Sydney Metro Southwest opening will not shut Bankstown line trains
Commuters are no closer to knowing whether they will retain a direct link to the city once the Sydney Metro Southwest opens in 2024.
The Express
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Sydney Metro bosses have bowed to public pressure, announcing commuters using the Bankstown line will retain a link to the city once the new line opens.
Transport for NSW has revealed all stations west of Bankstown will remain open after the Sydney Metro Southwest is up and running in 2024 after community outrage at the possibility some stations would shut.
However, there is still uncertainly surrounding whether it will be a direct line to the city, or whether commuters will be forced to change lines at various stations.
A spokesman said: “Transport for NSW can assure T3 Bankstown Line customers there are no plans to permanently close any stations.
“All T3 Bankstown Line customers not served by Metro, including those at Berala and Regents Park, will continue to receive suburban train services once Sydney Metro City and Southwest is introduced in 2024.
“Rail plans for how services will operate on this part of the network once Sydney Metro opens are still being finalised.
“The Metro is still four years away and we will update the community.”
However, Roydon Ng, the co-ordinator of the community group, said despite Mr Collins ruling out the closure of some stations in the short-term, commuters west of Bankstown are still no closer to being guaranteed a direct train to the city circle.
Mr Ng said they are committed to fight for the restoration of the city to Liverpool/Bankstown via Regents Park service.
Preliminary work on the Sydney Metro Southwest will start at several stations on the T3 Bankstown line during the Christmas holidays for two weeks.
Hundreds of buses will replace trains during the closure which affects the T3 line from Campsie to Redfern.
An Upper House inquiry into the Sydenham-Bankstown line conversion — chaired by Abigail Boyd — heard more details on Tuesday from Sydney Metro and Sydney Trains bosses.
Before the hearings began, supporters of the Save T3 Bankstown Line, backed by members of parliament, braved the smoke haze in the city to protest against the Sydney Metro Southwest plans.
FULL ACCESS TO CITY SERVICES
Sydney Metro CEO Jon Lamonte told the inquiry the revised project, approved almost a year ago, addresses the community issues.
“I am delighted to say that we are planning for customers beyond Bankstown so they still
have access to train services to the city,” Mr Lamonte said.
“Customers coming from beyond Bankstown, who wish to use the Metro, will be able to simply interchange at Bankstown station, providing access to new CBD stations at Pitt St and Barangaroo while connections to Central will be retained.”
Sydney Trains CEO Howard Collins stressed the Metro was not separate from the other networks.
“I think it is important to note that the Metro conversion is part of a plan for the whole rail
network, indeed, the whole transport system,” Mr Collins told the inquiry.
“Put simply, Metro is complimentary; it is not in conflict with my existing rail network. Sydney needs both. It is not an either-or proposition.”