Sydney’s major train timetable overhaul: What it means for you

Less disruptions and shorter wait times are floated as the benefits of a Minns government train timetable shake-up prompted by changing commuter habits — especially in peak hours.

Commuters are being promised shorter wait times, faster journeys and less disruptions under one of the biggest overhauls of Sydney’s train timetable to take place in seven years.

The adjustments – to kick in on October 20 – will impact every train line with 800 new services to be delivered a week.

A deteriorating ability in the network to recover after an incident and changes in how commuters are travelling to and from work since the pandemic have driven the adjustments.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said changes in commuter travel habits since 2017 and the need to ensure services could recover faster after a critical incident were behind the timetable overhaul.

“We know that when there’s an incident on one part of the train network it can often affect other train services too. Making our timetable simpler means there’s less chance of that happening,” she said

Commuters wait on the platforms at Central Station during the Train strike. Picture: John Appleyard

“Since 2017, the way that people travel on our transport network has changed a lot.

“The work commute has changed and there’s greater demand for trains outside the traditional peak hour. That’s why we are making sure there are more trains running at the times when passengers need them most, particularly in the mornings between 9-10am.”

THE CHANGES

T1 WESTERN LINE: An increase in the number of people arriving into Central after 9am has resulted in a shift in the morning peak services.

While the services will still be concentrated be between the 7-10am morning peak, the changes will cater for an increase after 9am, while Rooty Hill and Doonside will also receive additional services during the busiest morning peak hour.

T1 NORTH SHORE LINE: With the new M1 North West & Bankstown Line services operating every four minutes in the peak between Chatswood and Sydenham, there is reduced demand for passengers interchanging at Chatswood. The timetable has been adjusted to rebalance service levels in the morning and off- peak periods. Passengers will still receive a train every three to five minutes, while stopping patterns have been adjusted to improve reliability.

T2 LEPPINGTON AND INNER WEST LINE: services will continue to connect passengers from Leppington and Parramatta to the Sydney CBD.

The Inner West corridor will be expanded to include the new T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line services, connecting Inner West passengers, between Redfern and Lidcombe, to Liverpool via Regents Park and to the Sydney CBD.

Leppington and Edmondson Park passengers who interchange for T8 Airport & South services at Glenfield, will benefit from additional trains in the AM peak hour on both the T5 Cumberland Line and T8 Airport & South Line.

T5 CUMBERLAND LINE: Passengers travelling between Leppington and Parramatta on the T5 Cumberland Line in the busiest morning peak hour will benefit from a 15-minute service frequency.

T8 AIRPORT & SOUTH LINE: The changes will see an overall increase in services during the morning peak, increasing from 14 trains per hour to 16 trains per hour.

St Peters and Erskineville commuters will find more T8 train services operating via Sydenham.

During the busiest morning peak hour, two fewer services will operate via the Airport Tunnel.

BLUE MOUNTAINS LINE: Passengers will see an increase in services across the week for

stations between Medlow Bath and Lithgow.

Transport for NSW director planning, analysis and engagement Jessica Bennett said there had been a “one in a generational shift in demand” for services since the pandemic.

“This is about better managing our timetable by shifting our services slightly,” Ms Bennett said.

“The benefit of spreading services across the peak also add reserve into the network.

“When we run the corridor at maximum capacity, there is no buffer in the timetable for any train to run late.