Fresh push to reinstate train service between Bankstown and Parramatta

A push to reinstate a direct rail service between Bankstown and Parramatta has been championed by a southwest Sydney councillor who says it would support the state government’s vision to transform greater Sydney into a 30-minute city.

An artist's impression of how the new Bankstown station – where the Southwest Metro will terminate when work is completed in 2025. Photo: Supplied

A push to reinstate a direct rail service between Bankstown and Parramatta has been championed by a southwest Sydney councillor who says it would support the state government’s vision to transform greater Sydney into a 30-minute city.

Canterbury-Bankstown councillor Charbel Abouraad will table the motion during Tuesday’s council meeting as a “period of disruption” looms while the T3 Bankstown line closes to convert the existing heavy rail into a dedicated Metro line.

Mr Abouraad said “part of this infrastructure is already in the ground” with a direct rail connection already available between Bankstown and Parramatta using the Bridge Street rail overpass in Lidcombe.

The conversion of the Sydenham to Bankstown heavy rail line into a metro corridor will start construction later this year with thousands of passengers forced onto a new dedicated bus fleet during the closure.

Sydney Metro City and Southwest train TS5 leaves the tunnel at the southern dive during testing.

Mr Abouraad said while the state government was investing billions in new transport infrastructure, there was an “opportunity right in front of us to improve services without spending a cent on new tracks or tunnels”.

“A direct service between Bankstown and Parramatta would connect our residents with

employment and educational opportunities.”

“Transport for New South Wales have already identified the need for a direct rail connection

between Kogarah and Parramatta via Bankstown in their Future Transport Strategy and this route will support the NSW Government’s vision for Greater Sydney to be a 30-minute city.”

Instead, residents will be required to interchange at Lidcombe station or take a “slow and inefficient bus service” during the year-long metro conversion.

An artist's impression of how the new Bankstown station – where the Southwest Metro will terminate when work is completed in 2025.

“This service would have the added benefit of drawing people back to public transport, activating the stations of Birrong and Yagoona,” he said.

This comes after Canterbury-Bankstown Labour councillor David Walsh previously tabled a motion advocating for an extension of the southwest metro line from Bankstown to Liverpool and routes to connect Bankstown and Parramatta.

Mr Walsh proposed for Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool, Parramatta and Cumberland councils to work with the Minister for Transport to identify a suitable corridor and station sites to maximise the “full potential of the southwest Metro”.

Sydney Metro City and Southwest train TS5 travels through the crossover cavern just north of Barangaroo station during testing.

A spokesman for Transport Minister Jo Haylen said while there were “no current plans to expand the Metro line from Bankstown to Liverpool, the rail timetable can continue to evolve to meet southwest Sydney’s future needs”.

“Transport for NSW will continually assess what services are required for this growing part of Sydney and will deliver improvements as future planning and budgets allow,” the spokesman said.

This comes after Liverpool mayor Ned Mannoun called for an additional train line to run alongside the current T3 Line to connect western Sydney to the new metro rail from Bankstown to Sydney’s CBD.

The proposed express line would bypass nine stations including Warwick Farm, Cabramatta, Sefton, Yagoona, Villawood, Carramar and Sefton.