Sydney’s new metro line faces first major test with New Year’s Eve crowds

For Sydney’s transport officials, it is all about the “bump in” and “bump out” for New Year’s Eve fireworks.

That’s transport-speak for managing a system under immense strain as more than a million revellers descend on the harbourfront to watch the 9pm and midnight shows and want to get home quickly afterwards.

Transport for NSW co-ordinator general Howard Collins in the joint operations centre at Eveleigh.Credit: Rhett Wyman

After a short reprieve from major industrial action by rail workers, the public transport network faces its single busiest day of the year next Tuesday. New Year’s Eve also marks the biggest test for the city section of Sydney’s M1 metro line since the mega-project opened in August.

While the metro line boosts the rail network’s capacity by 10 per cent, Transport for NSW co-ordinator general Howard Collins said the new line equated to an extra “bump-in pipe”, which meant more people were likely to use it, particularly those in Sydney’s north-west.

“One of the things we will be watching very closely will be the additional numbers,” he said.

From a “situation room” at Eveleigh in Sydney’s inner south, transport officials will focus on two critical areas: the CBD from Circular Quay and Wynyard to Central Station, and the lower north shore from Milsons Point to North Sydney.

Barangaroo station faces a major test on New Year’s Eve.Credit: Wolter Peeters

In previous years, the busiest and longest “bump out” after the fireworks was Milsons Point and North Sydney stations. With the metro line now open, Collins said crowds on the lower north shore should disperse more quickly thanks to the new Victoria Cross station at North Sydney.

Like Circular Quay station, which will be closed until shortly after midnight, the new metro station at Barangaroo will be shut from 5pm to 11.45pm on New Year’s Eve on advice from police and event organisers.

“If you have stations which are too close to the [event], you end up feeding in too many people to a congested area,” Collins said, comparing it to managing Olympics crowds.

“We feed people from a distance, and they come off the trains and the buses, and then they walk to the event, and then they walk back.”

After the fireworks, transport officials will encourage people to walk two ways southwards from Circular Quay: one towards Martin Place and St James stations; the other along George Street to Wynyard and Central stations. “That means we double the capacity of getting people out. We hope to see less crowding and concerns with Wynyard,” Collins said.

“Traditionally, Circular Quay and Wynyard used to get rammed. And quite often what happened was the police would say, ‘It’s too busy at Circular Quay and Wynyard – send people to walk up all the way along George Street to Central’.”

This year, officials will also be directing revellers from Circular Quay and the west side of the Harbour Bridge to Barangaroo station, providing another release valve for the system.

To cater for the crowds, Sydney Trains and Metro services will run for 46 hours from 4am on December 31 to 2am on January 2. All up, more than 1000 extra suburban and metro train services will be put on.

New Year’s Eve crowds put immense strain on Sydney’s train system.Credit: Max Mason-Hubers

Sydney Metro operations head Hugh Lawson said Victoria Cross should make a “huge difference” getting people to and from the north side of the harbour, while the new Martin Place and Gadigal stations would do the same on the south side.

“Metros generally are very good at moving a lot of people very quickly. Our maximum capacity is about 42,000 passengers per hour,” he said.

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the metro line would be in its element on New Year’s Eve and January 1, delivering 658 services round the clock and taking pressure off double-deck trains and buses.

NSW Police assistant commissioner Peter McKenna said large numbers of officers in uniform and plain clothes would be out in force patrolling the CBD and foreshore areas.

He encouraged people to be patient and check timetables for closures or changes to the transport network.

“It is illegal to drink alcohol on public transport. Don’t ruin a good night out for yourself or others with foolish behaviour that you will come to regret,” he said. “Police will not tolerate dangerous, criminal or antisocial behaviour.”

The frequency of metro trains will be increased from midday on New Year’s Eve to align with additional double-deck train services. Trains will run every four or five minutes until 2am and then revert to usual 10-minute frequency throughout New Year’s Day.

About 1500 extra bus services will be put on – most of which will terminate on the CBD’s outskirts due to road closures – while the frequency of trams will increase and services will run until 4am.

Light rail services on the L2 and L3 lines will terminate at Central Station, clearing the way for large crowds to walk along George Street.

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