According to Sydney Morning Herald, the first passenger service on the final section of Sydney's M1 metro line departed Bankstown station at 4.31am on Friday. The Southwest Metro extends the network to the south-west of Sydney, and the source describes the opening as the first full passenger service along that stretch.

Early crowds at Bankstown

Sydney Morning Herald reports that people began arriving at Bankstown from 1am to secure a place on the inaugural train. By the time the train, Set 29, arrived at 4.04am, more than 1000 people were waiting on the platform. Among them was a rail enthusiast who had travelled from Melbourne for the day.

Who was on board

The first service carried train enthusiasts, politicians, senior public servants and people involved in building the line. Transport Minister John Graham said it was "great to get to this moment" and described the turnout as a sign of how keenly the community had anticipated the opening. Sydney Metro chief executive Camilla Drover, Metro Southwest project director Alia Karaman, Transport for NSW secretary Josh Murray and coordinator-general Howard Collins also rode the train, according to the report.

Set 29 and the line's history

The same train had operated the first passenger journey on the city section between Sydenham and Chatswood in August 2024. Local MP Jihad Dib cut the ribbon at the station entrance about 40 minutes before departure.

Service for the south-west

Passengers interviewed by Sydney Morning Herald said the line would improve travel in the area. One rider from Belmore said the south-west had been difficult to reach by public transport since the Sydenham to Bankstown section closed for the last two years, and welcomed the frequency of the new services. Murray said the turnout exceeded the crowds at the 2024 city-section opening.

Project background

The final 13-kilometre section of the three-stage M1 project was delayed and over budget, according to the report, due to the work needed to convert a 130-year-old heavy rail line for driverless trains. The source states the project cost about $30 billion.