The council will write to the NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen, State MPs and neighbouring councils outlining opposition to the Transport for NSW plans for: Removal of trains service from Birrong and Yagoona to Central/City, and from Liverpool-Sefton to Birrong/Yagoona/Bankstown which would force commuters to change at Lidcombe for trains to the City Circle; and possible long-term permanent closure of stations west of Bankstown with buses to replace trains between Bankstown and Lidcombe and Liverpool via Regents Park.
The changes come as part of the South-West Metro Rail project from Sydenham to Bankstown.
Cr Barbara Coorey said commuters west of Bankstown station were the “forgotten people” and called on the council to take a strong stance against the changes.
“They (commuters) are hoping for a miracle, praying for a miracle,” she said
“It will destroy a lot of lives.”
Despite the council’s objection to the Metro, Cr Chris Cahill said the reality was that it was going ahead “but stations west of Bankstown need to be looked after”.
Roydon Ng, convenor of Restore Inner West Line and Save T3 Bankstown Line, was “grateful the transit needs of the 19,000 forgotten commuters in the West of Bankstown were finally being acknowledged”.
“Keep our Sydney Trains stations open is a first step, but ultimately we need our direct trains to Central and City Circle via Inner West,” he said.
NSW Transport has been investigating ways of using the line from Bankstown to Lidcombe to carry passengers to the city.