Sydney Metro Southwest: State Government releases route options
The NSW Government has finally thrown up three options for its controversial Sydney Metro Southwest line. Check out how your commute will be affected.
The Express
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The NSW Government has finally released three possible routes for its Sydney Metro Southwest line, which is due to open in 2024.
The three options include changes for commuters at either Regents Park, Birrong or Bankstown, and shuttle train services between Bankstown and Lidcombe and Bankstown and Liverpool.
Another option would see a direct line to the city from all Bankstown T3 stations.
The preferred option (Option two), for the government and commuter groups, is the route which effectively restores the Inner West Line, halted more than six years ago.
Services operating between Liverpool and the City Circle via Bankstown would run via Regents Park, according to the latest planning report.
Another option (Option one) would see commuters at Carramar, Villawood, Leightonfield, Chester Hill, Sefton, Regents Park, Berala, Birrong and Yagoona forced to change trains to travel into the city. This will see a train service shuttling the passengers from Bankstown and Lidcombe, and Bankstown and Liverpool.
Option three is the route between Bankstown and the City Circle via the Inner West with
Birrong the main interchange point. Trains will shuttle commuters between Liverpool and Bankstown.
Roydon Ng, spokesman for the Save T3 Bankstown Line and Restore Inner West Line, said: “The second option is obviously what we have been campaigning for and it is encouraging the government is listening to us,” Mr Ng said.
“But we want to make sure that Transport for NSW actually adopts the second option.”
“Our group will continue to fight for the restoration of direct train services to the City Circle for all T3 Bankstown Line stations.”
A Transport for NSW spokesman said planners were keen to hear from the community about the changes.
“We will be engaging with the community to get their feedback in the coming months and we anticipate the final option will be confirmed in late 2020,” he said.
The report said there would be direct connections to the city for most commuters west of Bankstown (Liverpool, Warwick Farm, Cabramatta, Carramar, Villawood, Leightonfield, Chester Hill, Sefton, Regents Park and Berala).
There will be direct connections to the Inner West for passengers at Liverpool, Warwick Farm, Cabramatta, Carramar, Villawood, Leightonfield, Chester Hill, Sefton, Regents Park and Berala.
There will be less crowding on T2 Line because most Liverpool-Cabramatta commuters will prefer Liverpool-City via Regents Park services, the report states.
“Liverpool-Sefton customers will be required to interchange at Regents Park for access to Metro services at Bankstown,” it says.
“Birrong and Yagoona customers will need to interchange at Bankstown for Metro services or travel to Lidcombe for access to other destinations.”
Currently there are two branches on the T3 Bankstown Line, with services from Liverpool and Lidcombe and via Bankstown and Sydenham to the city circle.
OPTION ONE
Shuttle train services will operated between Bankstown and Lidcombe and Bankstown and Liverpool. Commuters at Carramar, Villawood, Leightonfield, Chester Hill, Sefton, Regents Park, Berala, Birrong and Yagoona will have to change trains to get to the city
The transport report predicts overcrowding because of an increase in commuters from Liverpool-Cabramatta using T2 services via Granville to travel directly to the city.
OPTION TWO
Services between Liverpool and the City Circle will run via Regents Park. Shuttle train services to operate between Lidcombe and Bankstown. Regents Park would be the main interchange point.
There will be direct options to the city for most commuters west of Bankstown: Liverpool, Warwick Farm, Cabramatta, Carramar, Villawood, Leightonfield, Chester Hill, Sefton, Regents Park and Berala.
OPTION THREE
The third option will see services operating between Bankstown and the City Circle via the Inner West.
Plans include shuttle train services between Liverpool and Bankstown with Birrong being the main interchange. Passengers at Carramar, Villawood, Leightonfield, Chester Hill and Sefton have to change trains to get to the city.