The Carlingford Line, The Forgotten Extension, and The Uncrossable Zone

Work is currently underway to convert Sydney’s most underused railway line, the Carlingford Line, into a light rail, as part of the Parramatta Light Rail project. They’re hoping that this will fix the line’s low patronage, with a more direct route to Parramatta than the former line. But in the early 2000s, the line was almost extended to Epping, which most likely would have increased its patronage and kept the line alive as a heavy rail line. Instead...it wasn't. Why not?
In this video, I'll discuss going to explore the history of the Carlingford Line and the proposed Parramatta to Epping Rail Link, a fateful decision 19 years ago that doomed the proposal, and why exactly the Parramatta Light Rail has condemned the long-awaited proposal into a line that will probably never be built.

Some useful links for interested viewers:
This long forum (Railpage) discussing the Carlingford Line's near-extension: https://www.railpage.com.au/f-p211182...
This very interesting hypothetical post by Transport Sydney discussing how north-western Sydney may have evolved had the line been extended: https://transportsydney.wordpress.com...
The official 2002 planning report for the PECRL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RMWA...
An August 2003 report discussing possible cheaper and more efficient alternatives to the Epping to Parramatta section of the PECRL: https://undertheclocksblog.files.word...
Footage of the Carlingford Line's last day of service: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/proj...

Music:
First Sight by Schematist | http://www.schematistmusic.com (Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com)
Allthat by bensound - https://www.bensound.com/
Modern Trends by Alexey Anisimov - https://tunetank.com/track/5915-moder...
Adventures in Mana by Schematist | http://www.schematistmusic.com (Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com)
Things Change by HoliznaCC0 - https://freemusicarchive.org/
Dat Groove by Audionautix | http://audionautix.com (Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com)
Another Day by Ketsa - https://freemusicarchive.org/