A launch date for the transformational Sydney Metro City project has been announced.
From 4th August, residents will be able to enjoy fast, safe and reliable metro trains through the city, as Australia’s biggest public transport project finally opens.
The M1 Northwest and Bankstown Line will enjoy a further 15.5-kilometre extension, while two new metro platforms are set to open at Central and Sydenham.
The upgraded M1 Line will include:
- A train every four minutes at peak times, and every 10 minutes at off-peak and weekends
- 445 services a day
- Seamless interchange with multiple transport modes at all stations
- More than 900 bike storage spaces
- Uninterrupted network mobile coverage
- Safety provided by over 100 CCTV cameras at every station and 38 cameras inside each train
Meanwhile, the Line will also benefit from the opening of a host of new underground stations at Barangaroo, Crows Nest, Gadigal, Martin Place, Victoria Cross and Waterloo.
With the series of upgrades, 2645 metro services will travel through the heart of Sydney each week, moving more than 37,000 people in the morning peak.
With the new route extension, more than 264,000 individual journeys are expected to be taken on the line from Tallawong to Sydenham each day.
The launch of the Sydney Metro City project is subject to the operator completing trial running exercises, system performance tests and obtaining final regulatory approvals.
More than 100 trial running exercises are yet to be completed, including:
- Joint exercises with emergency services practising station and train evacuation scenarios
- Further station exercises at Crows Nest, Gadigal and Waterloo
- Managing crowds at stations during special events
- Testing alternative timetables for planned and unplanned service disruption
Further upgrades to Sydney’s light rail system are expected over the next few months, with the T3 Bankstown Line to close for up to a year as it undergoes its final metro conversion works.
Image credit: iStock
