The State Government has recognised that the shutdown – anticipated to begin between July and October 2024 – would be painful for tens of thousands of passengers but said it would be developing a comprehensive, temporary transport plan to service them, which would include dedicated, frequent bus routes and express services.
Sydney Metro will convert the century-old railway line to provide fast, reliable turn-up-and-go services along the 13-kilometre stretch of rail line from Sydenham to Bankstown in late 2025, after the conversion period which includes the necessary testing, at all 11 stations between Sydenham and Bankstown to metro standards.
NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said that while “the conversion won’t be easy”, when the Metro was completed, most stations along the line would be receiving a train every four minutes – “a massive increase in services”.
“Because we’ve taken the time to plan this section of the project properly, we’ll be able to deliver metro services quicker, and ease the pain caused by converting the line,” she said.
The Restore Inner West Line and Save T3 Bankstown Line community action group has vowed to continue its fight against feared closure of stations west of Bankstown, where the Metro will stop.
Its convenor Roydon Ng said the T3 Bankstown Line continued beyond Bankstown to Lidcombe and Liverpool, so the shutdown of Birrong to Sydenham would have wider impacts on the community.
He was also concerned about the future of stations between Bankstown and Lidcombe, including Yagoona and Birrong, which would lose direct access to Sydney CBD.
“Commuters in the west of Bankstown are once again the forgotten commuters of Sydney, previously having two lines to Central, but soon to have none in the long-term future,” he said.
NSW Transport said the T3 Line west beyond Bankstown, would continue to be operated by Sydney Trains, serving stations between Liverpool, Lidcombe and Bankstown.
Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek welcomed the announcement.
“The new metro will create jobs and investment in our City and delivers a world-class service for commuters,” he said.
“I appreciate there will be some people affected and will need to change their daily commuting habits but it was unavoidable.
“It’s not an ideal situation but it’s a small price to pay for a service that will be carrying millions of passengers for years to come.”
