Re: Sydney's Railway Tunnels

["Hubert Lam" <hubert@softhome.net>]

So is it still possible to re-start digging and building a few more lines to
easy the poor flow of traffic in Sydney?


ROY HOWARTH wrote in message <71muee$64g$1@toto.tig.com.au>...
>"Geoff Quinn" <quinn_g@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>Is there an old map or something that shows the planned tunnels and lines?
>>
>A map exists of Dr Bradfield's 1915 proposals for the City Railway, which
>includes proposals for the South-Eastern & Inner-Western Lines. St James
>was intended to be a major interchange for South-Eastern suburbs trains
>proceeding towards Paddington, Bondi, Coogee, Randwick and Daceyville
>before heading back towards the city, with a branch to Watsons Bay.
>Inner-wester trains were to bypass the Quay and proceed to Balmain,
>Leichhardt and towards Gladesville. The present ESR platforms at Town
>Hall were also part of this scheme.
>
>>It sure does sound interesting the number of tunnels that were actually
>>made. Why weren't they used? Short of money or what? The city sure would
>>have been a bit more interesting with a few more lines.
>>
>The Great Depression was a major reason most of Dr Bradfield's proposals
>never left the drawing board as passenger numbers were revised downwards.
>Politics and lack of money also a major factor as the Country Party were
>dead against expansion of the urban rail network at the expense of more
>lines to "open up" the bush. I think the growth of the Govt bus network
>from the early 1930's played a part as well.
>
>Another factor preventing completion of the South-Eastern Suburbs tunnels
>was the resumption required for excavation along Oxford Street towards
>Taylor Square. This would have played a major part in the change of route
>to the present line thru Martin Place, Kings Cross etc. in the 1940's.
>
>Roy H
>