<p>Sydney’s passenger rail network will be split and run as five separate lines, New South Wales transport services minister Michael Costa said.</p> <p>Mr Costa foreshadowed the changes under the government’s rail clearways plan – which aims improve line performance by giving them greater independence.</p> <p>"The complexity of the current network makes it vulnerable to disruption," Mr Costa said.</p> <p>"Criss-crossing trains throughout the system means one late running train can compromise the entire rail system."</p> <p>Sydney’s two most reliable lines at present are the Eastern suburbs/Illawarra line and its south coast connection – both of which are virtually independent of the rest of the network. </p> <br />
