Sydney’s M1 metro line will be extended to Bankstown on Friday October 30, bringing an end to more than two years of replacement bus services for commuters in the city’s south-west.
The first passenger trains on the 13-kilometre section between Sydenham and Bankstown will depart at 4.31am, after the NSW government received final safety approval from the national rail regulator.
The opening completes the final stage of the $30 billion project and will add 10 stations to the driverless M1 route, including Dulwich Hill, Canterbury, Campsie, Marrickville and Bankstown.
NSW Premier Chris Minns described the launch as a “huge moment” for south-west Sydney and thanked commuters, families and local businesses for their patience during the conversion of the former heavy rail line.
“This is about giving people in south-west Sydney the same fast, reliable public transport connections that other parts of our city enjoy. It’s an investment that will make a real difference to these communities for generations to come,” he said.
Metro services will run every four minutes during weekday peak periods, every five minutes between 10am and 3pm, and every 10 minutes during evenings and weekends. Trains will run every seven minutes on the first weekend of operation, October 31 and November 1, to meet expected demand.
The journey from Canterbury to Chatswood will take 31 minutes, a saving of 23 minutes compared with previous heavy rail trips. A journey from Lakemba to Victoria Cross in North Sydney will take 37 minutes, cutting 24 minutes from the former travel time.
The government said the line was ready for passengers but warned that minor teething problems could emerge when services begin. Additional metro staff will be rostered on during the launch.
Since the T3 line closed between Sydenham and Bankstown in September 2024, tens of thousands of passengers have relied on pink replacement buses each day. The services have extended journey times and cost taxpayers about $200 million.
The disruption was initially expected to last between three and six months under plans announced in 2018. Before the closure, the NSW government said the shutdown could exceed its earlier estimate of 12 months.
From November 15, all T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra line trains will stop at Sydenham, allowing passengers to transfer to the M1 metro service under a new Sydney Trains timetable.
Several platform screen doors will remain closed when the south-west section opens as a safety measure: three at Dulwich Hill and one each at Canterbury, Campsie and Marrickville.
Curved platforms at eight stations have also required the installation of 170 mechanical gap fillers. The hydraulic extensions move towards the metro carriages before the screen doors open, helping passengers board and leave the trains safely.
The opening comes slightly later than a target of mid-October set out in confidential Sydney Metro documents earlier this year. The total cost of the city and south-west sections of the 66-kilometre M1 line is forecast to reach $23 billion, compared with a previous estimate of $21.6 billion.
