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Today marks a historic chapter in Sydney’s transport system. At 4:31am the Bankstown-Sydenham Southwest Metro officially opened. Two years in the making, the extension’s cost ballooned to $23 billion. Replacement pink buses serviced Bankstown line stations. Many passengers were angered, myself included. The metro’s opening kept getting delayed. Finally, the state premier announced that the new addition would be under way on 30 October.

The pink buses appeared every ten minutes. They filled up quickly. While reliable, they were temporary. Yes, flashing your Opal card was unnecessary as the journeys were free. Less hassle and more savings. The trade-off was travelling on congested roads and having to switch at Sydenham. Imagine braving the rush hour when everyone else had the same idea. Moreover, the seats and setup were cramped compared to trains or the metro.

First day high

Over a thousand souls turned up today at the inaugural trip. Due to the patronage, 92,000 journeys were taken between 4:31am and 10am on opening day. 103,000 passengers were sighted during the first morning of operation. These staggering figures are record-breaking in Aussie history.

The Bankstown line has been around since 1895 or for 131 years. Then, it went through Sydenham to Belmore. In its early days, it utilised steam locomotives, shifting to electric. The transition into metro stops is a total facelift of the ageing line. Apart from daily works, weekend track work was common on the existing metro. Testing took 19 months, beginning in April 2025. This means that testing took thrice as long as the Northwest Metro completion.

I would sometimes see the metro testing; the blue and white blurs were like mirages. Blink and you’ll miss them. We are a minute away from the station.

Fast track

The Chatswood to Tallawong (or northwest) metro was first to open. It converted existing train stations in North Ryde, Macquarie Park, Macquarie University, and Epping into metro stops. From Epping, it added new stops including Cherybook, Castle Hill, and Rouse Hill before ending at Tallawong. During the conversion, replacement buses served beleaguered travellers. Seven months of busing seemed a lot, but it is nothing compared to two years.

Sydenham to Bankstown would only take 8 minutes, down from 20. Central to Bankstown lasts fifteen minutes. Martin Place in 17 minutes. Chatswood in 31 minutes.

New world order

It democratised access to malls like Castle Towers and Rouse Hill Town Centre. Already convenient, it made Westfield Chatswood and Chatswood Chase even more so. Prior to this, trains serviced none of the above. Opening on May 2019, going to these malls was a lot easier. Before the replacement buses, I only swapped at Sydenham, a smooth ride to these destinations. Before, I had to change at Chatswood and take the bus home.

Subsequently, once in Chatswood or Epping, you must change from the metro to the trains, and vice versa. Unlike trains, the metro is driverless. They come in sleek blue and white colours, the newest fleet in our public transport.

Two columns of new seats face each other. Stations have glass barriers. There are dynamic indicators informing the next stop. Likewise, an announcer broadcasts the next stop. They also inform you on which way the doors open. Between Tallawong and Sydenham, trains turned up every ten minutes during off-peak hours. The southwest metro would arrive every four minutes during peak hours and ten minutes on weekends and evenings.

Second stage

Sydenham to Chatswood opened in 2024. With the extension, you can travel from the former to Tallawong without changing. It would take you about 58-59 minutes to complete. Cutting travel time is a big win. Saving those minutes goes a long way. With less cars on the road, this means less gridlock.

Brand new stations were on the route. Waterloo, Barangaroo, Gaddigal, and Crows Nest were some of them. They skipped Redfern and Town Hall in favour of Waterloo and Gaddigal. These new stops featured modern designs and amenities. Some have mosaics; others include dynamic screens. They pay homage to Indigenous culture. New stores and food joints added spice.

The southwest portion is fully above ground. Meanwhile, only Sydenham and Chatswood stations are above ground in the metro’s second stage. Every other stop is underground.

Revivify

No doubt, the completed metro line will revitalise the southwest corridor. Western Sydney Airport is now operational. The CBA light rail is set. Barangaroo is present. Opal is active. Commbank Stadium is hosting top-flight matches. It’s about time.