Thousands pour through gates to ride Sydney's first driverless trains

Sydneysiders have turned out in the tens of thousands to ride the city's first metro train line, leading to huge crowds at stations and longer than expected trips for some on a historic day.

In the first six hours after gates opened, 90,000 people rode on the new 36-kilometre Metro Northwest line from Chatswood to Rouse Hill in the north west on Sunday. On the opening day, the driverless trains were running to a weekend timetable of a service every 10 minutes.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Transport Minister Andrew Constance cut the ribbon on Sydney's Metro Northwest line with the help of children.Credit: Edwina Pickles

While the new line was under pressure from a sea of people, the significance of the day was not lost on many – young and old. The moment was perhaps best summed up by 10-year-old Ryan Gates, who queued with his mum Sonya for several hours to ride on the driverless trains.

"It’s super cool," said the young train spotter from Como in Sydney’s south.

More than an hour earlier, Premier Gladys Berejiklian officially opened the line at Tallawong Station at Rouse Hill in Sydney's north west, describing it as a "taste of things to come".

"I am incredibly proud that we denied all of the cynics the opportunity to say it would never happen,” Ms Berejiklian said. "I don’t blame people for being cynical in those early days because this project had been promised for decades."

While signalling a change to the way Sydneysiders travel on public transport, the journeys proved to be unexpectedly long for some in the early afternoon. A train stopped at Macquarie Park for up to 20 minutes after a door failed to align correctly. The train was taken out of service but not before it caused flow on delays to other trains for a period.

Passengers board the metro train at Tallawong Station on Sunday.Credit: Edwina Pickles

The single-deck metro trains will run every five minutes on weekdays for the first six weeks, and then every four minutes thereafter. But Ms Berejiklian said it could eventually be increased to a service every two minutes if the demand required.

"The potential for this service to grow into the future is what I love about it. We are really building this for the next century," she said.

Transport secretary Rodd Staples said the metro line would be an "absolute game changer" for the city. “You have to go back to the 1920s and 1930s to find as big a change; as big an injection into public transport in this city," he said.

Hundreds of people line up at Chatswood to ride on the first driverless trains.Credit: Edwina Pickles

The Northwest line is the first stage of the Berejiklian government's plans for multiple metro train lines in Sydney. The second stage under construction comprises a line from Chatswood, under Sydney Harbour to the CBD and onto Sydenham and Bankstown, which is scheduled to be opened by 2024.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the metro lines would help alleviate pressure on the existing rail system, which has been straining under record growth in patronage.

“Life is about to change for so many,” he said.

Among those riding the first trains was Tod Sarina, from Windsor Downs. "It is desperately needed. The [road] congestion out this way is ridiculous and this should ease it a bit," he said.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance and Premier Gladys Berejiklian ride the first regular metro service on Sunday.Credit: Edwina Pickles

While travel on Sunday was free, fares from Monday are the same as those for the existing rail network, which are based on the distance travelled. The journey time for commuters travelling the 36km from one end to the other is about 37 minutes.

The first major test of the new rail line, and its integration into Sydney's broader train network, will occur during the morning peak on Monday.

Sydney Trains chief executive Howard Collins said the rail operator was ready for the integration of the metro services, especially at Chatswood station where the pressure would be greatest.

“We will have some early challenges but this is really exciting,” he said. “This is the future of technology and how we will move people around Sydney.”

Tod Sarina and son Daniel, 7, from Windsor Downs, on a metro train.Credit: Edwina Pickles

Operated by Hong Kong's MTR, the metro line comprises twin 15-kilometre tunnels, a 4.5km viaduct and a 270-metre cable bridge over busy Windsor Road at Rouse Hill.

Outside peak periods, the metro trains will run at 10-minute intervals.