St Marys Metro Station Update - Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport Line
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- Опубликовано: 26 июл 2024
- In my first Sydney Metro Update video for the Western Sydney Airport Line, I cover St Marys Station. A surprising amount of work has already happened! This includes adding two new levels to the multi storey commuter car park and opening a new temporary bus interchange.
The main buildings to be demolished to allow the St Marys Metro Station to be built are the old bus interchange and the Station Plaza shopping centre. In this video, you'll get to see these as they looked a few weeks after they were closed. Demolition work is planned to start in a few weeks time.
The heritage listed former goods shed and the jib crane will be staying and will become part of a new pedestrian plaza for the new St Marys Station.
You'll get a guided animated virtual tour of the new station concourse all the way down to the Sydney Metro platforms. - Thanks to Sydney Metro for giving me permission to include this in the video.
You'll see levels 4 and 5 of the expanded St Marys commuter car park for the first time. I reckon this will be a great place to watch the construction work for the new St Marys Metro Station over the next few years.
Finally, I'll cover the existing St Marys Station, including some heritage buildings.
** Timestamps **
00:00 Introduction
01:15 Old Bus Interchange
02:57 New Bus Interchange
05:29 Station Plaza Shopping Centre
07:41 Chesham Street Construction Site
08:15 Station Street Construction Site
08:55 Heritage Goods Shed and Jib Crane
10:40 Other changes on Station Street and Queen Street
10:58 New St Marys Station Layout and Features
11:50 Virtual Tour of New St Marys Station
13:01 St Marys Commuter Car Park Expansion
16:00 Construction site for future Harris Street entrance
16:51 Existing Station Footbridge and Buildings
** Attribution **
Western Sydney Airport Line Map by Sydney Metro - www.planning.nsw.gov.au/-/med...
St Marys Station - Indicative layout and key design elements by Sydney Metro - Figure 1-15 on page 35 of Submissions Report - Appendix B - majorprojects.planningportal....
Animated video tour of the new St Marys Metro Station by Sydney Metro - • Sydney Metro: St Marys...
Maps - Map Data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Google Aerial Photos - Google Maps. Imagery ©2022 CNES / Airbus, Maxar Technologies, Map data ©2022
Google Streetview Images - Image capture Nov 2020 © 2022 Google Australia
** Links to Other Videos Mentioned **
Inside the Station Plaza Shopping Centre - • St Marys Metro Station...
St Marys Station Animated Video - • Sydney Metro: St Marys...
** Patreon **
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** Social Media ***
Twitter - / transportvlog
** Equipment and Applications **
Cameras
iPhone 11 (most footage)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 camera (for the serious zoomed in close-ups!)
Microphones
Sabinetek SmartMike+ (when filming)
Blue Yeti Microphone (for voiceovers)
Editing Software
Final Cut Pro
Maps created using Affinity Designer
** Disclaimers. **
COVID-19
Most of my videos are recorded several weeks before being edited and uploaded. I always follow the government COVID-19 advice and requirements that applied on the day of filming. This is why you sometimes see me wearing a mask and at other times you don't. If you're watching this video during a Sydney lockdown, then please note that it was filmed at a time prior to these restrictions coming into effect.
Accuracy
I do my best to make the commentary in these videos as accurate as possible by checking facts on the internet and other sources. However, sometimes the information isn't available, so I'll use my railway knowledge and insight to explain something to the best of my ability. If accuracy is important, do check the comments, as other viewers will often pick up on things I've missed or any mistakes made. Also note that for older videos, things may change over time, causing some of the information to become out of date.
Construction Sites, Maintenance Facilities and other Private Property
All footage of construction sites, maintenance facilities and other private property is taken from a public vantage point. The only exception is if it's an open day or I have special permission to access the site. The iPhone's small lens and zoom function makes it easier to film through small gaps in hoardings or fencing, so it may look like I'm on site when I'm not! If you would like to know the exact filming location, then ask me in the comments.
To get in touch:
Email - paul@transportvlog.com
Twitter DM - transportvlog
I'm glad you're covering the Western Sydney Airport line now!
Hi Brad! - Yes, it's been on my list for a while! Sydney Metro West took priority as the demolition work started sooner. However, it would have been good to have been here last year when the old bus interchange and station plaza shopping centre were still open. Going to cover the other Western Sydney Airport Stations and the site of the maintenance facility over the next few months.
A great video Paul. It’s a shame that so many commentators are so negative about this project. Better to have a connection than none at all from the start. Don’t let perfection be the enemy of the good.
Hi Anthony, Yes absolutely! It does the job which is to provide a connection between the airport and the existing rail line to Parramatta and Sydney CBD. On Singapore's MRT, airport passengers have to change trains to reach the CBD, so I see this as a similar to that.
Hi Paul, well, you have done it again with another amazing presentation. I am surprised that this Metro system is a stand alone project and not integrated with the existing Metro system at Tallawong which seems a missed opportunity for expansion (says me who was against the Metro and still hasn't travelled on it.) The old bus Interchange was dodgy at the best of times and the buses often departed as the train pulled in leaving commuters stranded for as long as 1hour. I asked a driver why this happened and his answer was " The instruction tells us to wait for the train and it says nothing about the people so as soon as we see the train we go". This caused many altercations between drivers and passengers. The dismal section of Queen Street near the station has been like that since the introduction of the Methadone Clinic many years ago which caused people to avoid the area unless catching a train. I drove night ride buses through here and I can tell you many stories of madness and mayhem that took place over the years and believe it or not it became so bad that the Queen Street police station had to close down for the officer's safety. The Metro should have a positive impact on this area and give it a much needed lift.
Thanks John!, Metro lines do tend to be quite self-contained. In London, all the deep level tube lines are self contained. Also the Western Sydney Airport Line has a different voltage (25 KV) and I believe a slightly wider loading gauge, so although that seems short-sighted, running separate lines means a more reliable and frequent service, even though a few passengers will need to change trains. There will be tunnels stubs at both ends to allow extensions towards Tallawong and Macarthur in the future. Yes, it's a shame the buses couldn't integrate properly with the trains! It look like several buses are timetabled to depart at the same time, hence the two or three buses appearing together! Thanks for sharing your night bus experiences! - That can't have been fun! Sounds like Queen Street is better now than it used to be! It will be interesting to see how long the buildings on the west side of Queen Street last. All were unoccupied, except for one shop. Yes, I'm sure the metro will transform this area!
@@TransportVlog how very short sighted of the government. first they build the metro incompatible with the rest of the network, and now they build a section of the metro incompatible with the rest of it. this should have been built for a future connection between st marys and tallawong with interchange at schofields and in the other direction from the airport to the stub line out to leppington (converting it to metro into glenfield).
Or……..you’re going to have a shtty and dangerous interchange with international (and unfamiliar or not fluent in English) and domestic passengers changing trains from airport metro to normal trains pulling suitcases and loaded with cash.
@@iris4547 100%. Yo can make all the excuses and reasons in the world but incompatible is still incompatible and it adds costs and the need to have different purchasing requirements and train type, staff on one system not easily cross trained on another or differently rated. . Plus if it’s the only line to the airport who in hades wants to change from one line to another at some outer suburb to get into the city?
@@xr6lad Yes, I think you could be right.
My how St Mary’s Station has changed since I used to catch trains there back in 1976. There wasn’t even a car park on the northern side, and you could even drive across the railway lines just near the station.
Was looking for a decent vlog of Epping station, and not a single one exists. Plenty of videos of trains arriving and leaving, but if it wasn’t for the title of their narrow mided videos, you wouldn’t even know which station they were filmed at, as they all look virtually the same, without any views of what the urban infrastructure looks like where the stations are located. Unlike your wonderful videos, Paul. Keep up the good work. As I really do love it.
Phillip.
Hi Phillip, yes St Marys Station has changed so much since then! Yes Epping Station would be an interesting one to do. I'll add it to the list. Glad you enjoy my videos so much!
That machine shown is a core drill, they are probably sampling the ground they expect to be tunnelling through. You've got me subbed, Paul. Keep up the good work !
Thanks Greg for identifying this machine and glad you found my channel. Enjoy watching my other videos.
Thanks so much for this video. Have lived in St Mary’s since 1964 & seen a lot of changes in that time….not all for the betterment of the area. Thanks to your video we a better idea of how everything will fit together. Loved to see the new electric bus & how great that it was built right here in St Mary’s. I look forward to your next video on St. Mary’s
Glad you enjoyed it, and that it gave you a better idea of what is going on there now! - I did drop by recently and noticed that both the old bus station and the Station Plaza shopping centre had gone!
Paul, this is an excellent video and I thank you for making it.
I grew up here, in St Marys as a kid of the late 90s. My mother worked in a bakery on Queen Street a few shops down from Station Street, and I spent many an afternoon at the now closed bus interchange changing or waiting between buses to go home from school. Just your feature on that bus interchange brought back many memories. The railway station itself was a magical gateway for us to escape our local area either to the city for a day of fun or even beyond.
As for Station Plaza, I remember that shopping centre well, however I always felt it was always relatively quiet. The Coles served mainly the local residents in the surrounds of that end of St Marys and maybe the odd commuter on their way home. The Main Street of Queen Street and the Village Centre on the South Western corner of the suburb were usually more popular outlets to attend to, or worse still…. people went over to Penrith Plaza for their bigger shopping needs.
All in all, a great video and I look forward to many more!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing your memories of the old bus interchange and magical train adventures from St Marys Station! Interesting that Station Plaza was relatively quiet. Perhaps Coles were glad to see this store go! I popped into St Marys village for lunch and to shelter from the rain and that was pretty busy.
Brilliant video as always Paul. Appreciate the map locations. Really helps visualise what we are looking at.
Thanks Nathan, Yes the map locations are useful, especially for people that don't know the area that well.
So thorough, informative and enjoyable to watch (as always), thank you for posting mate.
Thanks Dave, You're very welcome and I appreciate your feedback.
I really loved your presentation and story Paul
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Always wonderfully informative.
Thanks Paul!
Thank you Paul you’re always good 👍
You're very welcome.
What a excellent vlog,Nobody does it better than you Paul,looking forward to the next few videos as I am very interested in this line.
Thanks for your lovely feedback! Hoping to cover one new Western Airport Line station per month, along with one from Sydney Metro West.
@@TransportVlog ,That’s great news,I am so looking forward to these upcoming updates.
Great video,very enjoyable and informative. As usual.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video, Paul.
I used to work very close to the station but was re-located to Blacktown in February this year.
Station Plaza had some great shops in there. The Bakery owned by some Vietnamese people had some great pies and sausage rolls. It was ideal for a quick bite to have for lunch. There was also a shop called "Nanna Peppa's Pantry" which has a great choice of food as well. Plus, the butcher next to it had some great variety of meat as well. I used to love getting their crumbed veal there.
It'll be interesting to see how the metro station will look after it's all completed.
Thanks for sharing your memories of what was within the Station Plaza shopping centre. Yes it will. I'm sure it will benefit this area immensely.
Nice video! Very thorough.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
Hi Paul, another great video good sir! Had no idea those electric buses were built here right in Sydney. We have a few of them up around Campbelltown where I live. About time we build something right here in our own backyard rather then the plagued Trains, Trams and Ferries built overseas
Thanks Julian! Glad you enjoyed this video! Yes it's really pleasing to hear that these electric buses are being built locally, and it was so cool that one magically appeared whilst I was filming!
Wow, St. Marys becomes a junction again! I went by train to St. Marys once, and that was to change trains and travel to the long ago removed Ropes Creek station. I wasn’t able to leave that station as it only accessed a Defence Department factory for munitions. The factory is now the suburb Ropes Crossing, and I think a stub of the Ropes Creek line still exists.
Thanks for sharing this. It would be interesting to find the remaining remnants of this old line.
@@TransportVlog A stub of the line still exists up to Christie St, Dunheved station is still there but is in pretty bad shape, and Ropes Creek station is now a parkland within the Ropes Crossing suburb.
This video might bring back some memories.
ruclips.net/video/HQC2A-faLpA/видео.html
Great video mate I’m from the area big project indeed
Thanks! Yes it is! Planning to do more WSA metro videos soon, as I've recently attended community open days at the airport and Aerotropolis station, so I have some great footage!
Hey there. Another great video! I live in the area and would go to St Marys quite a bit.
Station plaza was quite run down and not much to it. It was however the only shopping centre (besides going to Blacktown or Penrith) that provides decent undercover parking and so was quite useful.Otherwise most people in the Mt Druitt / St Marys area would go to Westfield Mt Druitt which is much larger.
The area immediately surrounding St Marys station needs to be revitalised. If there was a newer and improved shopping centre, it would instantly be much better than the old one.
The stairs on the south side faces west towards Queen St - I have felt that there needed to be another set of stairs heading towards the bus interchange. Interchanging between buses and trains was not convenient despite being along side each other.
Lastly, it would have been nice if the multi-storey car park on the north side was connected directly to either or both of the concourses.
Thanks Henry, Glad you enjoyed this video. Yes I agree with your points about interchanging with buses. This will be much better with the new concourse. The multi-storey car park is very close to the existing north entrance, but it would be cool if it had linked directly to the concourse!
Brought back some good old memories when I visited Australia from India, residing at St. Clair. St Mary's station was my entry and exit point to other places.
That's great to hear!
Yet another missed opportunity by NSW Rail management, as the line should have been planned as an extension to Tallawong in the first instance. Just another continuation of an overall illogical, inconsistent, incompatible standards & planning for trains/links etc.
Hi Andy, I'm not convinced that extending the metro line from Tallawong would have been the best option, as it would result in a long journey time from the CBD to the new Airport. Personally, I feel that extending Sydney Metro West from Westmead to the Airport would have been a better way to do this, and that extension is planned for the future. However, this couldn't have opened before 2030, which is possibly why we have the current solution.
@@TransportVlog there are other areas of Sydney that will be using this new airport, such as, the North West, central coast etc.
@@AustNRail Yes that's true, but I guess you've gotta start somewhere, and linking with the T1 Western Line seems a logical place to start.
thankyou for another great video! i just signed up to your patreon, good to support a local creator.
Thank you! - I appreciate you joining my Patreon community and for supporting my channel in this way. Look out for a bonus Patreon video on Chatswood Dive Site.
I used to work in St Marys and I did go to the shopping centre a few times to get lunch from the Coles there! That’s like 10 years ago
Oh wow! That's quite a long time ago! Well before the Western Sydney Airport line was even thought of!
Hi Paul, I've spotted some buses like this one in the city last year when I was going to the tutorial centre, but that one was built by BYD, there are some of them that Transport for NSW had bought.
I'm aware of two types. The Custom Denning ones that are built at St Mary's and the Nexport vehicles, which are built in Sydney or Brisbane (I think). I was planning to do a video on these buses, but there is too much else to cover right now!
good video mate
Thanks Joseph
Former St Marys resident here. First thing you used to see when you got off the train was a Mr X Adult book store, a tattoo parlour (called War Paint) and a needle exchange. All the junkies would hang around the entrance waiting for their methadone every Monday and Thursday morning. Graffiti was everywhere. Glad to see the area is improving.
Cripes! That sounds pretty rough. I would feel sorry for the school kids seeing all this on their way to and from the station. I didn't notice any junkies when I was there, but I did see police close to the station entrance.
@@TransportVlog Most of the junkies went with the methadone clinic when it was (politically) moved to beside the Mt Druitt Hospital.
So many memories. My late father and I having coffee at the little cafe opposite Coles. The Saturday after my dad died I remember the owner was making dad's order and I had to stop and explain why. January 2020.
Hi David, thanks for sharing your memories, and sorry to hear about your dad passing away. I wonder if the owner of the cafe found a new location.
I used to live at St Marys, and I remember being able to cross the railway lines by foot and car before they closed off the crossing. And the Dunheved rail line. I also remember the station bus stop being upgraded to what you see today. Thank you for your video, you have not mentioned that the aerotropolis line will continue down to Campbelltown (or Macarthur), I was wondering why St Marys would be the main train interchange when Penrith could have been, but I believe they will use the old Dunheved line to join the line up to the Richmond line when the airport line is extended north.
Hi Peter, Wow! - It would be card to imagine having a level crossing on this line now! At the moment, the line is only approved as far as Aerotropolis, although the state government has started looking at extending to Glenfield via Leppington (and taking over the railway line from Leppington). Campbelltown / Macarthur is part of the longer term plan for Sydney Metro. I think the reason for St Marys is that its closer to Parramatta and Blacktown, and allows extension north to Scofields in the future. Is there anything left of the old Dunheved line? Might be an interesting topic for a future video.
Great stuff Paul, as usual. I go past St Marys a couple of days a week, and (pre-Covid) sometimes used to travel to and from there by rail.
The 25kV doesn't surprise me in some ways. It's pretty much the world standard now; significantly cheaper to install and operate (far less copper, fewer sub-stations and more commonly manufactured hardware). We've needed to adopt it and gradually extend it, as suitable opportunities arise. Translates to cheaper services/fares over comparative distances.
No big hurry though; we're talking decades. 1500v DC is fine for suburban services; but the longer the runs, the bigger the benefits. Nothing wrong with demonstrating the economics on a short automated system like Western Sydney Airport; but I always thought the Illawarra line might be the first for AC, when its power infrastructure next came up for some major works.
Lots of trains now can cope with changing to different voltage systems en-route. My understanding is NSW electric rolling stock has been set up to facilitate AC operation for a few generations. The new replacements for the XPTs, XPLs etc will apparently have 'electric while under wires and diesel beyond' traction capability.
@Tacit Dionysus Thanks for the comment about the replacement for the XPT. I did ask about that elsewhere.
Hi @Tacit, Glad you enjoyed this video. Yes 25Kv definitely has less substations! and it would make sense for the longer NSW lines to Newcastle, Lithgow and Kiama. The motors on modern trains are already AC, but I don't know what would be involved to change the voltage to 25KV AC. Yes the CAF Civity trains which are replacing the XPTs and Xplorers will be bi-modal (electric and diesel).
@@TransportVlog Thanks Paul. It's not my area of expertise, but about ten years ago I posed the question about its engineering challenges on a rail page forum.
A really interesting thread developed, fed mainly by people who were obviously well across the technical issues. Got into many finer details, like the need for immunisation of adjacent signalling and communications lines from stray induced currents.
The general consensus was that it's not technically difficult, and in many ways is easier; but the existing investment in 1500v DC infrastructure means it's not compelling to do in the Sydney area. For example, one noted the 'doubling of copper' on the system to cope with the widespread use of then 'new' Milleniums and Oscars. One British guy cited examples around the UK where 25vAC conversion been done on some lines in the 50s and 60s and worked well.
It was fascinating stuff.
I caught a bus in St Marys *once* for a mini documentary which included Dunheved and Ropes Creek stations. My voice was too cringy and never returned to St Marys ever again, until now…
Thanks anyways for the video Paul, you do a great job!
Hi Matthew, that would have been interesting. I've heard of Ropes Creek but not Dunheved. Hope you'll return to St Marys again soon! Glad you enjoyed this video.
@@TransportVlog You’re welcome Paul!
Dunheavend was the first station on the Ropes Creek branch after St Marys. There was a 4 track yard which went to a munitions factory nearby, and an island platform. It’s in a cutting, and is 165 meters long, allowing for 8 cars. It was made of prefabricated concrete and had a stations masters office, a waiting room, toilets (probably awful), signal box, and booking office.
It closed down with the rest of the line in 1986, all that there is now is the cutting, the platform (without those probably awful toilets), and some rubble and other remnants that you would get arrest trying to find left. You can get there today by catching a 780 bus from either Mount Druitt or Penrith to Christie Street.
The Bus goes past Cochrane station (although nothing left), and Ropes Creek as well (which is now a park with (almost) melted points). Thanks Paul, definitely ended today on a good note as it was a bit silly how Sydney Trains has gone today!
1:59 I occasionally came up here from Bossley Park and nearby St Clair back in my younger days, so I remember this place pretty well. So regarding bays 1-4 having the double-sided canopies but only seating on the interchange side as mentioned at 2:06, this is because the roadside was used as a layover for some buses, so that if the bus driver was going to his next run, he would be able to turn straight in to the interchange. It also indicates to the passengers which side of the canopy to wait for their bus at.
For bays 1 to 4, I was thinking that it was because buses would only ever set down passengers on the road side, but I guess they could layover there too. At the other stops, which have canopies and seats on the railway side only, I reckon the opposite sides were used for layovers. Thanks for sharing your memories of this old interchange!
I personally believe that the Metro lines should be more similar in terms of design and function, because 3-4 cars seems very little to 6-8. I’m glad they have designed stub tunnels at the end for future proofed extensions, interesting enough, at the St Marys end, it’s just about enough to cater for a straight line to Westmead.
To answer your question about the old bus interchange, stands 1-4 don’t have seats because they are set down stands, you don’t enter the bus through those stands.
I’m quite keen to see the new electric buses, I saw one on the M91 a few weeks ago, I’m looking forward to that electric bus video you’re making.
I personally believe if the WSA Metro extends southward, it should probably go through the SWRL (conversion probably required) to Macarthur. Well that’s my take. Thanks for this video Paul.
Hi Given, yes I was a little surprised to hear that trains would be 3 to 4 cars. I don't know how long the platforms will be. It looks like at St Marys, they could be long enough for 6 or even 8 car trains. We will have to wait and see. A future extension to Westmead would branch off from the airport and run more directly to Westmead (so avoiding St Marys). Stands 1 to 4 - yep that's right! Yes the plan is to go south to Macarthur but not via the SWRL. It would go via a new route. There is a plan to extend the SWRL to the new airport as an existing rail line. This map might help you understand the longer term metro plans - www.planning.nsw.gov.au/-/media/Images/DPE/Maps/Assess-and-regulate/State-significant-projects/Sydney-Metro/map-sydney-metro-2020-06-larger-version-2400px.jpg?la=en
One set of trains is a shuttle from the airport, the other is a full blown commuter service. If the platforms are built long enough, or provision is made for longer platforms, hooking two short trains together should not be a problem, watching videos from other metros around the world that sort of thing seems routine. Even Sydney Trains manages four and eight car trains. Having different power standard seems problematic though.
A sky bridge between the parking structure, to the station upper concourse would speed access to the station.
Yes that would be a nice idea!
Big changes sure are coming to St Mary's. I find it interesting that the line will be separate to the rest of the network, and will use three car trains instead of the now-seemingly standard 6 car. This begs the question: Will the trains be different models, or the same as the rest of the network (Alstom Metropolis), just shorter? If so, how will this impact a future connection to Tallawong and potentially Paramatta? Exciting to see you are doing a series on the Western Sydney Airport metro line! Thanks Paul.
Yes absolutely! It's going to revolutionise St Marys! Keeping metro lines separate is standard practice is most countries. It keeps the lines simple, relatively short and that allows higher frequencies and better reliability. If the line were to continue to Tallawong in the future, then it would terminate there, hopefully with a cross platform interchange with the existing line. Yes it does mean that a different type of train could be used, but as trains and signalling are so integrated, I reckon the trains will be Alstom Metropolis or similar. A direct connection to Parramatta would happen by extending Sydney Metro West from Westmead to the Airport via a new route that would probably be mostly underground. I believe the Airport station is being designed to allow that to happen in the future. Hope this makes more sense now!
Nice video greAt content
Thanks Vrajesh
impressive
Thanks!
Hey Paul. Hope your doing well. I've been to St Marys station Street shopping centre before. It was big
Nice one! It was a shame I didn't get there a few months earlier - I blame the lockdown for that!
I remember the lifts being built during the 1990s trackwork.
That's interesting. It must have been one of the earlier stations to get lifts.
5:10 Ooh I love custom dennings they make me fall asleep😑😑😑
Hi Paul, thanks for sharing another excellent video. This is all new to me also. I have been through St Marys by train on a lot of occasions, but I have never got out there. Where exactly do the buses go to from St Marys? I have stayed with relatives at Mt Druitt and with friends at Penrith, but that is the closest I have stayed to St Marys. Incidentally, are there plans to connect this new Metro line with the western Metro line from Tallawong to Chatswood? Anyway, take care. Rob.
Hi Rob, Glad you enjoyed it. The buses go to places like Orchard Hill, St Clair, Mount Druitt and Penrith. I used the bus to take a look around the site for the Orchard Hill station and I was the only passenger! (It was a Sunday!). Yes, there is a longer term plan to extend the line to Tallawong. Tunnel stubs will be created at the east end of St Marys station to allow this to happen in the future, without too much disruption.
Thanks again, Paul. I was sure there was place to get a better view across the old bus Interchange and the new in St Marys. Dunno why I never thought of checking out that multi-level car park? They have done a good job combining several bus routes for the temporary new bus interchange. I will see if I can send you some photos of the new signs showing where buses are going from what terminal. One big fault of the Station Plaza Car park was a height restriction under the centre that forbade disabled/multi taxis from offloading passengers closer to the centre lift. As I also told folks we never would have got that lift had not the old RMS/RTA office set up in there for a little while. That's another bone of contention as well. I hope Coles opens again in St Marys some place.
Hi Geoff, yes do go and check out the multi-storey car park! On both days I visited, the top level was completely empty. Thanks for the photos of the new signs. Yes I'm sure Coles will be on the lookout for a suitable new location.
@@TransportVlog Thanks Paul can I send you a link to my RUclips stuff? Not as professional as yours ok via e-mail or on your RUclips page?
@@geoffreymoore1510 Yes that's fine - email is best. Thanks Paul
Just been reminded to post you my RUclips stuff via e-mail which I will do soon.@@TransportVlog
Now I finally found your start to the Changes at St Marys (added to mine, now, too)I would like to add my start in here as well. I have done around 13 Parts. Starts here. ruclips.net/video/OsI2du49Kzo/видео.html
My old house used to stand just behind the the large palm tree in station st it was planted possibly in the 1930s or even earlier their was a another palm tree next to it but it was chopped down sometime in the 1950s
Thanks for sharing that William.
This rail line should be heavy rail continued on to MacArthur at Campbelltown with goods yards at Smeaton grange .
Then branched off from Harrington park through Cobbity to Menangle through the Ag view site meeting up with the main southern line .
Then finish the Malden to Dumbarton rail line , Electrify the main southern line from MacArthur to moss vale .
The end result !, A fully intergrated rail line from Wollongong to the western suburbs and less cars on the m5 Hume hwy
Yep certainly have used the old Bus Interchange, the coles and station plaza (which was owned by Haben Property Group before sold to TfNSW) and closed in January this year
Hi Alex, that's good to hear. Hopefully, you won't miss them too much!
Hi , l look forward to seeing your E Bus video when you make it.
Hi Matthew, Yes, it will probably be in the next couple of months. I found a way to filter for electric buses on the Anytrip website, so that will make it easier to find some to film and ride on!
Hey Paul, just letting you know that work has commenced at Orchard Hills station, mainly ground work from what I can see driving past on Kent Road
Thanks for that. I have most of the houses that were being demolished on film. Have they all gone now?
@@TransportVlog yes all of the houses have gone and ground work is well underway
@@tonysaporito71 That's good to hear. I'll take another trip down there soon.
Isn't it good that Westmead is the new north from St Marys?
I been on buses to Penrith quite a lot of times and I know how the old bus interchange is. And also St Mary’s Plaza only has Coles and not a lot of people go to that shopping centre.
Good to hear that you've used the old bus interchange. The other shopping centre on the west side of St Marys seems to be quite popular. I had lunch there when I was doing the filming for this video.
On the new levels of the carpark, did you happen to see facilities for electric vehicle charging? I know with newer commuter car parks in Sydney that they are being provided.
I didn't notice any, but the plans say ""provision for future electric vehicle charging spaces", so if they are not there already, they will be in the future. However, I reckon, they'll put them on the ground or first level, rather than all levels. www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/st-marys-commuter-car-park
If you’re on an eastbound train entering St Marys, you can see an old St Marys State Rail Authority sign on the old signal box!
Thanks! - I'll look out for that next time.
I'm from St Mary's
Where this line crosses Ludenham Road it will cut accross one of the few private airstrips left in Sydney.
This stip is known as "Kennets Strip" and has existed for decades. It has been marked on aviation maps since the seventies at least (when I started flying).
I learned to fly in the 1970's and this stip was well established then.
The planned route cuts across the existing runway and actually passes throught the site of the existing hangars.
Requiring that they be demolished!
Although this is a private strip is one of the very few landing areas left in the Sydney regeion that is in un-controlled aairspace.
Air Sevices has not yet released it's plan for air space management once the new airport is opened but I think it is very likely that this strip will be within a light aircraft lane, which means it would still be viable as a private airstrip.
Surely the planners can arrange their railway line by a few hundred meters to preserve this historic and valuable aircraft landing area.
Yes, I have a bias, I am one of the priviledged few who the owner allows to use this strip as I have a house in the area.
But Sydney has lost so many airstrips since I first began flying.
What a tragic loss, just becuse of a mindless planner who has no regard for such rare and valuable infrustructure!
Hi Charles, Yes I'm aware of Kennetts Strip and I tried to go there to film the hangers, but I couldn't get anywhere close to it, as it all seems to be private roads with gates on them. If you have any photos of the airstrip and hangers that you would be happy for me to use, then do email them to paul@transportvlog.com. I've wanted to do further videos on the airport line, but the amount of private land has made this tricky to do. Looking at the map, it looks like the line could have gone slightly further west, although there are a few creeks nearby and that might have influenced the choice of route. I think the new M12 will run very close to Kennetts Strip too.
when I finished school I was at the bus stop and a few people were angry the station Plaza was getting polished
Yes I'm sure it was a little controversial!
There's a brand new freight intermodal terminal just to the Northwest of St Mary's Station, it's set out on the old Ropes Creek line reserve.
Hi Kevin, yes! - It did get a brief mention in the video at around 15:25.
@@TransportVlog Missed it sorry!
It is a Shame The Station Plaza is Gone and I Live Next of it 😢 and it Was Closed When Moved Here.
Yes it is, but I think you'll like how it will all look when its finished.
Suggestion. Take your videoing into St Mary`s Cathedral / Hyde Park. You will see a staircase leading to the domain car park. The travellator there is reputed to be the longest in the world . Next ,visit the Angel arcade ,George street through to Pit street parallel to Macquarie street. Then for the best Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout, entrance Cahill Expressway foot path south east pylon. I hope you like ,
Thanks for these suggestions Ron! I didn't realise that the domain car park has such a long travellator! I'll check out your other suggestions too.
If you think about it, then you will realise that they are north south facing & so the weather comes in from the south which means a wall behind which could have been a wee bit higher & the seats on the north side. It is a cold windy place. Penrith isn't much better to be honest but that's life. Yes, you guessed it - I live in the area a few kilometres away but still close enough to visit.
Yes that's right! I remember it being windy on one of the days I was there. Good to see you binge watching my videos! 😀
An update would be good. I think a lot of work would have been done in a year
Yes it would, but with so much else happening with the Sydney Metro City & Southwest extension, its going to have to wait for now.
Hello Paul, can we expect videos on the rest of the Western Sydney Airport line anytime soon?
Orchard Hill will be the next one. I've already filmed the properties before demolition work started. I've visited all the other station construction sites, but there is nothing interesting to see at the moment. It's also difficult to get close as some are on private land (or private roads). So definitely Orchard Road within the next couple of months and I'll then do another trip to other stations after that.
Hmmm. Not sure how successful moving that gib crane will be - perhaps I'm mistaken, but, as I recall it, a substantial part of the raison d'etre for it's historical listing is its octagonal concrete base
Hi David, I don't think it will be easy to move! It's not confirmed that it will move, just an option that is being considered.
Is there direct escalator or lift access between the metro and rail platforms or will I have to schlepp my luggage up two levels and down one?
Hi Jack, as the metro station will not be directly under the existing St Marys Station, an interchange will involve several escalators or lifts.
@@TransportVlog Just the thing for a line that serves an airport... 🤔
Wonder what the reason for running the Metro station parallel to the existing, rather than at 90 degrees, given the planned extension to St,Mary's.
I think it's to facilitate an easier interchange, and also because it can use existing railway land and government owned property (such as the old bus interchange). If the line is extended north to Tallawong, it will gently bend to the left after St Marys Station.
I used to have some videos of station plazas demolished on RUclips I had 3 videos of it I think one of my videos had it on the bus and the other was at the bus stop
Nice! Are they still on RUclips?
Hi Paul. Please do an update on Sydenham Metro Station. Also, do you know if there are any updates to the technology upgrade that was meant to happen for the Tangara trains?
That upgrade has been split in half, you can see the first half of the upgrade with Tangaras now being fitted with new desto boards, emergency help points, ATP and priority seating. The second half will include the rest of the features that the original second stage upgrade was supposed to have.
Hi Billy, I visit Sydenham Station and Trains Facility south a couple of times a month, and not much as changed that's worthy of a video at the moment. I reckon it will get more exciting in June and there is also talk of the new aerial concourse and the Burrows Avenue entrance opening in June or July, so I'll definitely do a video when that happens.
Thanks @Jenper's Train Videos. That should answer Billy's question. I'll keep a look out for an upgraded T set!
I am also going to do a update my self on ranger82 once they open the new Concourse and film the new Concoure
Is another Jib crane in Burwood opposite Chinatown Paul?
Possibly, I've not seen that one. I'll keep a look out for it when I'm next in Burwood.
Used to catch the bus at the bus stop from home to work early in the morning. Also, thought the metro line was going to connect up to tallawong so bit confused as to the mental olympics transport for nsw is doing
Hi Clam, It may continue to Tallawong in the future. The line's main purpose is to provide a rail connection to the new airport and Bradfield, and link that to the existing Sydney Trains network.
8:11 In my opinion, that should be a Foundation Pile Driver but smaller one than the others
You could be right there!
i wish they would just bulid it to connect with existing metro network and further down south just seems a waste not to do it in one hit
There is a longer term plan to extend Sydney Metro West from Westmead to the Airport. With Bradfield now being the third CBD, I reckon, this will be approved quite soon! This line will have tunnels stubs at both ends to allow future extensions to Macarthur and/or Tallawong.
This new metro line should be extended to Tallawong via Ropes Crossing, with a metro station there too. It would give a second way into the CBD, Sydney via the Nth Shore line.
Yes there is a proposal to extend north to Tallawong in the future.
Fact: There is another shopping centre that was demolished to make way for Sydney metro. For Sydney Metro Northwest, Totally Home in Bella vista closed in January 2014. It was fully demolished in December 2018. Now it is a block of land and this is where the Bella vista station is.
That's interesting. I often wonder what buildings went for Sydney Metro Northwest. One of the reasons for doing these videos, is so that people can remember what used to be there.
Hi I use to go shopping there at Coles every week for 25 years , now its closed I go to woolies because there is no coles around me , very sad its gone
Oh wow! you know it really well then! It is now being demolished, so I may go back soon to take some photos and check if the 2 cats are ok :-)
Good video. Tbh don’t think many will miss the shopping centre; it was slummy. Not sure why they don’t move cats now? Anything could happen to them.
Thanks! I'm sure the cats will be clever enough to get out when the time comes! - Hopefully they can appear in a future St Marys update!
Hubby and i used to go to the cafe in the station street plaza, they had wonderful hamburgers....I wish i knew if they moved to a different location.
Yes, hopefully they did and you can find them soon!
I imagine my sister-in-law is devastated that they have taken away Coles as she lives in Phillip Street.
Yes quite possibly!
Used to get a bus here every day tbh can't process change lol
also used to go to the plaza alot to do groceries too aha
Yes it's all changed! I was at St Marys last weekend and the old bus station is no longer there!
Will they rename it the Bradfield Line?
Possibly - or perhaps the Airport & Bradfield line. It definitely needs a shorter name!
I recently caught a bus in the wrong direction from that new small interchange.
Oh dear! I reckon that's probably quite easy to do!
A little sad to see the old railway buildings to be disappeared (I'd guess). Rail heritage is quite special, IMO.
I don't believe any old railway buildings are going. Most are heritage listed, so are staying. It's only the old bus interchange and the station plaza shopping centre that are going. I cover what is staying towards the end of this video.
Why does the Metro join the main line at St, Marys and not Penrith?
Hi Peter, good question! The longer term plan is to extend the line from St Marys to Tallawong. Also I guess St Marys is a little closer to Parramatta and Central Sydney, which is probably where the majority of passengers will be coming from. It will be interesting to see if Blue Mountains services start stopping at St Marys once the line is open.
Hi Paul, I saw on the news Chatswood->Barangaroo might finish by March 2023 but I am not inclined to believe that. Is it true? it would be good if it finished 9months early.
Chatswood to Sydenham may finish earlier than the Bankstown Line upgrade
Hi Max, yes I heard that too, but the Sydney Metro website is clearly saying 2024. It is quite possible that Chatswood to Sydenham will open first, whether that's late in 2023 or early in 2024.
Who are the Queen Street buildings? And are they going to get demolished
I believe they are staying.
me and my mum and my sister would come here to get groceries the inside the only two big companies that I sore in the Plaza Subway and Coles
Yes Coles was the main company for the station plaza. This video has an inside tour which I'm sure will bring back some memories - ruclips.net/video/0k9oiDajYH8/видео.html
will the metro connect to tallawong through schofields?
Hi Brett, It's part of a bigger Metro plan to link Tallawong with St Marys, but it's still very much in the planning stages. I believe the route has been safeguarded.
All good in theory re connecting the two metros but do people realise that the power systems are totally different from each other
@@paulburgess-qr9rx fair point, could the tallawong line end then at st marys? or would 3 types of rail all in st marys be too expensive
St Mary's won't be the same after the development. In a way it will be sad to see the plaza go.
Yes it will be very different, but hopefully in a good way.
So what happening with the Station Plaza you never mention what going there?
Hi Andrew, during the construction phase, there will be a workshop, facilities for handling materials, offices, along with access and parking for heavy goods vehicles. When it's finished, there will be a substation and water treatment plant, but these will only take up a small area. So I reckon, we'll see either a new shopping centre, or residential or business properties. I'm not sure if this has been decided as yet.
You got a contact Mr hominoid on RUclips is encyclopaedia of New South Wales railway and St Mary's
Hi Chris, yes I saw some of his videos. He even did one in Station Plaza Coles supermarket before it closed!
Peggy and Shelley what happened to them?
I've no idea! - I haven't seen them on subsequent visits unfortunately!
poor cats
The metro seems to be taking a leaf out of the Sydney Motorway playbook and building short pieces of roadway that in the future will “ obviously “ need to be joined together.
Another one of my old stomping grounds. It’s been so long since I have been there though they have rebuilt the station and built a multi storey car park. Unlike central parramatta though, drug deals were common here and I had my car stolen once. I hope it has picked up in the last twenty years.
Hi Francesco, Yes, I think it's a case of building the most important bits first, and then linking them together later on. I think St Mary's has improved a little. I did notice police on the pedestrian bridge outside the ticket office, so that made me a little cautious!. I do feel that the new station will help improve this area, and one of the locals that I chatted agreed with me!
@@TransportVlog I do so like the idea that someone in state government has the notion that public transport will grow for the foreseeable future. For too long public transport and trains especially were treated as a cost to be minimised, with the result that moving anywhere in Sydney or NSW by any any means is a dreadful experience.
Thanks for another fantastic update Paul! Regarding electric buses - here's a video (about a year old) on them by Dave Jones at EEVblog: ruclips.net/video/dKs3LytrICA/видео.html
Thanks Jim, Glad you enjoyed it. Yes I'll check out Dave's video. I'm so excited about electric buses!
@@TransportVlog I've seen one in Macquarie Park area. Fantastic
You almost copyright your project
Paul got permission from Sydney Metro to use their footage.
Thanks Given, Yes that's right!
lintel's pronounced as if it's spelt lintle
Thanks for that Mark.
What an astoundingly slow, inconvenient, waste of public money from that LNP scam, the Western Sydney Airport.
Travellers will just love dragging their luggage all the way across Sydney out to delightful St Mary's then onto the rail line to nowhere waiting for the painful slow connection to their flight.
Hi Peter, The existing Sydney Airport will still be the main airport, especially for people living closer to the CBD. I'm unlikely to use the new airport myself, as its too far away. But if you live in Parramatta or other parts of Western Sydney, then Western Sydney airport will be more convenient, and it will take the pressure of the existing airport which is at capacity now. Melbourne has multiple airports for this reason, although it's not been so good at connecting them by rail.
The question is who made this bad decision to build this crazy idea. Given the Leppington line is closer and is half built without any real need to resume good buildings and infrastructure just to knock down / rip up for a system that is badly designed and is exceptional expensive for what is and will never be an efficient sysytem as it is locked into a closed system. Same could be said about the destruction of the Bankstown metro system. Total rort and waste of public monies. It smells of a political decision made by an inept government led by a party who has just been routed in the polls and more than likely will happen to their State Counterparts. As was the case recently in Western Australia and South Australia respectively.
What a waste of money
That machine at 8:10 is a mobile drilling rig that will be taking soil core samples so they know what they're dealing with when they start excavating and tunnelling. See www.sydneymetro.info/sites/default/files/2022-03/St_Marys_Geotechnical_investigations_April_2022.pdf
Thanks for that!