Here is my idea for train line to Maroubra.
I think this is a very cost effective way to get heavy rail to Maroubra.
(I am too lazy to upload a map image to an internet hosting site.)
There is an existing freight rail line. It starts at Marrickville Station, goes past the airport, and ends at Port Botany.
Build a line heading directly east from where Swinbourne St meets the rail line. The land is undeveloped so it is relatively cheap to purchase it.
Follow the undeveloped land, the line goes through Grace Campbell Reserve and Rhodes St Reserve (probably already government owned land).
Then the line can proceed following Jersey Rd on the northern side. Make Jersey Rd a one way street and narrow it, to minimise the amount of park land that is taken by the rail line. This land would be all government owned.
Jersey Rd becomes Murray St.
Maroubra Station is built at the intersection of Murray St and Anzac Parade (currently has a Pizza Hut).
There should also be another new station built near the Airport (north of Joyce Dr on existing line).
In terms of land repossession, it looks like the government would only need to buy Pizza Hut + 5 houses + undeveloped industrial land. Relatively speaking, bugger all cost.
There only has to be 2 road bridges built - Dennison St and Bunnerong Rd. Other roads can be blocked off. Again, relatively speaking, a small cost.
As the new Maroubra Station is a greenfield site, it would be easy to sell it as a 99 year lease to a developer. The developer can build a 20 storey building with the train station at ground level. The cost of Maroubra Station and land repurchases could be completely covered by selling the development rights above the station.
The bus trip from Maroubra Junction to Town Hall is about 33 minutes.
To match this time, the train line will have only 5 stations - Maroubra, Airport, Marrackville, Central and Town Hall (and the route after that can be figured out be someone else).
I measured the distance on Google at 18km. At an average speed of 50km/h, it would take 22 minutes. I think each station stop adds 3min (please correct me if wrong). Total time about 31 minutes. That is an improvement over the bus.
So the total cost of this project would be only 2.8kms of dual rail line + junction + Marrackville Station upgrade + new Airport Station + 2 road bridges (assuming developer pays other costs).
Are there any ideas how much that would cost?