than a few railway network maps created for Sydney, +Australia. All sorts of <a href="https://cdn.tourbytransit.com/sydney/images/Sydney-Trains-Network-Map.png" +class="external">official</a>, <a href="https://www.railmaps.com.au/sydney.png" class="external"> +unofficial</a>, <a href="https://www.tripindicator.com/images/compare/attraction-map/sydney-metro-map.jpg" +class="external">hypothetical</a>, <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Sydney_railway_map.gif/1270px-Sydney_railway_map.gif" +class="external">geographical</a>, and <a href="https://64.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3oc8qUgSZ1r54c4oo1_1280.jpg" +class="external">historical</a> ones can be found via a +websearch with your favourite search engine. This is my contribution to that +pile of pictures.</p> + +<div class="figure"> + <a href="/img/sydney_rail_map_full.png"> + <img src="/img/sydney_rail_map_preview.png" + alt="Hypothetical Sydney rail map" + height="700" + width="750" /> + </a> + <div class="figcaption">A hypothetical Sydney heavy rail map</div> +</div> + +<p>The above map represents a lot of proposals actually implemented and opportunities taken instead +of missed. The map was constructed as a 3000x2800 SVG, but due to rendering consistency issues it +has been exported into PNG format here. Click it to open a full scale version. Since emphasis is on +a "what if" for heavy rail lines, no grid, index, light rail, or other transport services have been +included.</p> + + +<h5>Line Differences and Notes</h5> + +<p>There are 12 lines depicted, including 6 suburban double deck, 5 metro single deck, and 1 +suspension monorail. For the most part the colour of preexisting lines has been made consistent with +recent official maps.</p> + +<p><i>Suburban lines</i>:</p> + +<ul> + <li><i>Northern:</i> The line now terminates at Central, as trains going any further would need + to share with North Shore services. Shares track with the Strathfield metro.</li> + <li><i>Western / North Shore:</i> All trains now run express between Blacktown and Central, and + the Richmond branch has been given over entirely to the Cumberland line. This allows a maximum + level of throughput without having to add a third track pair between Blacktown and Granville. + Clyde station no longer exists due to the reworking of the Carlingford line.</li> + <li><i>Airport / East Hills:</i> All trains now run via the Airport tunnel, and an additional + station is located at Waterloo. Terminates at Leppington instead of Macarthur.</li> + <li><i>Southern / Inner West:</i> The Inner West branch extends to Blacktown while the Southern + branch extends to Macarthur. Clyde station no longer exists. Shares track with the Cumberland + line.</li> + <li><i>Illawarra:</i> All trains now run express between Hurstville and Central, and terminate + at Central.</li> + <li><i>Cumberland:</i> Shares track with the Southern / Inner West line. The Richmond branch is + now served exclusively by this line. Now covers a new track section out to Camden instead of + Leppington. While there has been a line to Camden + <a href="https://www.visitsydneyaustralia.com.au/lost-rail-camden.html" class="external"> in the + past</a> prior to 1963, the alignment here is different in order to avoid the steep gradient of + the old line.</li> +</ul> + +<p><i>Metro lines</i>:</p> + +<ul> + <li><i>Strathfield:</i> Connects Strathfield to Hurstville as proposed in the + <a href="http://www.simonrumble.com/transport_2010/" class="external">Action for + Transport 2010</a> plan. This line likely has the weakest justification as it results in an + unavoidable excess of trains running between Strathfield and Hornsby. Shares track with the + Northern suburban line.</li> + <li><i>Bankstown / Castle Hill:</i> The Lidcombe branch has been given over to a new Olympic + Park metro line. The Liverpool branch now terminates at Cabramatta. The alignment through the + CBD is the Metro-Pitt option, stopping at The Rocks. Uses the same corridor as the North Shore + line between St Leonards and Chatswood. Adds the unfortunately unbuilt station at the former UTS + Kuring-gai campus. Adds stations at Marsfield and Thompsons Corner. Extends the end of the line + through Schofields to Marsden Park.</li> + <li><i>Bondi Junction:</i> Handles the all-stops services between Hurstville and Bondi Junction + formerly on the Illawarra line.</li> + <li><i>Northern Beaches:</i> Rail service to the Northern Beaches has been proposed as early as + 1974 in the Sydney Area Transportion Study, and also in the Action for Transport 2010 plan in + 1998 as well as recent Metro plans. Like the Sydney Area Transportation Study this line goes + all the way to the vicinity of Mona Vale. A likely obstacle would be Narrabeen Lagoon. Unlike + all of the proposals listed this line goes via a new, high bridge replacing the current bridge + at The Spit. The alignment through the CBD is the Metro-West option for the northern end, + stopping at Barangaroo, then merges into the Metro-Pitt option at the southern end. Choice of + stations between Central and Parramatta is more in line with the 2008 West Metro proposal and + terminates at Parramatta, although the current proposal of extending to Westmead may also be an + option.</li> + <li><i>Olympic Park:</i> Oddly, at the time of writing I am not aware of any proposals to make + use of the Olympic Park branch or better connect it into the network in this way. Uses the + Lidcombe branch formerly of the Bankstown line. This line extends through the major employment + centre of Macquarie Park, and terminates at Gordon to allow for easy interchange with potential + bus rapid transit to and from the northern beaches.</li> +</ul> + +<p><i>Monorail lines</i>:</p> + +<p>Despite everything else this may be the most controversial idea here. In the past Sydney had a +very poorly designed, low capacity <a href="http://monorail.com.au/" class="external">monorail loop</a> +between the CBD and Pyrmont. What is proposed here is much closer to monorail systems found in +countries like Japan and China where monorails are constructed to provide services like a heavy +rail line. The technology would be a modified SAFEGE system to allow for 6 car trains and 80km/h +service speed.</p> + +<ul> + <li><i>Carlingford:</i> In the past, connecting the Carlingford line to Epping or extending rail + service southwest of Parramatta has been considered too expensive. Use of monorail here would + likely bypass that problem by allowing construction above ground over existing road corridors. + This is the only line on the network where this is possible due to the alignment not overlapping + with any other and having no issues with underground stations or overly built up areas.</li> +</ul> + + +<h5>Unmapped Features</h5> + +<p>The Southern / Inner West, Airport / East Hills, and Cumberland lines all overlap track, as do +the Northern and Strathfield lines. All other lines use their own dedicated track pairs exclusively. +This means the hypothetical network is made up of 9 independent sectors overall.</p> + +<p>Despite the above, there is some overlap with intercity services. Southern Highlands services +would operate via Glenfield, Wolli Creek, and Sydenham, which makes up for the lack of express East +Hills services from Campbelltown. Central Coast services would still operate via Hornsby, Epping, +Strathfield. In both cases minor interference between sectors is possible.</p> + +<p>Other modes of transport have been intentionally left out. This includes an extensive +hypothetical light rail network covering the eastern suburbs, as well as the CBD, parts of the inner +west, and a few lines around Parramatta. There is also potential for important bus rapid transit +services between the North Shore and Northern Beaches, as well as one around Liverpool.</p> + +<p>Finally, there are three options for extending public transport to the second Sydney airport at +Badgerys Creek. The Airport / East Hills line could be extended, the Carlingford monorail could be +extended, or a new branch of the Western line could be constructed from St Marys as in current +official maps. In the long term all three options may be ideal. The current proposal of the solitary +St Marys branch may have the unacceptable downside of overcrowding on the Western line.</p> + + +<h5>Closing Remarks</h5> + +<p>It is interesting how increased connectivity in a transit network leaves less and less room for +the distortions necessary for the clean schematic lines expected of such maps.</p> + +<p>At some point I would like to go back and make a map that includes some of the mentioned unmapped +features. Although at that point it may be more practical to use computational routing methods.</p> +{% endblock -%} + + |