Proposal to shut part of T3 train line for a year considered by NSW government

A proposal to transform a key section of Sydney’s rail line into a Metro link — which could leave tens of thousands of commuters without trains for over a year— is being weighed up by the Minns government.

Train passengers from Bankstown to Sydenham would be left stranded for up to 15 months while part of the heavy rail line is upgraded to Metro standards, in a proposal which could hit commuters from next year.

Briefing notes to the new Labor government reveal transforming the existing rail to a Metro line would force passengers from stations between Bankstown and Sydenham to catch buses for more than a year.

The forecasted budget for the project has also blown out by another $2 billion according to the most recent update, $8b above earlier projections.

Documents seen by The Telegraph state an option for completing the Metro was shutting down the rail from west of Sydenham from July 2024, with buses to replace trains along the line for up to 15 months.

Labor has not confirmed whether it would absorb the major new cost to complete the Metro, or enforce the 15 month closure of the T3 line.

The Sydenham to Bankstown line could be partially closed for a year so the heavy rail line can be upgraded. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Heavy rail would still operate at stations between Bankstown and Liverpool.

The former government was last year presented a proposal to shut down the rail for up to a year, but that has since blown out by an extra three months.

The T3 Bankstown Line is one of the busiest in the country, with more than 1.6 million trips taken on that rail in February alone.

The 15-month delay exceeds initial forecasts for how long the section of train line would have to be closed down for.

A November 2020 update by Sydney Metro on the South West segment stated the line would only have to be closed for up to six months to finish the conversion.

“To complete the Southwest Metro works, a final closure of between three to six months will be required for work that can only be done once Sydney Trains services have stopped operating on the line,” the document said.

The 13-kilometre Bankstown-Sydenham stage of the Metro was already facing delays of up to a year after being hit with industrial action, bad weather and supply chain disruptions.

A Minns Government spokeswoman said: “It appears the former Liberal Government kept hidden the true cost of Sydney Metro City and Southwest and the potential impact on passengers”.

Tens of thousands of commuters could be affected if the proposal goes ahead. Picture: Gaye Gerard

“From an initial price tag of around $12 billion, we now know the cost of building the line is upwards of $20 billion.”

Documents show the entire City and South West line is now forecast to cost $20.11b, but that could come back down to $18.48b if the government successfully sells of $1.6b in land around stations and the line.

The Telegraph understands Labor is still receiving briefings on the South West Metro and other Metro projects.

“Every day, we are asking more about the Sydney Metro and discovering more key details the former government did not reveal to the public,” the spokeswoman said.

Chris Minns’ government is being briefed as it weighs up the move. Picture: Ben Symons

“We are being upfront and honest about the challenges we are inheriting. We’re not interested in assigning blame, we’re interested in finding solutions.

“The best way to do that is to be upfront and honest with the people of NSW about the true cost of these projects.”

NSW Labor earlier this week released findings that the Metro West would cost more than $25b, the first time a figure for the project has been revealed.

Commuters who travel from the western end of the T3 line to the CBD said its closure would drastically impact them.

T3 line customers would be forced to catch buses, something Azmath Mirza is not keen to try. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Justine Pipers would be affected daily by the closure if it goes ahead. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Azmath Mirza, who catches the train from his home at Lakemba to the city, said it would force him to drive.

“I jump off at Lakemba so it would affect me. I would be forced to drive my car to work if it shutdown which would be an inconvenience with petrol and parking costs,” he said.

Justine Pipers catches the train daily to her place of work.

“This train line is how I get to and from work. If it shutdown I would have to get the bus and that would be annoying and make things a lot harder,” she said.