Sydney Southwest Metro line opens with 37,000 riders and a platform gap problem
Sydney's Southwest Metro line opened today with 37,000 riders, but automated platform gap closers are faulty at some stations.
The first train from Bankstown departed at 4:31am with 1,150 passengers who had queued from before dawn. By 6pm, some 37,000 commuters had boarded trains across the ten-station line, with Bankstown and Campsie stations the busiest.
Transport Minister John Graham reported a day of smooth running with no major glitches. The only significant problem is with automated sliders that roll out from platform edges to close gaps as trains arrive.
The rail safety regulator found some gaps are still too wide, and nearby doors are locked off until engineers solve it. Premier Chris Minns called it a minor issue to be worked through.
Commuters expressed relief after more than two years of no train services on the southwest corridor, which ran buses in the interim.
- 4:31am October 30
- First train departure
- 1,150
- Inaugural passengers
- 37,000
- Day one ridership
- 10
- Total stations
Why it mattersThe line cuts travel time and removes thousands of cars from Sydney roads, but safety gaps mean some passengers cannot board at certain doors.
AustraliaSydney commuters now have a faster, more frequent transport option on the southwest corridor. The $23 billion investment reshapes how tens of thousands travel daily across the city.
Corroborated bytransportnsw.info
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
