Sydney public-transport commuters can expect reduced travel times and improved accessibility within the city’s rail transit system after the launch of the Sydney Metro.
The brand-new, high-capacity trains can reach speeds of up to 100km/h in the new tunnels, going under Sydney Harbour from Victoria Cross Station to Barangaroo in three minutes.
“Metro trains can travel at speeds of up to 100km/h so please hang on when taking off,” Sydney Metro Chief Executive Peter Regan said in a statement.
The new metro will provide reduced travel times for those living, working and visiting the city, while interchanges between various transit modes will allow for smoother travel at key stations.
North Sydney resident David Wong has emphasised the benefits on his commute and small business.
“I often have meetings across different parts of the city, and being able to hop on a train every few minutes without worrying about delays or cancellations has been fantastic,” he said.
“I can spend more time focusing on my work and less time commuting.”
The metro included a welcome upgrade to Sydenham, while commuters from other stations like Bankstown will see travel-time benefits when the new line is launched in 2025.
CBD employee Aisha Khan frequently travels from South-West Sydney and said although there have been some improvements in travel time, there’s still more work to be done.
“I’ve started using the metro from Sydenham to get to my job in the city and there’s been a great improvement in terms of frequency and speed,” he said.
“Getting to Sydenham from Belmore still takes time because I have to rely on the old train line.
“I’m really looking forward to the day the metro comes all the way to Bankstown because that’s when I’ll really start saving a lot more time.”
The Bankstown line will close later this month to be upgraded to metro standards, with replacement buses to connect stations for 12 months.
All 46 new metro stations that form Sydney Metro CBD are expected to be operational by late 2025.
Video: Sydney commuters are experiencing the benefits of a new and world class metro system now open in the heart of the city. With fast new driverless trains running every few minutes in peak times, Sydney commuters are now able to commute to and around the city like never before. With its sleek and modern station designs in key locations, designed for high foot traffic, Sydneysiders and visitors can now experience faster commute times.
