The Sydney Metro City & Southwest provides a long-term solution to address some of Sydney’s transport problems and the growing city’s future transport needs.

However, Sydney needs a strategy to increase transport productivity and relieve pressure on the existing Sydney Trains network before the Sydney Metro is complete in 2024.

Heavy overcrowding on trains and at city stations is reducing Sydney Trains’ network productivity, increasing dwell times and slowing down the movement of trains through the city.

Sydney’s major CBD railway stations - Central, Town Hall and Wynyard - are heavily congested during the morning and afternoon peak periods.

Currently, many Sydney Trains city services exceed 135% capacity during peak periods, the level at which services run late and passengers experience heavy overcrowding on trains and at stations.

Construction of the Sydney Metro will disrupt the Sydney Trains network and exacerbate congestion and overcrowding. The project will require:

• Shutdown of the T1 Northern Line from Epping to Chatswood,
• Integration of new metro lines into the existing rail network,
• Closure of Central station platforms 13-15, and
• Shutdown of the T3 Bankstown Line.
  

Upon completion of the Sydney Metro Northwest, passenger volumes at Chatswood station will rise and congestion on the T1 Northern and North Shore Line will increase.

Any conversion of additional rail lines will further disrupt the Sydney Trains network.

Sydney Trains has limited - if any - capacity on the existing network to increase services to and from the Sydney CBD during peak periods.

Sydney needs a strategic solution to address current and impending transport challenges.