According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the final section of Sydney's M1 metro line opened on Friday, linking Sydenham and Bankstown. The stretch is the last part of the 66-kilometre line, which the publication describes as a project worth $30 billion.
End of replacement bus services
Commuters in Sydney's southwest had been travelling on pink replacement buses for about two years while the work was carried out. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that many of them had waited for the opening for a long time.
First services and opening day
The first passenger service departed from Bankstown station at 4.31am, according to the publication. Some travellers were reported to have got up in the early hours to take that train. The Sydney Morning Herald also said that a crowd gathered to cheer the opening.
The publication expects tens of thousands of passengers to use the southwest section of the M1 line on the opening day. It also expects a festive atmosphere on trains and at stations along the line, similar to the mood when the city section of the metro opened in August 2024.
What this means for passengers
The opening marks the completion of the M1 line's southwest section. For people living and working between Sydenham and Bankstown, it replaces the bus journeys that had been in place since the disruptions began. The Sydney Morning Herald describes the day as a new chapter for Sydney's public transport.
The information in this article comes from the publication's live coverage of the opening. Travellers planning trips on the line should check official Sydney Metro channels for timetables and any service updates.