What to expect when catching the Sydney Metro northwest from May 26
Planners are anticipating every “train geek” and public transport-deprived Hills resident will flock to use the Sydney Metro northwest from Sunday, May 26.
Planners are anticipating every “train geek” and public transport-deprived Hills resident will flock to use the Sydney Metro northwest from Sunday, May 26.
Thousands will use the $7.3 billion service for work and others are curious to ride the newest carriages on the 13-station network from Tallawong in Rouse Hill to Chatswood.
Transport for NSW co-ordinator general Marg Prendergast is one of those involved in the colossal infrastructure project.
“We’re expecting a lot of people — train geeks alone will come out of the woodwork,” Ms Prendergast said.
“There will be people from the northwest who are going to come out on Sunday to ride this amazing train. We just think that first day … people want to check it out. It’s state-of-the-art.”
The Sydney Metro’s operations will also prove a guinea pig how Sydney Metro southwest, Sydney Metro West and the St Marys to Badgerys Creek line will run.
There are also realistic expectations there will be setbacks.
“The first few months of any operation, we expect there will be issues,’’ Ms Prendergast said.
“We want to be slow and steady in that respect.’’
More than 22,000 people built the Sydney Metro northwest project, including more than 4000 who constructed the twin 15km tunnels between Bella Vista and Epping.
DRIVERLESS TRAINS
Ms Prendergast insists the Operational Control Centre at Tallawong is sophisticated enough to cope with any setbacks and orchestrate a smooth journey for the 22 trains on the 36km line.
“It’s a fully automated system,’’ she said.
It’s hi-tech. It’s the brain and heart of the operation and, being full automated, there’s minimum doubt.
“Driverless trains have been operating in Singapore for such a long time.”
There are staff at each station and constant monitoring of the train.
“We know that if something happens on Sydney Trains, or Sydney Metro, and there’s a gap in services, there are additional platform staff,’’ she said.
“We’ve got really strong management staff.”
Transport for NSW will have more than 100 staff working in the field across Metro stations, roads and bus stops on May 26.
There will also be more than 50 staff to help customers around the new stations and Sydney Trains is “quadrupling the number of staff at Chatswood interchange”.
CHANGING TRAINS
One of the criticisms of the northwest line is forcing commuters to switch lines at Chatswood.
A Fairfax report said a delay of two to four minutes would cause crowding at Chatswood station during the morning peak.
But Ms Prendergast said commuters would only have to cross the same platform at Chatswood to board the city-bound train.
She said the new timetable implemented on April 28 was designed to be in sync with the Metro.
EMERGENCIES
Almost 500,000km worth of testing of services, doors, the public announcement system and intruders.
“There’s a contingency plan for each and every station,’’ Ms Prendergast said.
“I’ve worked with Rouse Hill Town Centre and every shopping centre.”
She said staff were equipped to deal with problems such as suicide and terrorism.
“Self harm is real,’’ she said.
However, the design of train stations — underground and above ground — meant they were “intruder proof”.
PARKING
Most Sydney commuter carparks fill up by 7am and there’s no exception for the Metro stations.
“We’ll be watching how quickly they fill and when they reach capacity,” Ms Prendergast said.
“We know northwest commuters come early.”
Signs will indicate motorists when carparks are reaching capacity.
“We’re just going to monitor it and because it’s brand new, we really don’t know what we’ll be dealing with,’’ she said.
There are 4000 parking spots at Metro stations, including 125 for people with disabilities.
There will be 1000 at Tallawong, 1360 at Kellyville, 800 at Bella Vista, 600 at Hills Showground and 400 at Cherrybrook.
Stations without parking, such as Castle Hill, means the focus is on pedestrian safety.
Drivers leaving the carparks will be watched even closer.
“Often in the afternoon, it’s like a shopping centre,’’ Ms Prendergast said.
“It’s easier to get in but harder getting out — but what I’ve got on my side is 15 trains an hour so there won’t be a huge blimp of people arriving all at once.”
NIGHT SERVICES
Train services won’t run for the first six months of the Metro’s opening.
Services will stop between Rouse Hill and Chatswood between 9.30pm and 4.30am when North West Night buses will run between 9.30pm and 12.30am, Sunday to Wednesday nights only.
Ms Prendergast has insisted Sydney Metro northwest commuters changing trains from the city will have a smooth transition.
“It’s cross platform,’’ she said.
“It’s a really easy interchange.”
ON THE BUS
Ms Prendergast ruled out commuter fears direct city buses from Rouse Hill would be scrapped once the Metro opened.
“There are no plans to can all M2 city services,’’ she said.
“We need both (bus and trains). It’s a growing area. Some of those bus services, there are certain pockets that are not serviced by the Metro. It won’t be convenient to catch the bus.”
However, after about two months into the Metro’s opening, bus services will be reassessed and possible changes implemented after evaluating Opal data.
GIVE IT A GO
Ms Prendergast says the “phenomenal reliability” of the Metro will impress commuters.
“We want people to have a go, we want people to come and try it,’’ she said.
“There’s been such a lack of public transport — we’re creating new behaviour and opportunity.”
At Macquarie Park, 10 per cent of the 60,000-strong Macquarie Park Business Park employees live in northwest Sydney.
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