On board the 4.54 metro train under Sydney Harbour and into the history books

The driverless train pulled out of Sydenham station in Sydney’s south at 4.54am on Monday, whisking passengers northwards along the new $21.6 billion metro line under the harbour and cementing its place in the city’s history.

The train was packed with train enthusiasts, three of whom had arrived at Sydenham station shortly after 1am, hours before the first paid passenger service on the extended M1 line set off for Tallawong in Sydney’s north-west.

Adam Riakos travels with his grandfather Mosh Riakos on the first paid passenger Metro train on the M1 line from Sydenham station to Chatswood.Credit: Janie Barrett

Logan Newboult-Kosztyo had travelled from Woy Woy on the Central Coast on Sunday night for the chance to travel on the historic pre-dawn service, arriving at Sydenham at 1.15am. “My Dad is a train driver so it’s always been a big passion of mine,” he said.

It had been a festive feel on the platform at Sydenham, and a huge cheer went up among the throng as the first train pulled up at the station.

Among them were friends Jack Okill, 14, from Lindfield and William Han, 11, from Epping, who had arrived at Sydenham station at 3.30am.

“We are diehard metro fans. I wasn’t going to miss this,” Jack said.

William Han and Jack Okill were among the first to travel on the Metro extensionCredit: Janie Barrett

As the train accelerated at pace out of the station, Transport Minister Jo Haylen, Sydney Metro chief executive Peter Regan, project director Hugh Lawson, Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray and Co-ordinator General Howard Collins were at the front.

Collins, who has been involved in at least a dozen railway openings in his near five-decade career, said the excitement aboard the new metro train was similar to the opening of the extension of London’s Piccadilly line to Heathrow Airport 47 years ago.

“Public transport brings more excitement to more people than anything else,” he said.

“For a place like Sydney, this brings that global city feel. We now have a metro through the heart of the city, and we have the next generation of technology,” Collins said.

Thomas Marynissen, left, Wesley Fung, and Logan Newboult-Kosztyo, holding Metro signs, at Sydenham station.Credit: Janie Barrett

Lawson, who has led the project to extend the line under the harbour, said the opening had “gone brilliantly” after early nervousness.

“We pulled the train in early so we could get everyone on. It was pretty packed, with probably 900 people on that first train. And so we had about 15 minutes waiting. And I think that was when – probably for me – the nerves were at their greatest,” he said.

“And just watching the display tick down until it was time for the train to go – and when the train moved off, it really accelerates fast down into the tunnel, super smooth. And you know, for me, that was the moment when it was like, ‘yeah, we have done this’, it’s open now.”

As the packed train weaved its way under the central city, passengers had to hold on at times.

Unlike the opening of the first stage of Sydney’s metro network in May 2019, the first paid passenger service on the extended M1 line from Chatswood to Sydenham was without a ribbon-cutting, which did not bother the train enthusiasts one iota.

Accompanied by her six-year-old son Dylan, Haylen said the opening of a second harbour rail crossing was a “truly historic day” that would reshape the way people traverse Sydney.

“It was an early start, a lot of anticipation and an incredible amount of enthusiasm for this public transport service,” she said.

“And for good reason; it is absolutely changing our city for the better.”

While the first passenger services ran without a hitch on Monday, Haylen said the “real test” of the new line would continue for days as more commuters used it for the first time.

“There is no way to truly simulate the interaction of the public. So far, we’re going well, but we want people to be patient, to take their time,” she said.

“People need to find their way around; find their way to the right platform; get on board with all of their travelling companions; hold your children’s hands; and also hang on, because it is fast.”

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