Overview
- The first passenger service left Bankstown at 4:31am on Friday as the final 13-kilometre section of the M1 line began carrying passengers between Bankstown and Sydenham.
- Authorities forecast large demand with about 18,000 passengers expected in the morning peak and rostered extra staff and technical support to manage crowds and early issues.
- The national safety regulator has ordered six platform and train doors at curved platforms in Dulwich Hill, Canterbury, Campsie and Marrickville to remain closed pending checks over wide gaps and mechanical gap-fillers.
- Planned metro frequencies are every four minutes in weekday peaks and every five minutes off-peak, with the line expected to boost capacity by about 50% over the old T3 heavy rail service.
- The opening follows long delays and major cost increases while converting a 130-year-old heavy rail corridor to driverless metro operation and leaves local businesses hoping restored foot traffic will reverse losses from two years of disruption.