Fears Epping to Chatswood rail upgrade will impact southwest, western Sydney services
MANY train commuters are bracing for chaos and much more crowded carriages as work starts on the upgrade of the Epping to Chatswood rail line from September 30.
The Express
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MANY train commuters are worried about travelling chaos and much more crowded carriages as work starts on the upgrade of the Epping to Chatswood rail line.
This comes as it is revealed that 91 per cent of the submissions (32 support vs 340 against) opposed the Sydney Metro, with nearly 70 per cent of the community submissions from Bankstown (267 of 389).
For Roydon Ng, the spokesman for the Restore the Inner Westline community group, this proves there is overwhelming opposition to Sydney Metro City & Southwest plans.
A Transport for NSW (TfNSW) spokesman, however, disputed Mr Ng’s fears about the extra passengers at Lidcombe, saying there will be minor disruptions, due to the rail work which began from September 30.
“They will not increase pressure at Lidcombe or other surrounding stations as commuters heading into the CBD during the morning peak and leaving the City during the evening peak will not be affected,” the TfNSW spokesman said.
“Nearly all community submissions, especially from west of Bankstown, opposed the project
Opposition towards the Sydenham-Bankstown Metro was strongest in Berala, Regents Park and Chester Hill,” Mr Ng said.
“These stations are of the nine stations west of Bankstown that will lose all direct trains to city once the Metro is constructed forcing 19,000 commuters to make additional interchanges at Lidcombe and Bankstown.”
Bankstown state Labor MP Tania Mihailuk said there were 32 submissions in support of the Sydney Metro and 340 objected to the metro.
“That should tell the Government that the vast majority of those who made a submission clearly oppose the metro,” Ms Mihailuk said.
“The idea that we will have a metro that will continue to divide Bankstown will do nothing to improve the logistical nightmare we currently suffer in the Bankstown central business district.”
“This substandard, inferior shuttle service, which is what it will be, will forever permanently deny our commuters direct access to the central business district.”
“Clearly, if any consideration is given to the views of our community it is abundantly clear that the vast majority of people in Bankstown utterly oppose the metro.”
“The NSW Government must listen to the community and shelve their plans to extend the metro from Sydenham to Bankstown.”
The Locals for Metro Southwest (LMS) community organisation, which supports the Sydenham to Bankstown Metro Southwest, said it is surprised at the MP’s comments.
Natasha Clyne, one of the members of the organisation, said: “We are tired of the games being played on all sides of politics, we just want outcomes for our community.
“Ms Mihailuk quoted a figure from the Submissions report which pointed to opposition to the Sydney Metro as a whole.
“What she failed to say is that in the same section of the report, it was noted that those in support of the preferred Sydenham to Bankstown Southwest Metro line was 61 people
versus eight opposed.”
“Metro Southwest will be a fast and regular transport link connecting our community to jobs, health and education services, and that is why the vast percentage of our community is on overwhelming supports.”
Mr Ng was also worried about the increased pressure on commuters when the upgrade begins.
“The upcoming Sydney Trains timetable will see further reductions in T1 Western Line trains stopping at Lidcombe between 6am and 10pm,” Mr Ng said.
“The consequences from the removal of 52 Western Line trains between Richmond and Central servicing Lidcombe every day increases pressure on numerous other stations across the network.
“Overcrowding will undoubtedly worsen at Blacktown, Seven Hills, Parramatta and Strathfield as commuters will be forced to catch multiple trains to reach Lidcombe and Olympic Park or Bankstown.”
A Transport for NSW (TfNSW) spokesman said: “The rail changes from September 30 to accommodate the upgrade of the Epping to Chatswood rail line will be extremely minor for customers on the T1 Western Line,” the spokesman said.
“Our changes mean there will be a small reduction of services travelling towards Parramatta in the non-peak direction, affecting less than three per cent of T1 Western Line customers.
“However, these customers will still receive high frequency services, with a train every three to four minutes on average to get them to where they need to go.
“There will also be some small adjustments in the off peak which will result in some minor changes to service levels at Lidcombe.
HAVE ACCESS
“However, customers will still have access to a train to and from the City every six minutes on average during key time periods.”
The spokesman said planning for rail services for stations between Bankstown and Lidcombe and between Bankstown and Liverpool during Sydney Metro City and South West construction and once it opens, is still under way.”
He said all 24 new Waratah Series 2 trains should be in service by early next year, adding that South West Sydney commuters on the T3 Bankstown and T8 Airport and South Lines were among the first to benefit.
Mr Ng said that Restore Inner West Line, with support from The Battler and the Sydenham-Bankstown Alliance, will be holding a protest rally on Saturday, October 20, from 10am-11am at Regents Park Station (Amy St) “to mark five years of Gladys Berejiklian’s attacks on public transport in Western and South Western Sydney.”
SYDNEY METRO FACTS
■ Sydney Metro will consist of Sydney Metro Northwest (between Rouse Hill and Chatswood) and Sydney Metro City & Southwest (between Chatswood and Bankstown).
Sydney Metro City & Southwest will extend the Sydney Metro system beyond Chatswood to Bankstown.
■ The Sydenham to Bankstown upgrade will upgrade 13km of the Sydney Trains T3 Bankstown Line and convert 10 stations between Sydenham and Bankstown to metro standards.