The First Metro Train From Bankstown

The first metro train out of Bankstown left at 4.31 a.m. on Friday morning, bound for Tallawong via the city.

Railway buffs, eager to experience the first revenue trip from Bankstown to Sydenham since the line closed for conversion works in 2024, packed the carriages. The orderliness of the crowd was a far cry from the hooliganism seen during other recent rail events.

“It was very exciting to go see the Metro opening up and seeing how big the crowd of enthusiasts was,” said joyrider Abdullah Balkhi.

“I think it’s wonderful that it’s open. It’s really going to relieve anybody who has had to deal with the buses. It’s also just lovely to see more public transport opening — even though this is more so a replacement, less car dependency is always better.”

Balki said that providing an alternative to driving “empties out the roads, and it means there’s less traffic.”

“It’s a bit safer for everybody. It’s a bit cleaner. It’s a lot less noisy with less cars on the road, and more public transport, especially rail, is definitely the way to go to achieve that.”

A few early-bird commuters boarded at Punchbowl, the first stop. Subsequent trains ferried more regular travellers in both directions. The service will prove popular; it reintroduces direct trains from the South Western hub of Bankstown to the city centre, connecting suburbs including Dulwich Hill and Marrickville.

The all-stops metro service is slightly quicker than the previous express trains, taking 22 minutes from Bankstown to Sydenham and 30 minutes to Gadigal. It is much quicker than the free, meandering Southwest Link buses that supplanted the railway line during the conversion period.

Staff handed out commemorative badges bearing the names of the reopened stations; enthusiasts hopped from stop to stop to collect them. Many revellers carried Metro-themed merchandise of their own. One group brought a pavlova to celebrate the extension’s birthday, while one celebrant brandished his passport to prove that he, too, was born on 30 October.

Conversion of the line took longer than expected, yesterday’s reopening having initially been slated for 2024. The Minns Government was coy about setting a date until late last month. Few passengers who were annoyed at having to ride the buses for longer would say that they are displeased now.

The Metro will draw more Sydneysiders to Bankstown, easing the city’s regional segmentation. It had an even more significant effect on the North West, enabling residents of the Hills District to catch a train directly to the city centre for the first time. Marrickville businesses will also benefit from an uptick in traffic.

Those crazed enough to be in Bankstown at 4am to ride a packed train — like this correspondent — got to enjoy partaking in a milestone of Sydney’s evolution. Now, it is the travelling public’s turn.