Sydney Metro has opened its first new train line beneath the city centre in over four decades to the public. The anticipated Chatswood to Sydenham extension launched this morning, August 19 with the first service departing Sydenham.
The first service left Sydenham at 4.54 am with train enthusiasts eagerly waiting. The early morning commutes were a success, with New South Wales transport minister, Jo Haylen in attendance. However, the peak commute time will be the final obstacle to determining its success.
A train will arrive at least every four minutes in morning and evening peak periods, with a capacity of every two minutes if pushed.
The brand new stations are getting a final once-over before we welcome everyone onboard 🚇 pic.twitter.com/F5yb54iJxD
— Jo Haylen MP (@johaylen) August 15, 2024
The duration of the entire Chatswood to Sydenham journey is 22 minutes.
Aimed at drastically cutting commute times for Sydneysiders, works on the $21.6 billion Chatswood to Sydenham section began in 2017 with a tunnel boring megaproject under Sydney Harbour drilling a new rail line under the ocean floor.
Source: The Guardian.