The new Metro line in Sydney has redefined city travel, boosting rail usage by millions of more commutes a month while easing pressure on the train network, according to new data.
The $21.6 billion city extension of the Sydney Metro M1 line between Sydenham and Chatswood has now seen more than 16 million trips made on its rails since its opening in August.
The new section extends the existing Northwest line to Sydenham in the city’s inner west, creating a high-speed railway corridor along the North Shore and city centre. Driverless underground trains run every four minutes at peak times and every seven to 10 minutes off-peak.
Mathew Hounsell, a researcher at the University of Technology Sydney’s Transport Research Centre, told Central News the new metro line had had a profound impact on accessibility.
“The Sydney Metro extension between Sydenham and Chatswood has enabled more people to access the Sydney CBD and the North Shore with frequent, fast, reliable rail services,” he said. “That has increased the number of people using rail services to travel around Sydney.”
More than 5.8 million trips were made on the Metro in October, a 9.2 per cent increase compared to September, which recorded approximately 5.3 million trips.
“The new line connecting Sydney’s north west, under the harbour for the first time, and below the CBD to Sydenham has received an overwhelmingly positive response from passengers,” a Sydney Metro spokesperson told Central News.
Sydney Metro’s driverless trains can go up to speeds of 100km/h. Photo: Rex Siu/CN.
City line services will shut down this weekend for scheduled maintenance work between Chatswood and Sydenham until 2am on Monday. The government decided to proceed with the maintenance, which would have much worsened weekend commutes had Sydneysiders not avoided a chaotic public transport halt due to industrial action by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union, who had threatened an extensive strike from Friday morning, which would have shut down all Sydney Trains lines.
An interim deal between the NSW government and the union on Thursday prevented the strike, with an agreement reached to run 24-hour train services this weekend.
The reduction in travel time has prompted people to shift from Sydney Trains to the Metro, easing pressure on the congested train stations at Central, Town Hall, and Wynyard, Hounsell said.
“The shift in passengers may reduce the number of delays originating from these three CBD stations,” he added.
Martin Place Station where passengers can change from trains and light rails. Photo: Rex Siu/CN.
While Central Station serves as a hub for both Metro and train services, data suggests the new Gadigal and Martin Place Metro stations have diverted commuters from the often crowded Town Hall and Wynyard stations.
Wynyard Station’s typical patronage on Saturdays has decreased by 21 per cent on average, from 65,339 tap-ons in August before the Metro opened, to 53,942. On Wednesdays, there has been an average 17 per cent drop.
The busiest station in the CBD, Town Hall, has seen a 12 per cent decrease in patronage on both weekday and weekends since the opening, reducing more than 10,000 passengers (tap-off’s) on Wednesdays.
Recent reports indicate growing usage of the Metro on weekends, with a peak of over 103,400 daily average trips in September. The improved interchange between stations has also contributed to an increase in train trips.
“There has been an increase in the number of passengers using rail services to access the CBD during peak hours and on weekends,” Hounsell said. “This suggests people are using the Metro for discretionary and recreational journeys.”
Looking ahead, the planned Southwest Line connecting Sydenham to Bankstown promises to further enhance Sydney’s public transport network by replacing the slower trains along the route.
However, the closure of the T3 Bankstown Line during construction poses challenges. The entire T3 line was shut down on September 30 to allow its conversion to Metro, with completion estimated for late 2025. But, the state government anticipates a potentially longer construction period.
Weekend patronage on Metro has grown, with a peak of over 103,400 daily average trips in September. Photo: Rex Siu/CN.
“The disruption caused by the Bankstown Line closure has been managed sub-optimally,” Hounsell said, although he remained optimistic about the long-term benefits.
“When residents have access to a fast train to the city with no more than a 10-minute wait, they will quickly come to love the new service,” he said.
Commercial hubs around Metro stations, such as Marrickville, Campsie, and Bankstown, he added, are expected to flourish. These areas are likely to see a boost in visitors throughout the week, mirroring the success of Chatswood and Macquarie Park.
Gadigal Station in CBD, was named to acknowledge the Indigenous people of the Eora Nation whose land it stands on. Photo: Rex Siu/CN.
In the long run, the increased use of Metro services presents both challenges and opportunities for Sydney’s broader public transport network. Integration with buses and existing rail services remains a critical issue.
Hounsell advocates for a comprehensive overhaul of Sydney’s bus network as the city’s transport blueprint takes shape.
“Sydney’s bus network has not undergone the long-promised revamp needed to meet current demand,” he said.
It is better to have a bus every 12 minutes direct to the local metro station or bus hub than a bus every two hours running long distances.
“When the Sydney Metro reaches Bankstown and the Parramatta light rail opens, the government should take the opportunity to restructure services, focusing on increasing frequency and speed through carefully planned deployment of buses.
“It is better to have a bus every 12 minutes direct to the local metro station or bus hub than a bus every two hours running long distances.”
This approach would prioritise frequency and speed, which are proven drivers of public transport adoption, he added.
Metro has created new options for Sydney commuters. Photo: Rex Siu/CN.
The Sydney Metro has not only altered travel patterns but also shifted public perception of public transport,” Hounsell said.
“Sydneysiders are coming to understand that investing in public transport will make their lives easier.
“Because frequent, low-cost public transport can make your journey much more pleasant than driving in heavy Sydney traffic.”
With the success of Sydney Metro City services and employers getting workers back to the office, public transport could set new post-COVID commuter highs through 2025, according to a spokesperson from Transport for NSW.
“Passengers are responding to new services, additional capacity, and better integration with multi-mode travel that suits their needs,” the spokesperson added.
“We’re anticipating a greater demand because we’ve listened to passengers, we’ve looked at the modelling and we’ve adapted our services to fit in with how the community wants to use public transport; most notably in the shoulders of the peaks and for recreation.”
Main image by Rex Siu.
