Richmond branch line

The Richmond railway line is a railway line in the western suburbs of Sydney. It is a branch of the Main Western line. Sydney Trains operates electric passenger train services over the line and markets these as part of the T1 North Shore & Western. The line is owned by the Transport Assets Holding Entity and is maintained and controlled by Sydney Trains.

Route
The railway commences west of Seven Hills station on the Main Western railway line in Sydney's western suburbs. This section of the western line consists of four tracks, from north to south, the Up West Main, Up West Suburban, Down West Suburban and Down West Main. The Up Richmond track branches off the Up West Main, while the Down Richmond track branches off both down tracks and climbs a bridge over the up lines to emerge next to the Up Richmond track. There are also a number of crossovers to allow for other movements at this junction. The two Richmond tracks continue parallel to the Main Western line until just before Blacktown, where it branches off in a northerly direction. The line then passes through Blacktown, a major interchange which also has a stabling yard and signalling centre. The line continues to Schofields as a double track, bidirectionally signalled line. Each station between Blacktown and Schofields has crossovers to terminate trains, however only Quakers Hill and Schofields are regularly used as intermediate termini. After Schofields, the line turns into a single track line, with passing loops at Riverstone, Mulgrave and Claredon. The line ends at Richmond, where there are two platforms and a siding. The line formerly continued across the Hawkesbury River to Kurrajong.

Stations

 * Marayong
 * Quakers Hill
 * Schofields
 * Riverstone
 * Vineyard
 * Mulgrave
 * Windsor
 * Clarendon
 * East Richmond
 * Richmond

Richmond to Kurrajong (closed)

 * Nepean Sand & Gravel (siding)
 * Phillip
 * North Richmond
 * Red Cutting
 * Kemsleys
 * Thompsons Ridge
 * Nurri
 * Duffys
 * Kurrajong

History
The line opened to Richmond in 1864 under the stewardship of engineer James Moore. In 1926, an extension was opened to Kurrajong, closing in 1952. Electrification from Riverstone to Richmond commenced in 1987 but was suspended in 1988 due to lack of funds, restarting in 1990 and opening in August 1991. Initially 620 & 720 railcars (locally known as Richmond Rattlers) operated as 2-car shuttles between Riverstone to Richmond until the electric power supply was upgraded to allow through running to and from Sydney in 1992. In 2002 the track between Marayong and Quakers Hill was duplicated. Two further duplications were announced as part of the CityRail Clearways Project - from Quakers Hill to Schofields and from Schofields to Vineyard. These provide extra capacity to support increased patronage, as the line passes through the middle of Sydney's "North West Growth Centre". Duplication of the Quakers Hill to Schofields section commenced in 2009 and was completed in October 2011. The extension of the duplication to Vineyard has been deferred.

Services in the area will be supplemented in the future by the Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport Line.