According to Sydney Morning Herald, the extension of Sydney Metro has opened, with the first service leaving at 4.31am. Many people gathered early for the launch. The paper's transport and infrastructure editor, Matt O'Sullivan, rode that first service and reported that most people were already at the station by half past three.
What has changed
The newly opened section completes the final part of a 66-kilometre line that connects the north-west and the south-west of Sydney via the CBD. According to the newspaper, the project cost $30 billion. Passengers on the south-west have waited a long time for this upgrade. The old T3 line closed on September 30, 2024, and the source says the long wait for trains to the city is now a thing of the past.
Who is affected
The paper says the extension mainly benefits commuters in the inner and south-west areas of the city. It also makes these areas easier to reach from the rest of Sydney. Stations named in the article include Sydenham, Campsie, Lakemba and Bankstown. According to a culture report cited by the paper, the metro has already boosted the area around Sydenham station, and the newspaper suggests that Campsie, Lakemba and Bankstown may be next.
Reliability and operation
Matt O'Sullivan told the paper that reliability is the key benefit. He compared the existing heavy rail line, which carries most passengers in Sydney, with an old car that is more prone to breakdowns. According to the article, the new line is fully autonomous.
"It took it to another level," he said, describing the opening day.
The article also reports that the first train was packed, with passengers squeezed in closely. Riders should expect crowding on busy services, especially during peak hours.
Further coverage
The newspaper says it plans more coverage of the south-west, including a culinary tour of the Sydenham to Bankstown stretch, which it said would be published the following day.