Here’s Everything To Know About The Closure of T3 Bankstown Line: Fare-Free Buses, T6 Line, Cycleway
Image: Southwest Link's "pink buses," will provide connections between Sydenham and Bankstown following the closure of the T3 Bankstown line for Metro conversion. Images: Transport For NSW/ Facebook
From Monday, September 30, 2024, the T3 Bankstown Line between Sydenham and Bankstown will officially close to undergo a long-awaited transformation into a modern Metro line. The conversion work which is expected to take over 12 months and is estimated to be completed by late 2025, will require significant construction work on the 130-year-old railway line.
Commuters who use the T3 Bankstown line will face over a year of rail disruptions and will have to use alternative transport arrangements.
During this period, passengers will have access to fare-free buses on a new service known as the Southwest Link. These “pink buses,” which will provide connections between Sydenham and Bankstown, are designed to help ease the burden on commuters.
The T3 line will continue to be open between Liverpool and the City via Regents Park and Lidcombe.
Southwest Link Bus Services: Free and Frequent
Travel on the dedicated ‘pink buses’ will be free for all passengers.
- SW1 (all stops): Serving Sydenham, Marrickville, Dulwich Hill, Hurlstone Park, Canterbury, Campsie, Belmore, Lakemba, Wiley Park, Punchbowl, and Bankstown.
- SW2 (limited stops): Connecting Sydenham, Belmore, Lakemba, Wiley Park, Punchbowl, and Bankstown.
- SW3 (limited stops): Running between Sydenham, Canterbury, and Campsie.
The fare-free Southwest Link buses will run from early in the morning until late at night, seven days a week. During peak hours, services are expected to operate every two to four minutes to accommodate the thousands of passengers who rely on the T3 Line. Transport for NSW has confirmed that all bus driver positions have been filled to ensure the service runs smoothly.
More Buses For The T6 Lidcombe-Bankstown Line
The upcoming T6 Lidcombe-Bankstown Line, was expected to provide additional travel options but has been delayed due to industrial action. With the union lifting the work bans, Transport For NSW said it is working hard to bring the new T6 service online as soon as possible.
When complete, the T6 line will connect Bankstown to Lidcombe Station via Yagoona, Birrong, Regents Park, and Berala.
Until the T6 is operational, fare-free bus services will replace trains between Lidcombe and Bankstown. Two routes will be available: the 8T3 All Stops and the 8AT3 Express, which will run directly between Bankstown and Lidcombe.
“It Will Be Worth the Wait”
Minister for Transport Jo Haylen acknowledged the disruption the closure will cause but emphasised that the benefits of the upgraded Metro line will far outweigh the inconvenience.
“Make no mistake – this will be a tough time, and I want to thank the tens of thousands of impacted commuters in Canterbury Bankstown and the Inner West for their understanding,” Minister Haylen said. “We recognise there is a lot of complicated information to digest, so I’d encourage people to head to transportnsw.info or speak with the Transport staff in pink shirts at their local station.”
Haylen said that fare-free travel was the government’s way of easing the financial burden on commuters during the lengthy conversion process.
“It’s only fair that we don’t charge you a fare for this disruptive duration, so remember you don’t have to tap your Opal card or device when you get on,” she added.
A High-Tech Future For Bankstown Line Commuters
Once the conversion is complete, the new Metro line promises to deliver major improvements. Trains will run every four minutes during peak hours, significantly boosting capacity compared to the current service, which sees only four trains per hour. The line will also feature fully accessible stations, platform screen doors, and state-of-the-art technology.
This final section of the Metro line will be named the M1 Northwest & Bankstown Line, forming part of a 30-kilometre Metro alignment stretching between Bankstown and Tallawong.
“The final T3 conversion will be difficult but worth it. While we continue to transform the transport network, there are big changes coming from Monday so we ask commuters to plan their trip and check their transport apps for updates,” Howard Collins, Coordinator-General for Transport for NSW.
Historic Farewell To The T3 Line
Sunday, 29 September, marked the final day of heavy rail service on the T3 Bankstown Line. The last train departed from Circular Quay at 12:06 am on Monday, bound for Bankstown, marking the end of an era for a railway that has served Sydney for over a century.
The Bankstown Line first opened in stages in 1896, and was initially served by steam trains. The line was electrified in the 1920s. In its long history, the T3 line has seen famous passengers, including Queen Elizabeth II, who travelled the line during her visit to Sydney in 1980 from Bankstown To Martin Place.
What Comes Next: Cycling Paths, New Time Table
In addition to the Metro line, a new 17-kilometre walking and cycling path will be built alongside the railway corridor, offering Sydneysiders a new way to travel. The first section, a 1.4-kilometer cycleway between Marrickville and Sydenham, will open on Monday, providing safe passage for cyclists.
Transport for NSW also announced upcoming changes to train and bus networks from October 20, 2024, to further support the Metro transition. Since last year, 450 additional light rail services have been added to accommodate passengers displaced by the T3 conversion.
“The line’s closure marks not just an end but also a beginning—a new chapter in public transport for our city that will serve us well into the future,” said Minister Haylen.
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