There's room to make way for commuters

Dealing with the overcrowding at Wynyard station by Barangaroo commuters might be solved if some of the partially completed and unused rail infrastructure around inner Sydney was to be harnessed (''No rail plans for Barangaroo's commuters'', June 16).

Bradfield built the upper level of Wynyard station and the Harbour Bridge to carry four railway tracks. These were used by trams and later made into a roadway and a car park. There is also partially completed earthworks for an additional two tracks as far as Chatswood.

St James station had four platforms and provision for two extra tracks leading into, and out of, the station. These still exist.

Central station has two nearly completed platforms under Chalmers Street. Redfern has provision for an additional two platforms and for an additional two tracks to Sydenham.

Perhaps the airport line could be diverted through the unused platforms at Central, then through those at St James, then swing sharply to reclaim the extra two platforms at Wynyard.

The line could continue over the Harbour Bridge and along tracks laid on the partially completed earthworks to Chatswood and using the new line to Epping become part of the proposed north-west line to Rouse Hill (and beyond).

The rerouting of the airport line trains would free up paths on the city circle, allowing the existing level of service there to be maintained by extra trains expected to come from the west.

It might be cheaper to double the size of the harbour tunnel to accommodate the cars displaced by the reclamation of the railway space on the eastern side of the bridge than to build a completely new railway from Redfern to Wynyard, as has been proposed.

Terry Boardman Balgowlah Heights