T3 Bankstown Line replacement buses will be free

Replacement bus services will be free for commuters on the T3 Bankstown line as the railway is closed for metro upgrades, Minister for Transport Jo Haylen has announced.

The T3 line will close from September 30 and will remain closed until at least late 2025.

The replacement bus service, called Southwest Link, will start on the first day of the rail closure and will be free for commuters until the train line is reopened.

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"We absolutely acknowledge this is going to be a disruptive time for the people of Canterbury Bankstown and for the Inner West but there is light at the end of the tunnel," Haylen said.

"When this section of the metro is complete, they will get a train every four minutes."

"That's a massive increase in train services, because right now there are stations on the T3 Line that only receive four trains an hour in the peak.

"The fair thing to do is not charge a fare on our dedicated Southwest Link bus services because this will be a really tough time for passengers in Canterbury Bankstown and the Inner West."

The T6 Line will connect Bankstown to Lidcombe Station via Yagoona, Birrong, Regents Park and Berala in the meantime.

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Replacement buses will run on an all stops service, and two limited-stop services.

• SW1 service (all stops) – Sydenham, Marrickville, Dulwich Hill, Hurlstone Park, Canterbury, Campsie, Belmore, Lakemba, Wiley Park, Punchbowl, Bankstown.
• SW2 service (limited stops) – Sydenham, Belmore, Lakemba, Wiley Park, Punchbowl, Bankstown.
• SW3 service (limited stops) – Sydenham, Canterbury, Campsie.

The replacement bus timetable will aim for a bus every 2-4 minutes during peak hours.

The metro upgrades will transform the 130-year-old train line between Sydenham and Bankstown to make way for the new metro trains, like the ones running through the Sydney Metro.

The service will eventually be known as the M1 Northwest & Bankstown Line, connecting 30km between Bankstown and Tallawong.