Sydney Metro proposed plan to shut nine train stations permanently after Bankstown-Sydenham Metro lines opens

A bid to permanently shut as many as nine Sydney train stations once the contentious southwest Metro opened has been revealed in sensitive documents to the former government.

Roydon Ng at Regents Park train station, which he says is on the chopping block.

A NSW Government department developed a plan to permanently shut nine train stations west of Bankstown – serving 19,000 commuters – once the contentious Southwest Sydney Metro line to Sydenham opens, sensitive documents reveal.

Sydney Metro, as part of a report to the former NSW Government and obtained by this publication, hatched plans for the removal of train services a Berala, Regents Park, Sefton, Chester Hill, Leightonfield, Villawood, Carramar, Birrong and Yagoona stations after the Southwest metro opened.

If implemented, the proposal would have forced commuters already suffering with decreased direct services to the city on to buses.

Southwest Sydney commuters are already bracing for major upheaval next year, when the T3 line shuts for its conversion to the Metro.

Sydney Metro planners argued the closure of the line would result in the “opportunity to utilise rolling stock elsewhere on the network to alleviate demand”.

Metro planners suggested the “generally low demand along the corridor” warranted the opportunity to transform the lines into a bus shuttle service, featuring “emerging technology such as semi-automated or automated vehicles”.

Public transport advocate Roydon Ng remained sceptical the stations would be saved from extinction, despite government assurances.

Roydon Ng says bus replacement services for the metro will become a permanent fixture and train stations will shut.

“Shuttle lines equal closed lines, eventually,’’ he said.

The document – released in November under freedom of information requests – conceded station closures would be a controversial idea.

“Removal of train services is unpopular and politically contentious and cessation of rail services is likely to be strongly opposed by the local community,’’ it stated.
Opposition transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward dismissed the idea, which was raised when her government was in office.

“Let’s be clear – a thought bubble from a bureaucrat at Sydney Metro was not government policy,’’ she said.

“Closing stations and reducing services was never a part of the government’s plan.’’

A spokesman for Transport Minister Jo Haylen ruled out closing any stations.

“They provide key public transport services for western Sydney,’’ he said.

“The former Liberal government did explore closing down some of these stations and were forced to rule it out by Labor.”

One Liberal source savaged the concept.

“Dumbest idea I’ve ever heard – even spending money on a ‘case study’ is dopey,’’ they said.

“You couldn’t make this stuff up.

“Who would spend $10bn on new infrastructure only to close down existing services that feed it?’’

Bob and Chris Kensey object to a possible closure of Regents Park train station.

Long time Regents Park residents Bob and Chris Kensey objected to the potential station closures.

“I’m totally against it,’’ Mr Kensey said.

“Regents Park is better than two to three years ago, but it’s not as good as 15-20 years ago.

“We had a good service 20 years ago, now we have a reasonable one and it could go down to zero.’’

Mrs Kensey said there were four schools within 200m of the station and feared more apartment blocks could leave the growing population stranded for transport.

Parramatta’s Sameer and Rita Roy criticised potential station closures.

“What about the people who want to commute to work and people new to Sydney – what will happen to them?’’ Mr Roy said.

“Even if they drive their own car to the nearest station there will not be enough parking. If we’re talking about the environment, more cars mean more pollution.’’

Sameer and Rita Roy, and their daughter Pahy.

Commuter Siteri Suga tolerates decreased services on the Regents Park line.

Siteri Suga used to catch the train from Regents Park to her church at Canterbury but had to leave at 6am to make it on time for 8am because of constant track work.

Transport for NSW was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Sydney Metro proposed plan to shut nine train stations permanently after Bankstown-Sydenham Metro lines opens