Rail Operations

Rail operations are an increasingly vital component of the logistics network that can contribute to the more sustainable movement of freight to and from the port and its facilities. Sydney Ports works closely with government and industry to encourage a greater role for this transport mode in meeting the port freight logistics task.

Sydney Metropolitan Rail Network

A dedicated rail freight line exists between Port Botany and Enfield / Chullora, a distance of approximately 18 kilometres. There is also a freight rail link to the port at White Bay which joins the main Port Botany freight line at Wardell Junction in Marrickville. The Botany to Enfield freight line is linked to operational sidings in Port Botany with both stevedores and the P&O Trans Australia container park.

A freight line extension to the south west exists from Chullora to Sefton Junction (about 2.5 kilometres). From Sefton Junction to Macarthur, freight trains traverse and share the passenger network on the Main South Line. The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) received planning approval in December 2006 to provide a freight line along the existing rail corridor between Sefton Junction and Macarthur. This project is expected to be completed by 2010.

A further freight line extension to the north runs from Chullora to Flemington Junction, Strathfield and North Strathfield (about 5 kilometres), where freight trains then use the passenger network on the Main North Line to Hornsby via Epping.

Freight trains travelling from Enfield / Chullora to Sydney's west share the passenger rail network on the Main West Line from Lidcombe to Penrith.

Along the metropolitan rail corridors where freight trains share the network with passenger trains, priority is given to passenger services.

The metropolitan freight network is currently owned and maintained by RailCorp. The NSW Government has agreed to lease the metropolitan freight network to the ARTC  upon the completion of the Southern Sydney Freight Line.

A map of the Sydney metropolitan rail network can be found by clicking here.

Regional New South Wales Rail Network

A number of regional rail corridors extend from metropolitan Sydney. These rail corridors service various areas of New South Wales, including the south coast, south-west, central-west, north-west and north coast.

The regional New South Wales rail network is leased and maintained by the ARTC.

A map of the regional New South Wales rail network can be found by clicking here.

Port Rail Operators

The trains currently servicing the port include the following operators:

• Macarthur Intermodal Shipping Terminal at Minto is using Independent Rail as its train provider for its Port Botany shuttle.
• Pacific National is operating the Manildra Group’s Manildra and Nowra rail services.
• South Spur and Independent Rail are servicing clients in the Central West, including Dubbo and Warren.
• Southern & Silverton, Independent Rail and Freightliner are servicing clients in the North West, including Narrabri, Wee Waa and Moree.
• Bluescope Steel at Villawood uses South Spur as its rail operator for Port Botany shuttle.
• Interail (QR National) is the rail operator for the intermodal site at Yennora.
• Maritime Container Services at Cooks River uses Independent Rail as its rail operator for Port Botany shuttles.

Further details on port rail operators can be obtained from the Sydney Ports Handbook.

In addition, Pacific National and QR National operate an east coast interstate container service between Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.