Sydney Metro opens: Everything you need to know
Here’s everything you need to know as the $21 billion Sydney Metro opens, including a key last minute message from the Transport Minister.
NSW
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Hold on tight: that’s the message from Transport Minister Jo Haylen ahead of the city-changing new Sydney Metro line finally opening in Monday’s early hours.
After a two-week delay passengers will finally be able to ride a driverless Metro from Tallawong in the city’s northwest all the way through to Sydenham, via four new Metro stations underneath the Sydney CBD.
The first service from Tallawong on what has been called the M1 line will depart at 4.38am for Sydenham, while the first train in the opposite direction will leave at 4.54am.
An estimated 200,000 passengers are expected to ride the line before the day is done.
Transport Minister Jo Haylen, whose original opening date of August 4 was derailed by a lack of approval from the rail safety regulator, said key among her last-minute messages was for passengers to “hold on” when boarding the $21.6 billion piece of infrastructure.
“Firstly, these trains are frequent and they are fast, so you need to take your time,” she said.
“Parents and carers, hold your kid’s hand, because you don’t want them on one train and you on another.
“Also, these trains take off quickly, so make sure you’re holding on. You don’t want to be left on the floor.”
Ms Haylen said there would “of course be teething problems that we’ll need to work through”.
“Sometimes, when you try it, it doesn’t always work perfectly the first time,” she said.
“We’ll have to work through any of those issues, but I’m so excited that by this time (Monday), people will be able to jump on board City Metro.”
Hundreds of staff are set to be on location at stations across the new network directing passengers as the final pieces of fencing blocking off platforms were removed over Sunday.
Sydney Metro chief executive Peter Regan said more than 400 test runs a day were held in the lead up to Monday, saying it had been at “99-100 per cent reliability on most days”.
He added each train was designed to move more than 1000 passengers, with the existing North West Metro service’s 90,000 daily passengers expected to more than double with the addition of the Sydenham to Chatswood component.
“It’s … a big moment, and my team has lost a lot of sleep over the past few years. At times it has been pretty complicated, lots of challenges through construction, through testing, but we’re ready to go,” he said.
Across the city, workers and businesses were anticipating an uplift in patrons as well as quicker commute times.
Tachinomi bar staff member Mayuko Kage said she was “so excited” at the prospect of the Metro’s new stations opening in North Sydney.
“I live in Cammeray so the Victoria Cross Station is very convenient for getting to work,” she said.
“I already checked how long it’s going to take to get here – 10 minutes.
“I’m happy we (the business) are near the station. I think it will bring more customers. It’s good timing as it’s getting warmer and we are a bar so more people will come.”
Fellow bartender Rohan Carrigan agreed, saying not only would the new Metro help his commute but also trips to the city on the weekend.
“I can take my girlfriend out for a nice dinner in Barangaroo now,” he said.
“I’ve been low key hanging out for it (the opening). I’m getting a bit sick of hanging around here.
“I’m really excited. It’s going to make things very easy.”
His boss, The Stoned Crow manager Archie Curtis, anticipated more foot traffic with shorter commute times for revellers.
“I feel like it will bring more people here. A lot of the reasons behind why people don’t come here (Crow’s Nest) is because businesses shut early. We shut at 11pm,” he said.
“I live right near the Barangaroo stop so it’ll be a lot quicker of a trip here for me too.”
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