The opening will mark a major milestone in Sydney's transport network, connecting communities from Bankstown through the CBD to the northwest on one continuous 66-kilometre Metro line. The new metro will now stop at Bankstown, Punchbowl, Wiley Park, Lakemba, Belmore, Campsie, Canterbury, Hurlstone Park, Dulwich Hill and Marrickville before proceeding to Sydneyham for the existing commute to Tallawong. Passengers will have access to fast, reliable, turn-up-and-go services, with trains every four minutes during weekday peaks.
The opening date was confirmed by the NSW Government after the project received final safety approval from the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator on October 21st.
Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said, "This is a huge moment for southwest Sydney. From [Friday], communities from Bankstown to Marrickville will have access to a world-class Metro service connecting them to the rest of Sydney. This is about giving people in southwest Sydney the same fast, reliable public transport connections that other parts of our city enjoy. It's an investment that will make a real difference to these communities for generations to come."
“This is a huge moment for southwest Sydney. From next Friday, communities from Bankstown to Marrickville will have access to a world-class Metro service connecting them to the rest of Sydney.
The upgraded corridor features modern metro infrastructure, platform screen doors, new lifts and station upgrades, improved customer information systems and enhanced security technology across the line. There has also been a huge improvement to accessibility for people with a disability, mobility issues and families with prams as part of the upgrades to stations. Wiley Park, Dulwich Hill, Hurlstone Park, Punchbowl and Canterbury stations are now accessible by lift for the first time.
Member for Canterbury Sophie Cotsis said, "Our community deserves world-class transport, and this transformational infrastructure will deliver safer, more accessible stations which will serve as community hubs."
The new Metro will deliver 50 percent more passenger capacity than the old T3 Bankstown Line it replaces, along with faster journeys and direct connections to more jobs, education and opportunities across Sydney.
From Friday, passengers will benefit from the following travelling times:
- Bankstown to Central 28 minutes, saving six minutes
- Marrickville to Gadigal 12 minutes, saving 12 minutes
- Campsie to Macquarie University 44 minutes, saving 17 minutes
- Lakemba to Victoria Cross 37 minutes, saving 24 minutes
- Canterbury to Chatswood 31 minutes, saving 23 minutes.
Services will run every four minutes during weekday peak hours, every five minutes during the day, and every ten minutes in the evenings and on weekends. However, on the first weekend (October 31 – November 1) services will increase to run every seven minutes to accommodate increased interest.