In Bradfield recommended a detailed overall plan for the network to the New South Wales Government. Bradfield split the system into Inner and Outer Zones. Bradfield recommended immediate electrification of the Inner Zone and the construction of a double track loop underground through the city.
In October the government passed the enabling legislation, the City Railway Act , although work was soon suspended under the pressures of World War I. Bradfield had designed the system with overhead electric wires instead of an electrified third rail, as was used in some cities overseas. His decision was based on the power required to run the network; the safety of an overhead power supply, especially in large stabling yards with complicated track arrangements; and the relative ease of erecting the overhead catenary bridge-style masts to carry the wires.
The White Bay Power Station , which supplied the tramways, would supply power to the network, along with a series of substations. To prepare for the electrification to Illawarra, construction for overhead wiring was completed between Central and Oatley in The first train left Mortdale sidings at 7.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that:. When an opportunity to travel for the first time in an electric train was presented, it might be expected that people would exploit the sensation immediately, avidly, enthusiastically.
On the contrary, they did not show the least preference for the new train, and those who did ride in it bore the experience as though it were one of everyday unimportance. Although this represented the start of the modernisation of the network, the potential offered by electric trains in terms of increased speed and longer trains, was yet to be realised.
The first electric trains operated to a slower timetable within the steam network. The first accelerated timetable was introduced between Sydney and Sutherland on 5 September as steam trains were removed and entirely replaced with electric trains.
The new service cut commuting times for travellers and allowed trains to run every ten minutes rather than every twenty as they had under steam.
The Railway Department had to discourage travellers from, jumping aboard the faster moving trains as was common with steam. Central Station, as the main terminal, was transformed from an end of the line terminus to a through station for the city, the northern and proposed eastern suburbs lines. Work at Central included the construction of a complicated series of lines to the south, eight new platforms along the eastern side to take the suburban trains, as well as works to overhead bridges to accommodate wider track areas.
The most complicated work was the Flying Junctions , a series of flyover tracks between the Cleveland Street bridge at Redfern and Central that allowed trains to move from any one line to another without crossing a line in the opposing direction. It was a complete overhaul of the railway in Sydney. As work continued on the underground city circle, suburban lines were converted to electric trains. The trial line to Oatley was followed by the Bankstown line, and electric running started between Sydney and Bankstown on 24 October The line was powered by a substation at Belmore.
National Library of Australia. Search the catalogue for collection items held by the National Library of Australia. Find out more Australian Railway Historical Society. New South Wales Division. Electrification of Sydney and suburban railways. James, N. W First published: The electrification of Sydney and suburban railways : being a series of papers presented before the Institution of Engineers, Australia at Sydney, August to December Request this item to view in the Library's reading rooms using your library card.
To learn more about how to request items watch this short online video. You can view this on the NLA website. History of the NSW railways. Self-guided tour of Central Station. Welcome to historic Stuart Town Railway Station. On this page.
They were joined by new trunk lines to Newcastle and the Illawarra in the 's. More recently The line to Sydney Airport opened in to serve the Sydney Olympics of the same year. The Epping to Chatswood Rail Link was completed in Collapse the Image. Wahroonga Station in located along the North Shore Line.
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