Mayors back 24-hour Sydney Metro as final sign-off yet to be received

Critical evacuation testing may force a delay to the anticipated Metro opening as Mayors representing a million Sydney residents back calls for a 24 hour service.

Sydney mayors representing a million residents living near the city’s Metro routes have thrown their support behind opening the lines for 24 hours a day.

The unified call for around-the-clock Metro comes as the national rail regulator confirmed the Metro City line is still yet to receive final sign-off for passenger services, despite the government’s nominated opening date looming on August 4.

The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator (ONRSR) told The Telegraph “there are still several critically important activities to be completed this week, such as emergency and evacuation exercises with NSW Fire and Rescue”.

A spokesman for the regulator said it would “assess the application as quickly as possible once all the evidence is received”, but noted it would take “sufficient time” to analyse safety plans.

The NSW Government is still hopeful of hitting its August 4 deadline, with the existing North West Metro only receiving approval four days before its 2019 opening.

The Metro is set to run to about 1am on weekdays and 2.30am on weekends once fully operational.

It comes as pressure mounts from no less than five mayors living along the existing North West Metro and the incoming Metro City lines for a 24-hour service, with local leaders talking up the economic and social injection of the move.

Blacktown City Mayor Brad Bunting’s area includes the Tallawong terminus of the North West Metro.

“I love (the prospect of opening it for 24 hours) – any way for the community to get in and out of the city 24 hours a day is a great thing,” he said.

Hills Shire Mayor Dr Peter Gangemi said a 24-hour service would help health workers at the new Rouse Hill hospital get home.

Hills Shire Mayor Peter Gangemi at the Rouse Hill railway station. He supports the service changing to a 24-hour one. Picture: Jonathan Ng

North Sydney Mayor Zoe Baker. Photo: Renee Nowytarger

“I think it could be a real positive … Hills residents want to see as many public transport options as possible and it could be very helpful for our residents,” he said.

Ryde Mayor Trenton Brown, whose electorate includes three Metro stations centred around Macquarie Park where the government has plans to build thousands of new homes, said 24-hour public transport would be “essential”.

Sydney Mayor Clover Moore. Picture: Facebook

He added the move could help facilitate night-time markets and events at Macquarie University.

“The Metro is essential for facilitating mobility and accessibility within and between night-time precincts, enabling residents, workers, and visitors to travel safely and efficiently after normal office hours,” he said.

North Sydney Mayor Zoe Baker said there “was an assumption” the Metro would run for 24 hours she hoped would be followed up on.

“(We need it) to maximise access – in a place like North Sydney, we have two major hospitals which are not that far from the Metro,” she said.

The escalator down to Central Station’s new Metro platform. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Like the rest of Sydney, the state government has an emphasis on the night-time economy – both for hospitality and retail – so workers on shift work have access to all the services the rest of us do.”

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said she had “advocated to successive state governments for improved late night public transport” which would “help hospitality workers, many of whom are young women, feel more comfortable in working a late shift and getting home safely”.

Kerrie Sheaves, the chair of Sydney Hills Business Chamber covering the city’s Hills District, said 24 hour services would open up new jobs for working families in the regions.

“Encouraging a 24 hour community … would help with all different types of industry trying to open up flexible work options, like shift work for international trade,” she said.

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Originally published as Mayors back 24-hour Sydney Metro as final sign-off yet to be received