Olympic Park Sprint

The Olympic Park railway line serves the Sydney Olympic Park precinct. Originally opened as the Abattoirs branch in 1911, it was rebuilt as the Olympic Park line in 1998.Abattoirs lineThe line opened on 31 July 1911 as the Abattoirs branch off the Main Western line to the abattoirs and State Brickworks at Homebush. It branched off via a triangular junction behind Flemington Maintenance Depot making it accessible from the Metropolitan Goods line.Two bridges carried the line over the Great Western Highway. On 11 January 1915, the Metropolitan Meat Platforms opened. Further platforms opened at Abattoirs in December 1926, Brickworks in December 1939 and Pippita in October 1940 to serve a Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation factory. Sidings on the line served Dairy Farmers and Ford.On 27 February 1968, the three kilometre Homebush Saleyards Yard opened to service new cattle and sheep pens built to replace facilities at Flemington just beyond the Great Western Highway crossing. The loop was electrified to allow 46 class locomotives to operate services from the Main Western and Main Northern lines to the saleyards.