The $21.6 billion city section of the Sydney Metro has officially opened to commuters, marking a significant milestone for the city-shaping project.
The driverless M1 Line travels under the city from Chatswood, north of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, to Sydenham, with 45 state-of-the-art metro trains that can carry about 1,150 passengers through six new stations.
The city section of the M1 Line includes an additional 15.5km of metro and the six new underground stations include North Sydney, Barangaroo and Martin Place, as well as new platforms at Central and Sydenham.
New South Wales Premier, Chris Minns said the project is a huge change for Sydney and big step forward.
“It will genuinely transform the way people get to and from work, and it’ll be fantastic, so Sydney enjoy the experience.”
Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said the new railway is a historic moment for the city.
“What an incredible day to experience the first passengers travelling on the new M1 extension deep below the city and under the harbour,” Ms Haylen said.
“I want to honour the legacy of the 50,000 workers who have built this railway, which will serve Sydney for the next century.
“We are anticipating crowds of potentially up to 200,000 people for the first day of operations so please be patient and mindful as you get familiar with this fantastic new way to travel.”
Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray said, “Sydney Metro has been an engineering and construction masterpiece – now we add in the most important ingredient, passengers. We will see new journey behaviours emerge as commuters try the new Metro City line, then settle on what works best for them.
“We’re expecting passenger numbers on Metro City and Southwest to quickly build to around 37,000 in the morning peaks and up to a quarter of a million trips on a typical weekday.
“Our experts will be running a virtual New Year’s Eve operation, mapping the movement of people around the city and identifying the highest demand services.”
Transport for NSW Coordinator General Howard Collins said, “We have stood up our joint operations centre to ensure there are as many eyes as possible on Sydney’s entire road and public transport network as we introduce the city section of the M1 line into the mix.
“For the first time in the CBD we will have a world-class metro that will provide seamless connections with our existing modes of public transport, something our global city deserves and needs.”
Sydney Metro Chief Executive Peter Regan said, “This is a great moment for public transport in this city. I want to thank our teams, who have been at work since 2017; I know each and every one of them is so proud to welcome you all today.
“We know people will have a lot of questions, so we’ve bolstered our teams on the ground to help commuters familiarise themselves with the new network and get where they need to go.
“A reminder that metro trains can travel at speeds of up to 100km/h, so please hang on when taking off.”
Australasian Railway Association CEO Caroline Wilkie said the Sydney Metro is a leading example of game-changing transport infrastructure.
“Rail plays an essential role in supporting sustainable communities and the new M1 Sydney Metro line will deliver greater social, economic and environmental benefits to communities along its corridor,” Ms Wilkie said.
“Increasing public transport use is key to ensuring Australia meets its Net Zero target in 2050. Turn-up-and-go transport like the Sydney Metro has the power to transform communities by providing safer, faster access to jobs and services, taking cars off roads and reducing peak-hour congestion.”
Ms Wilkie congratulated Transport for NSW and Metro Trains Sydney on a smooth start, with up to 200,000 people expected to travel on the network today.
“This is a very exciting day for the travelling public in Sydney. It is wonderful to see Sydneysiders wholeheartedly embrace the Sydney Metro – it just goes to show if you create fast, reliable and accessible public transport that more people will use it and leave their cars at home,” Ms Wilkie said.
“Transport for NSW staff have done a fantastic job helping people navigate the new line, and no doubt many got to work today in record time.
“The ARA is looking forward to seeing the progress of the Sydney Metro West, Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport and Sydney Metro South West.”
Greater use of public transport will be key to reducing emissions in our communities and reaching the net zero target by 2050, while also supporting improved health outcomes – one commuter train takes 578 cars off the road.
The ARA’s 2022 report, Return to Rail Insights, confirmed the sustainable benefits of public transport, with two thirds (66 per cent) of respondents viewing rail as the most environmentally sustainable transport mode.
Sydney Metro is Australia’s most technologically advanced railway, and is Australia’s only fully-accessible, driverless train service.
Sydney Metro, together with signalling and infrastructure upgrades across the existing Sydney rail network, will increase the capacity of train services entering the Sydney CBD from about 120 an hour today to up to 200 services beyond 2024.
Interpeak trains will initially run every seven minutes, increasing after the first month to a train every five minutes.
Image: chinasong/shutterstock.com
