Details of billion-dollar Sydney rail line shutdown revealed
The year-long conversion of a century-old Sydney train line to modern Metro services will cost an extra $1.1 billion and shut the line down for about 12 months.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the government would commit the money to the project from existing transport budgets to facilitate the transformation of the T3 Bankstown line between Birrong and Marrickville.
The conversion is expected to begin between July and October next year and end about 12 months later, with services re-opening in late 2025.
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A Sydney rail line will shut down for a year from mid-2024. Edwina Pickles
Minns said at a press conference earlier today that the government "apologises in advance" for the disruption this project will cause tens of thousands of commuters.
Transport for NSW and Sydney Metro are developing a temporary transport plan to run during the shutdown.
It will include "dedicated, frequent bus routes, including express services", Transport for NSW said in a media release.
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NSW Premier Chris Minns announced the railway project today. 9News
Transport is also looking at ways of using the T3 Line from Bankstown to Lidcombe to carry passengers to the CBD.
Meanwhile, the Sydenham to Chatswood section of the city and south-west Metro is also on track to open in mid-2024, Minns said.
Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the conversion would bring a "massive increase" in services.
"Currently, some stations on the Bankstown Line receive four trains an hour in the peak," she said.
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"When this section of the metro is completed, they will receive a train every four minutes."
The Australian Railway Association has welcomed the announcement.
"The T3 Bankstown Line upgrade will vastly improve the passenger experience by providing a faster, turn-up-and-go service that will address one of Sydney's biggest rail bottlenecks," CEO Caroline Wilkie said.
"Passengers in south-west Sydney deserve a reliable, safe, fast train service. This service will provide up to 15 trains every hour and connect to major employment and education hubs in the city, North Sydney and Macquarie Park."
The Metro driverless trains have been operating on the north-west rail line from Tallawong to Chatswood since 2019.
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